Album Review: Mushroomhead – Call The Devil (Napalm Records)

30 years into their groundbreaking history, Mushroomhead shows no signs of slowing down. Returning with their new studio release, ‘Call the Devil’, out on August 9th, 2024, via Napalm Records.

With one hell of a storied history, plenty of iconic music, and a seemingly never-ending ability to reinvent themselves, Mushroomhead have earned their legendary status. However, with that comes expectation and the knowledge that not everything this band has put out is solid gold. Yet their hit rate is higher than their miss, and Call the Devil confirms that.

A mammoth 13-track offering that showcases the best, the worst, the old, the new, and everything in between of Mushroomhead. From the start it’s clear this is going to be an album of variety as Eye to Eye introduces things with a rocky beat before exploding with groove and ominous intensity encouraged by a background siren. Then Fall in Line showcases the multi-vocal talents that are on display, alongside exciting cinematic elements, in this current manifestation of Mushroomhead. Before Emptiness lightens the load as far as heavy intensity goes with dramatic melody and emotive vocals, given the big chorus treatment.

Three tracks, three versions of what Mushroomhead can do in modern times, and three examples of varying quality. There’s plenty to like so far, but also plenty that isn’t particularly impressive. Although even if the likes of We Don’t Care aren’t clever, unique, or that exciting, the stompy anthemic vibe and singalong chorus it has is enjoyable.

Often at their best on this record when they’re experimenting a little more, one of the album highlights comes next in the form of UIOP (A Final Reprieve). A creative carnival-esqe ride of dark heaviness that harks back to a much earlier form of Mushroomhead. Before they really lay the nostalgia on with the heavy Prepackaged, the melodic oddity that is Decomposition, and the expressive use of piano that drives Grand Gesture forward. Intensive music from diverse angles that can be fascinating and confusing in equal measures. It might come as somewhat of a surprise to find Mushroomhead in such a challenging mood.

Which is a thought-process that isn’t changing when a track like Hallelucination exists on this album. Mushroomhead, once again, opening up their experimental side and crafting something suitably dynamic.

Most bands would be satisfied with this and call it, but Mushroomhead continue to push the limits, something it’s fair to say they’ve earned the right to do. Resulting in a handful of final tracks that offer enlightening masses of melody, crunching industrial-esqe heaviness, roaring riffing, and an array of vocals that let every aspect of Mushroomhead shine. Of Hideous, Torn in Two, Shame in A Basket, and Doom Goose, fans of the band and fans of what has been offered so far on this record will not be left wanting.

30 years into their groundbreaking history, and Mushroomhead are as innovate, and polarising, as ever. Call the Devil has plenty of forward-thinking aspects, but also self-assuredly has the band embracing the past. The marriage isn’t always perfect, but what marriage is? Mushroomhead make it work and long term fans will come away very satisfied with this new album.

Mushroomhead – Call the Devil Track Listing:

1. Eye To Eye
2. Fall In Line
3. Emptiness
4. We Don’t Care
5. UIOP (A Final Reprieve)
6. Prepackaged
7. Decomposition
8. Grand Gesture
9. Hallelucination
10. Hideous
11. Torn In Two
12. Shame In a Basket
13. Doom Goose

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