THE MUGGS: Slave To Sound, Vol. 5 (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

After a disturbing 5-year silence, The Muggs is back with its fifth studio opus logically entitled "Slave To Sound - Volume 5". Without really revolutionizing its vintage recipe, The Muggs has nevertheless always been able to renew it enough to maintain its interest. This time, Danny Methric and Tony Denardo did not hesitate to take new risks. Here the two friends step out of their comfort zone to plunge deeper into the 60s and 70s, even going so far as to play with stereo effects typical of the time, while offering a production of first-rate clarity and energy.

The blues-rock of the Americans is here regularly mixed with britpop, as on the eponymous track that opens the festivities with energy and jerky, while presenting a lot of work on the vocals. 'Gator' plays on the same elements with the reinforcement of a second guitar held by Scott Anderson. These rich and well crafted choruses are one of the main evolutions, even going as far as reminding Queen on a very heavy blues 'Son And Daughter'.

Between several gleaming roots nuggets, The Muggs slip some calmer pieces such as 'Occupied Blues' with folk and pop accents and a bewitching chorus, or the psychedelic 'After The Ending' which lets the silhouettes of Pink Floyd and Santana glimpse through the warm mists and colored smoke. This alternation of moods, while keeping the attention and the pleasure alive, seems to lead this new opus towards a flawless performance when the piece entitled 'The Boogens' is performed. Inspired by a 1981 B-movie horror film, the piece opens with a soundtrack that, unfortunately, lasts for more than five minutes before offering an instrumental finale on which the title is repeated by a voice from beyond the grave. The idea is original and shows both the artistic freedom of the band and its desire to experiment without limits. However, our friends seem to have let themselves be overwhelmed by their idea while the alternative version proposed at the end of the album gains in efficiency in a more compact format.

It's a pity that this slight outburst prevents The Muggs from making an album that could have been perfect, even if the cover of Walter Egan's 'Magnet And Steel' is of little interest as it is too close to the original. In spite of these reservations, "Slave To Sound" is nevertheless an opus that deserves some attention. Globally endearing and interesting, it shows a band that doesn't hesitate to take risks and explore new paths while keeping a strong identity. At a time when it seems that Todd Glass has left the group, a consequence of the current health crisis, we can only encourage you to plunge into this great bath of youth with its invigorating and beneficial freshness. - Official website

THE MUGGS

SLAVE TO SOUND, VOL. 5

AUTOPRODUCTION

ROCK