Hard to believe that Monster Magnet have now been around for nearly 30 year, but Dave Wyndorf and Co. continue to keep pumping out their brand of psychedelic stoner rock, their latest release for Napalm Records, Mindfucker, their eleventh album overall. Though the band have had numerous line-up changes over the years, the current configuration of the band has actually been together for a few year, and includes:
Dave Wyndorf – vocals, rhythm guitar
Phil Caivano – rhythm guitar, lead guitar
Bob Pantella – drums
Garrett Sweeny – lead guitar
Chris Kosnik – bass guitar
While it might be a bit much to think the band will return to their glory days of Dopes to Infinity, Superjudge, and Spine of God, Mindfucker is actually a pretty strong album and stands quite well on its own. Perhaps less of their early space rock influence and more geared towards the stoner rock & porto-punk sounds of early Izzy Pop & The Stooges, Mindfucker rock pretty hard and contains plenty of barnstorming numbers. The title cut rumbles with big fat guitar riffs and lots of scorching solos, while both "Rocket Freak" and "Soul" see some sizzling psych/metal leads flying around some heavy grooves. "Drowning" is the longest tune on the album at just over the 7-minute mark, and is more of a moody, hazy number, soaked in wah-wah guitars and Wyndorf's New Jersey drawl, while "Ejection" and "Want Some" instantly bring to mind classic Stooges as well as the early Alice Cooper Group. After a little lull, the album ends with a bang (or bong!) with the psychedelic stoner piece "When the Hammer Comes Down", complete with Wyndorf's best vocals on the album, screaming lead guitars and heavy riffs.
Overall, Mindfucker is a pretty solid album, and even though it drifts a tad in the middle, it's bookended by some truly potent songs that more than stack up to some of the best in Monster Magnet's catalog.
Track Listing
1) Rocket freak 3:29
2) soul 5:26
3) Mind Fucker 4:59
4) I'm God 6:16
5) Drowning 7:20
6) Ejection 3:27
7) Want Some 5:48
8) Brainwashed 3:22
9) All Day Midnight 3:59
10) When The Hammer Comes Down 5:47
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
