Mustasch - Silent Killer (2018)

My favourite hard rockers in Mustasch are back once again, this time with their 9th album "Silent Killer". These guys rarely disappoint, having a very enjoyable and unique style that might not have evolved all that much over the years, but still packs a lot of punch. This time, it seems like the band has added an extra layer of metal coating onto their music, giving us arguably their heaviest record to date, is it something the band can handle, or do they get crushed from the pressure?

The heavier nature must be thanks to the producer of the record, Niclas Engelin. You might recognize this guy's name, he is the guitarist for both In Flames and Engel, two considerably heavier bands in the Swedish music scene. His influence is very much noteworthy, with the riffs having some extra weight, and the drums being more aggressive. Even our favourite Gothenburg singer Ralf Gyllenhammar is affected, pushing his voice to the cracking point more times than ever. Man, I just love his manly, crispy vocals.

This added spark of heaviness gives us a bunch of songs that are really nice, catchy bangers. After a small little intro, the party begins with "Winners", a fast mauler that is just what the title says, a winner. Its attitude and relentless beat gives the album the perfect kick start, and the momentum just keeps on going with the groovy "Libertá", the simple and tough "Barrage", and the incredibly sing along friendly "Lawbreaker". A really nice quartet to open up an album with

After that though, the album hits kind of a slump, starting with the most boring track of the record, "Fire" (in which former Turbonegro singer Hank Von Helvete makes an appearance), followed by the title track and "The Answer", both okay songs that are no real highlights though. The final two tracks "Grave Digger" and "Burn" ends the album in a really nice way, with "Grave Digger" as a fun stand out, going with a more "tongue in cheek" style, a kind of corny track that is just too groovy to hate. Just the chorus line is brilliant.

Grave Digger
Leave me, I'm alive
Do I look dead?

There is however a major flaw with "Silent Killer", it is too short. Not only is the album, with its mere 32 minutes, too short, but individual songs are too short as well. All songs vary between 2,5 minutes and 3,5 minutes, and several of them are missing something to really make them complete. Either an additional chorus would have been nice, or maybe an added solo could have been the final piece to the puzzle. This is unfortunately not a new problem for the band, but it has not been in this quantity in a single album before. It just feels unfinished.

Despite its flaws, "Silent Killer" is still a fun, enjoyable little hard rock album from Mustasch. It may not be their best effort to date, but it is certainly one of the more memorable ones, with several killer tracks and a heavier style that I think the band should continue on with. Some homework is needed though for how to write complete songs, but it is something they can take their time working on. It may not be silent, but this record is mostly a killer, and that is not too bad at all.

Songs worthy of recognition: Libertá, Winners, Grave Digger, Burn

Rating: 7/10 Barrages

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Testosterone

Mustasch - Testosterone (2015)

Oh boy, looks like the feminism movement have found a new target. I hope not, because I love Mustasch, but they are certainly playing with fire here with this, their 8th studio effort known as "Testosterone", a big, burly, manly album filled with beer, beard, sweat, and a Ralf Gyllenhammar who does not seem to take any days off at all. I mean, it was not too long ago they released their latest album ("Thank You For The Demon", early 2014), and Ralf have been busy with both touring and various TV appearances (Swedish Idol and Swedish Fort Boyard just to mention a couple).

Despite this insane speed they are holding right now, they still seem to find time to evolve the band in the process. The music is very recognizable, you can easily extinguish Ralf's unique and manly voice, and most of the riffs are true to the history of the band, but it is the urge for evolution that makes "Testosterone" a unique and interesting experience. Because despite its name, "Testosterone" is probably the most melodic and soothing Mustasch album up to date. A lot of calm experiments takes most of the focus here, which could potentially split the fans in half. I always welcome new ideas and directions, especially for bands that more or less has a certain sound to them, so I was a little impressed when I heard the album for the first time.

If you after reading the last paragraph fear that the band has turned into something extremely different, calm down, the change is not THAT drastic. It may be awkward at first, but once you get used to the thought, it is a good chance that you will appreciate such songs as the symphonic opener "Yara's Song" and the spiritual "The Rider". I am more uncertain to what role "Dreamers", "The Hunter" and Someone" has though, but I guess they are a side effect to this evolution. You cannot be perfect the first time you try out something new.

But ultimately it is the classic Mustasch material that goes loud in my cabin, because it acts as sort of a safety blanket among these new, unexplored grounds the band has taken us to. The best example of this is "Down To Earth", a speedy and catchy mauler that is more Mustasch than that part of the beard with the same name. A great, epic anthem that might be their best one since the amazing double sandwich "Double Nature" and "Bring Me Everyone" from "Latest Version of The Truth". I am sure it will have a reserved spot in the set list when the band goes out on the road later this fall. Other classic Mustasch moments in this album are "Breaking Up With Disaster", the single "Be Like A Man" and the epic title track that ends the album in terrific style.

So despite having less of it than most other Mustasch albums in the discography, "Testosterone" is a nice, fresh listen that could be the stepping stone for the band's future. It does suffer some growing pains, which does make it a fairly uneven experience, but the potential is certainly there, and I am very curious to see were it will lead. Well, if the band continues on the same pace as always, we will not have to wait too long for the next part of their evolution.

Songs worthy of recognition: Down To Earth, Yara's Song, Testosterone

Rating: 7/10 Dreamers

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Mustasch - Thank You For The Demon (2014)

Few rock bands in Sweden has gotten as much attention and appreciation as the Gothenburg band Mustasch. Since the release of their Swedish Grammy award winning album "Latest Version of The Truth" in 2007, the band's fan base has literally exploded and the front man Ralf Gyllenhammar has gotten appearances in shows like Fångarna På Fortet (Swedish Fort Boyard) and Körslaget (Swedish Battle of The Quires). Ralf has almost reached to the status where he is beloved by the people (or in Swedish, folkkär). But since 2007, the band has released a non-impressive self-titled album, a album filled with re-recorded hits, and a short and uneven album in "Sounds Like Hell, Looks Like Heaven". So it was pretty much now or never for this band if they wanted to keep evolving in their career.

"Thank You For The Demon" is Mustasch's 7th album, and just like its predecessor, it is a well diverse album with ballads, heavy hitters and even a rock/disco song. The only difference between this album and the last one is that the band is much more even now in their performance. That is better right? True, but I also miss a real super hit, something that the last album did not miss with songs like "Speed Metal" and "It's Never Too Late". The only real reason to why there is no such song here is that none of the songs have any real knockout riffs in them. Most of the riffs has to share the stage with violins, which gives a musical dimension, but also loses some heaviness along the way.

Luckily, there are no shortage of good songs in this record. We have the heavy stoner rock song "The Mauler", the heavy and catchy "Borderline", the more musically appealing title track and the nice rock ballad "All My Life". But one of the best song still has to be the intoxicating disco rock anthem "I Hate To Dance". Mustasch has always been at their best when they have to sing out their anger because you recognize yourself in that anger. Whenever I am out with my friends at a club or bar, I just wanna stand by the bar and drink. I don't want to dance, I want to head bang and drink beer until I collapse. The only time I dance is when I am so wasted that I don't know which year it is. But I guess I could dance to "I Hate To Dance" if I wanted to, which I don't.

This is certainly another good record by Mustasch, and it is a step forward from their last effort. However, I would like them to keep the string orchestra away from the next album so we get some more rock 'n' roll in their music. No matter what, I will still keep dancing... I mean bang my head to most of these tracks for some months forward.

Songs worthy of recognition: Borderline, Thank You For The Demon, All My Life, I Hate To Dance

Rating: 8/10 Maulers

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Testosterone
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