One for the fans only
Despite failing to find any genuine mainstream success, Cleveland (Ohio, U.S.) nu/industrial metal act Mushroomhead still manage to stay afloat with a devoted hardcore following that devour everything the band have to offer both from the studio and while out on the road.
Three years on from the release of their fifth full-length album ‘Savior Sorrow’ (2006), the seven piece juggernaut (who comprise of vocalists Jeffrey ‘Nothing’ Hatrix and Waylon Reavis (ex-Three Quarters Dead), guitarist Dave ‘Gravy’ Felton, bassist Jack ‘Pig Benis’ Kilcoyne, keyboardist Tom ‘Shmotz’ Schmitz, sampler Rick ‘St1tch’ Thomas and drummer Steve ‘Skinny’ Felton) have finally returned with something new. This time it’s their new D.V.D. entitled ‘Volume 2’.
Picking up where the band’s first D.V.D. ‘Volume 1’ last left viewers in 2005, ‘Volume 2’ covers the various tours and backstage antics that have taken part in Mushroomhead’s world since the release of ‘Savior Sorrow’.
If you happen to own a copy of ‘Volume 1’, then you’ll know exactly what’s in store for you on ‘Volume 2’. If on the other hand you’re unfamiliar with Mushroomhead’s previous adventures behind the video camera, then think of Pantera’s old home video efforts.
While the prospect of a new D.V.D. will no doubt excite Mushroomhead fans, it has to be said that there’s not a great deal of new ground broken here from the band, as ‘Volume 2’ is virtually a carbon copy of their first effort, with only a new member Reavis and some new promotional video clips separating the two.
Running for two hours, ‘Volume 2’ captures the band in their natural habitat, which is out on the road. Of course, the bulk of the footage is the usual goofing off sort of footage you typically expect from the band. But the unfortunate thing is that while some of the footage does bring the odd smile to the face (especially the in-band fighting that’s caught on tape, the Christopher Walken impersonator who commentates on the said fight footage, the hilarious ‘Roadie Crew’ serenade/lullaby and the homemade barbarian costumes), it doesn’t have enough substance or humour to make you want to watch it for a second time.
The second major criticism of ‘Volume 2’ is the absence of any real live footage. If there was a flaw amongst fans in regards to their first D.V.D., it was the lack of live songs. And once again, the band has short changed fans with ‘12 Hundred’, ‘Simple Survival’ and ‘Burn’, all of which are shot with a handheld camcorder. What that means is that while it may look good, it sounds terrible.
It’s not all bad though, as ‘Volume 2’ at least collates all of the six promotional video clips from ‘Savior Sorrow’ (the award winning ‘12 Hundred’, ‘Simple Survival’, ‘Burn’, ‘The Doubt’, ‘Damage Done’ and ‘Save Us’), which fans will no doubt enjoy.
There’s also fifteen minutes of deleted footage (most of which is forgettable), along with a making of ‘Save Us’ (More goofing around) and an audio commentary by the band for their ‘12 Hundred’ video (Which isn’t too bad).
The bottom line is that if you’re a fan of ‘Volume 1’, then you’ll love this. If however you’re unfamiliar with Mushroomhead’s music, I’d suggest you stick with the studio albums.
(Filthy Hands Records/Megaforce Records)
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