About Mushroomhead
Mushroomhead hail from Cleveland, Ohio in the United States. They’re a heavy metal band whose members, music and outfits are highly influenced by horror and comic books. With their music is often sounding like a creepy horror soundtrack fed through a loud guitar amp.
What separates them from the pack is their use of dual vocalists across many of their tracks which gives a great dynamic to the band. Not to mention their detuned heavy guitars, hard hitting drums and the bizarre synth sounds that come from their keyboards.
In this article, I look back at my favourite Mushroomhead tracks alongside the film clips, and let you answer the question “which is the best Mushroomhead song?”
13. Slaughterhouse Road
Slaughterhouse Road is the third track from Mushroomhead‘s 2010 album entitled “Beautiful Stories for Ugly Children.” Slaughterhouse Road sounds a little thin in the mix but in it lies an absolutely killer song which, if you can get through the first 60 seconds, will reward you in tandem – to reveal an all too familiar nu-metal riff.
12. Eternal
Eternal is the tenth track from Mushroomhead‘s 2003 album entitled “XIII” and is nonstep headbanging bliss. I once broke my neck from moshing to this song. I needed a cybernetic implant to repair the damage. True story.
11. Kill Tomorrow
Kill Tomorrow is the first track from Mushroomhead‘s 2003 album entitled “XIII” and it features this bounding riff that is easily a mosh pit starter. The highlight of this track is J Mann’s relentless barrage of raps against a heavy guitar riff that hit the listener in the face repeatedly.
10. 43
43 is the eleventh track from Mushroomhead‘s 2001 album entitled “XX.” It’s the kind of creepy song you’d expect to hear right before the killer in a horror movie turns up to strike. Mainly because of the eerie intro and painful vocals which sounds like someone is being tortured.
9. Out Of My Mind
Out Of My Mind is the thirteenth track from Mushroomhead‘s 2014 album entitled “The Righteous & the Butterfly.” It’s fast, punchy and will get the pit started with zero delay. Then there’s the military fascist tones of the film clip that give this war-like song exactly what it needs.
8. Save Us
Save Us is the fourth track from Mushroomhead‘s 2014 album entitled “The Righteous & the Butterfly.” It’s the closest you’ll get to a lighter waving crowd ballad you’ll get. It starts quiet and solemn and then veers into post-grunge/nu-metal territory which somehow works. Give it a listen and give me your take.
7. We Are the Truth
We Are the Truth is the eighth track from Mushroomhead‘s 2014 album entitled “The Righteous & the Butterfly.” Featuring Jackie Laponza (of Unsaid Fate) on guest vocals, who eventually joined Mushroomhead, this is the most haunting and unsettling duet you’ll hear in your lifetime. And if you’re into sexy demons then Jackie certainly looks the part.
6. Qwerty
Qwerty is the fourth track from Mushroomhead‘s 2014 album entitled “The Righteous & the Butterfly.” Don’t let this track fool you, it’s scarier and harder hitting than your qwerty keyboard. Also, the band is dressed like warriors from 300 in the film clip. So, y’know, there’s that.
5. Mother Machine Gun
The third track from Mushroomhead‘s 2003 album entitled “XIII,” Mother Machine Gun is probably the best song that demonstrates vocalist’s Jeffrey Nothing and J Mann’s abilities in equal parts. Not to mention the mix of quiet piano/airy synth and barrage of nu-metal make for an interesting listening experience.
4. Bwomp
Bwomp is the second track from Mushroomhead‘s 2001 album entitled “XX.” Don’t let the ominous synths and ghostly whispers at the start fool you as Bwomp is an absolute crowd favorite mixing elements of dual-vocals, synth, turntable scratching, heavy guitars and rapping.
It’s a cacophony of styles that somehow work in tandem, which is a great introduction to a first-time Mushroomhead listener, if you can find one who’s game enough to listen to it.
3. 12 Hundred
12 Hundred is the first track from Mushroomhead‘s 2006 album entitled “Savior Sorrow.” It’s a rentless assault of metalcore meets nu-metal riffology (which reminds me of early Killswitch Engage) performed in a beaten up warehouse with each member dressed in the type of makeup and masks that would feel right at home in Gotham City.
2. Sun Doesn’t Rise
Sun Doesn’t Rise is the second track from Mushroomhead‘s 2003 album entitled “XIII” and is as close to a ballad as they’ll ever get. Back in the day, Sun Doesn’t Rise was played nonstop on Headbanger’s Ball and was featured quite prominently on the Freddy Vs Jason soundtrack. Which given the band’s horror leanings just makes sense, right?
1. Solitaire Unraveling
Solitaire Unraveling is the third track from Mushroomhead‘s 2001 album entitled “XX.”
It’s also one of the first tracks I ever heard from this masked band and makes sense to include as my number one pick. It’s usage of monotone death raps over operatic modern heavy metal vocals are what will always stay in my memory.
What do you think of these Mushroomhead songs?
Will you be adding any of these Mushroomhead tracks to your playlist? Let us know in the comments.
