With their 11th studio album, Monster Magnet brings the fire with ‘Mindfucker’, my first quick listen tells me it’s an instant MM Classic. Gritty New Jersey native Dave Wyndorf, brings his 70s-influenced stoner rock across the Holland Tunnel from New Jersey, to blend with the old-school sound of the NYC underground punk days of years past. More of a MC5/Stooges then straight Stoner rock. This album is what Monster Magnet Fans have been waiting for. Hearing about how Dave wanted to create a “Fight Music” Feel to this record you can differently feel the punches. When getting to the point of writing the lyrics, he did that last and it also happened around the time of the President’s election. With all the “Fake News” and all the media drama ‘Mindfucker’ seems to be an appropriate title for this album in these times.
This album kicks into high gear right off the hop with instant classic “Rocket Freak” which brings in a full range of Monster Magnet’s classic sounds and leads to the forefront. Also, I can’t get this image of Iggy Pop screaming and stomping around to this one outta my mind. Must be a Mindfuck. Another track to throw you off a cliff is “Soul”; this power riff laden jam has fierce build up and slick little lick fills wrapped all around Dave’s very motivating and energetic lyrics. Blasting into the title track off this album “Mindfucker” it’s my favorite track and I swear has the best lyrics with lines like “Teasin’ the worm with your nuclear churn, the girl with cyclopean eye” and “Soul crushin’ love child, deep inside of my brain You’re a mindfucker baby, beautiful and insane”. Dave is a lyrical Genius, and with that always depicts a wonderful story you can follow as you listen along.
Stripped down and feeling Primordial “I’m God “rocks you into a classic guitar trance that only Monster Magnet can.” Drowning “pulls you deep into the space highway. This track has this fused cosmic blues melody, and matching lyrics that just melts you into where ever you are. After the meltdown, we take a stand for a punk revolution with “Ejection” this fast paced, foot stomper, all punk rockers would be proud to call their own. Solo at the end is a waling ringer with smooth tones and finger bleeding speeds. At this point it’s perfect to ask if we all “Want some “? This track the minute I hear the classic tambourine start I know we are taking a trip in a galaxy space cruiser looking for some action. Can never get enough of Dave’s lyrical mastering.
[metalwani_content_ad]
“Brainwash” says it like it is, and takes on this devil style folk rockabilly jam. The godfathers of stoner rock pulled out Detroit style grizzle for this album. “All Day Midnight” is a great song that showcases what is so right with music these days. I’m so happy that I can go out in 2018 and by an album that has the feel of the 70s-punk rock scene still, hope is not lost yet. The final cut on the album is “When the Hammer comes Down” this almost six-minute stunner hits you from all sides just as you’re getting up. Pulling all its raw energy into a perfect super nova, the hammer will come down as judgment is coming to get us all.
Proto-Punk is alive and spun all throughout this album. Glad to see Monster Magnet stay true to who they are as well as letting the punk bleed through on this one, fists in the air for this album. Keep your eyes and ears open stoner freaks and sludge’s as the new album “Mindfucker” drops March.23 via Napalm.