I keep wanting to compare this album to fine art. Or even fine dining – something like a perfectly cooked and seasoned steak. It’s super frustrating. And do you know why that frustrates me?
Simply because I don’t know why.
I do not know why this album evokes the same emotions as when conceptualizing something like fine art. There is something unique about this album. Each song has something special in it.
And I just do not have the words to tell you what or why.
Now, I have written about Mushroomhead before, musing about how their album XIII was more of a lament of order, and in A Wonderful Life we almost get that back again. This time though less mourning and more commentary on the state of the world. Even the drummer Skinny has mused how you could take this album’s title in so many different ways, all dependent on your current outlook. Is the name ironic, or is it truly A Wonderful Life? Mushroomhead leaves that up to you to decide.
We’re on the verge of total destruction
Madness Within
Yet still too self absorbed to care
With now three vocalists, including Mushroomhead’s first female member, you end up with some amazing ranges that just all click. J Mann is still around, bringing the gruff and growls, and he is now joined by Mr Rauckhorst, who has amazing clean vocals, and Ms Jackie, who brings a more operatic sound to round it out. And that’s just the vocals!
Musically, Mushroomhead is less heavy than other bands, but still manage to pull off pure groove metal. I mean, just watch the video below to hear how the drumming and the chugging tie the song together. Oh, and look at their new masks too! Something about the Mushroomhead aesthetic speaks to me – I love their iconography, the design of the masks, the way their videos are shot – the complete package.
Rig the game
Seen It All
We’re still playing to win
Thrust upon the precipice of virtue and sin
In pursuit of our dreams
Sidestepping the screams
As we navigate this wonderful life
The song Seen It All (above) was the first taste I got of this album and it blew me away instantly. After hearing it, I proclaimed to Simone that if this is what the new Mushroomhead sound like, then we’re in for an incredible album. And I was not wrong.
The range of this album amazes me with every listen. I even wrote on Instagram that Mushroomhead have captured my attention from start to finish with this album. I don’t think I spent that 77 minutes doing much work…
And clocking in at 77 minutes and 17 tracks, this album is one that will need you to stop what you’re doing to give it your full attention. It’s a commitment, no doubt.
But just stop and think about that… It’s a commitment to sit and listen to an album these days? Maybe that’s what’s so ironic about calling it A Wonderful Life? If it were truly wonderful, sitting down to listen would not be a pleasure reserved for a special time…
I don’t have words for this album, as much as the above post seems to disagree with me. To me, this album is a work of art. Its akin to a fancy meal. You devour it and enjoy it and there is just something special that you can’t put your finger on. It’s far from perfect, but its gosh darn close.
Instead of struggling to explain this album, I will leave you with a few quotes from some of the songs that have stuck out to me personally. With A Wonderful Life, Mushroomhead has indeed proven to me that this is, in fact, a wonderful life indeed, no matter what others may try telling you.
As we welcome all your catastrophe
The Heresy
All the hate, all the lies and the heresy
How divine that every time you hide in denial
While gangs of the ignorant extol their intolerance
What a Shame
Sweeping the streets while preaching their nonsense
Your soul is on fire, your world is in flame
What a shame
I hear the whistle of the wind
Carry On
In the sins of innocence
Relevance reminiscent
Present in this dissidence
Evidence, malevolence
An elegant resemblance
Temperamental like my chemical imbalances
Battle damaged challenges
Saddled by this baggage
When it’s time to manage this
Then everybody vanishes
I’m standing up to walk it off
Talk it out or chalk it up
Volatile Molotov
One day we all will fall
1 Comment
Simone Dunkerley · July 1, 2020 at 10:13
Great write up. Even though you felt you didn’t have much to say, the lyrics said it for you, in a way.
“If it were truly wonderful, sitting down to listen would not be a pleasure reserved for a special time…”
This is an interesting thought. If the world were saturated with pleasure, sitting down to listen to this album would just be classed as ‘just another day’.
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