A new chapter

With plenty of hooks and rhythmic layers, Mudvayne’s new album The New Game is a surefire success.

The Peoria, Ill., band show depth on this release as they continue to explore their melodic metal sound.

Though the band have become increasingly softer, they have managed to retain some of the heavier elements present on their first release L.D. 50 due to lead vocalist Chad Gray’s distinct howl and guitarist Greg Tribbett’s grinding power.

“Do What You Do,” the first single from the album, is a good example of the band’s blend of emotion and raw power. It starts off with an unforgettably wavy intro from Tribbett’s guitar.

Gray softly croons through the opening verses until the chorus picks up the pace with the familiar grind. He is successfully able to turn on the switch between harsh screaming and delicate singing to help give the band versatility.

This single fits in with some of their past work, such as “Happy?” and even “Not Falling,” and will be considered one of the standout tracks in the band’s catalogue.
“Never Enough” shows off their ability to write catchy hooks.

Here the band again goes from soft to heavy, slow to fast, but Gray’s vocals take over the song with a memorable melody line that will not get out of your head. This brooding ballad is sure to be one of the tracks best remembered from this record.

While The New Game is pretty good overall, the songs start to seem the same as it drags on. Mudvayne show they have the ability to play good music heavy or soft, with plenty of pop hooks to go with their thrashing sound, but could spice it up a bit with a new arrangement or two.