Mutoid Man sounds like a demolition derby held inside a classic rock stadium. It is heavy music that refuses to be dour, trading the typical gloom of sludge for a caffeinated, technicolor explosion of riffs. The guitars are thick and fuzzy, yet they dance through complex, math-rock patterns with a nimble grace that feels almost impossible given the sheer volume of the mix.
What truly sets them apart is the sense of unbridled enthusiasm. While their pedigree suggests the grim intensity of hardcore and metalcore, the actual experience is closer to a celebration of the electric guitar. Stephen Brodsky’s vocals frequently leap into unexpected melodic heights, while Ben Koller’s drumming is a masterclass in controlled chaos, filling every available millisecond with inventive, high-speed percussion.
Start with the album Bleeder. It perfectly captures their ability to bridge the gap between 'numbskull' hard rock and 'cerebral' progressive metal. It is the ideal entry point for anyone who loves the weight of High on Fire but wishes they had the pop sensibility of Cheap Trick and the technical itch of Rush.
Mutoid Man is an American heavy metal band formed in 2012 in Brooklyn, New York City by Cave In vocalist/guitarist Stephen Brodsky, Converge drummer Ben Koller and bassist Nick Cageao (with High on Fire bassist Jeff Matz replacing Cageao in 2021). They have released two EPs and three studio albums to date. AllMusic described their sound as metalcore but noted that it engages not just with hardcore punk and heavy metal but also rock and roll, math rock, progressive rock, and psychedelic music. Pitchfork celebrated their debut album Bleeder for "[embracing] both numbskull hard rock and cerebral progressive metal, at a time when the two approaches have become almost mutually exclusive in heavy music."
Shares math rock, progressive metal, playful, alternative metal (subgenre)
Shares stoner rock, playful, alternative metal, aggressive (subgenre)
Shares progressive metal, playful, triumphant, aggressive (subgenre)
Shares drums, stoner rock, aggressive, live recording (signature)
Shares stoner rock, alternative metal, aggressive, raspy (subgenre)
Shares harmonies, belting, triumphant, hi fi (vocal style)
Shares math rock, playful, hi fi, live recording (signature)
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