If Mutiny Within is the future of metal, then the future is bleak

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      Mutiny Within
      Mutiny Within (Roadrunner)

      Well you can’t blame the heshers at Roadrunner Records for trying. The label that King Diamond built obviously has high hopes for Mutiny Within. On the cover of the New Jersey sextet’s self-titled debut is a sticker that boldly states “The future of metal has arrived.”

      Normally such proclamations are attributed to an independent third party, usually a basement-dwelling blogger at a headbanging speciality site like Apeshit or Lambgoat. Roadrunner, however, has taken it upon itself to declare Mutiny Within the best thing since early ’80s Metallica or late ’90s Slipknot. Considering both of those mega-selling acts have been affiliated with Roadrunner, the brass at the long-running label obviously has an eye for stuff that’s going to sell. One has to wonder, then, what in the hell they see in Mutiny Within. If this is the future of metal, then God help the organizers of Ozzfest, because the pickings are obviously mighty slim these days.

      The blame for this mess lies squarely on the shoulders of singer Chris Clancy, who seems to have been raised on a diet of Three Days Grace and every third-rate emo band that’s ever found itself playing a Warped Tour third stage. You know, the stages that no one gives a shit about, and only partly because they are always set up right next to the Porta-Potties on a blazing hot day.

      Clancy seems to have one goal, and that’s to get played on the radio, the funny thing about that being that the only people who listen to rock radio in 2010 are so old they couldn’t be less interested in discovering new acts like Mutiny Within. The dude isn’t entirely incapable of showing a little edge; at least once or twice every song he’ll briefly scream like someone having his amputated leg cauterized with a Craftsman 3000 blowtorch. Mostly, though, Clancy plays it clean, alternating between an emotionally tortured croon and that weirdly strained emo-ish delivery that tends to land groups multi-year deals with Victory Records.

      His bandmates deserve better. The playing on Mutiny Within is pretty much killer right from the kick-off track “Awake”, which starts with soft-core piano and then upshifts into technically accomplished, impressively streamlined thrash metal. “Images” offers up an awesomely corroded riff, goth-tower synths, and 200 bpm drums, only to be torpedoed by Clancy’s Kroeger-does-Killswitch delivery. And whatever goodwill Mutiny Within builds with the chugging throwback metal-punk of “Undone” is undone by vocals that suggest someone is both a little too sensitive and a little too much of a careerist determined to give programmers what they want. Because we’ve already hammered Clancy enough, let’s not even touch on his penchant for dick-caught-in-zipper shrieking that hasn’t been fashionable since metal’s hairspray-and-Spandex years.

      What’s it all add up to? Let’s just say that if Mutiny Within is indeed the future of metal, then the future is bleaker than Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, everything ever recorded by Nine Inch Nails, and the collected paintings of Edvard Munch. Back to the drawing board, boys. After taking a long, hard look at your singer you might rightly come to the conclusion that now’s a great time for your band to stage a mutiny within.

      Download This: “Undone”

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      Comments

      23 Comments

      Jack Moyers

      Jan 29, 2010 at 2:16pm

      Am I missing something here? Is this serious? I hope people don't take notice of this garbage review. Chris is an amazing singer and offers such a unique sound and diverse ability rarely found in metal vocals these days. The only thing lying 'squarely on the shoulders of singer Chris Clancy' is the burden of having this misleading article out in the open, with its weightless arguments and a reviewer who, for whatever reason, appears to be out to get him.

      Rob Jones

      Jan 30, 2010 at 2:15am

      Is this website used to launch personal vendettas against musicians? I don't think Jealousy has ever come across so evidently in any review I have ever read. Maybe this review shouldn't sit under the 'recording' header as this reviewer is plainly evaluating singing style, as apparently Mike Usinger is an aficionado of Metal Vocals. He probably was the first to get pissed off when James Hetfield got singing lessons prior to recording S&M, and many know that vocally it is one of the best Metallica recordings, he seems adamant that a singer must abuse his or her vocal chords, of which we only get one set, in order to make a good metal record, inevitably leading to a very short career in this ruthless industry, Jesse Leach is a prime example. As soon as someone has the intelligence to try and preserve their 'instrument', and there career making 'tool', this guy has something to say.

      This singer should be praised for A. The Sense to Preserve his voice, and B. His WIllingness to sing well, ignoring this reviewer whilst allowing many Metal Fans to hear the vocals instead of having to read a liner, which in the digital world is very rarely seen anyway.

      I must salute a chap who is so willing to comment on the technical proficiency of guitar and drum work, yet so blatantly ignore the technical prowess in the vocals, he wants a 3-layer cake iced with sh*t, basically.

      And I quote 'That hasn't been fashionable since metals hairspray-and-spandex years', just incase the reviewer hadn't convinced you of his incompetence in the previous paragraphs, he states that he believes Metal is fashion, and it must stick to these conventions, how exactly Mr. Usinger do you expect music to offer variety if you are only happy with whats in the current trend. Pantera wouldn't of been the band they were without their shrieking-spandex days, Cemetery gates displaying some of the best metal 'dick-caught-in-zipper' shrieking, on one of the best-selling metal albums out there, Cowboys from Hell, inspiring leagues of other bands. Axl Rose wore spandex, and shrieked, Dave Lee Roth wore Spandex and shrieked, Sammy Hagar wore spandex and shrieked, hell I have seen Hetfield in spandex, this having been said it seems to show spandex and shrieking has been rather successful, who is to say that it can't continue to be, other than Mike Usinger of course.

      I assume had this record been full of the same old vocal chord crushing screaming as many other new metal records out there, this reviewer would have also had something to say.

      A singer who is not afraid to show direct influences, and not willing to hide the great musicians that have tailored his sound should be regarded with the highest accolade, that of honesty, everything has been done, nothing is new.

      As for radio-friendly, newsflash, Music is an industry, the musicians are in it to make money, just like journalists are in journalism to make money, no one really needs a reviewer to tell them what to think, yet they relentlessly do.

      My suggestion listen to the record yourself, and if you don't like it, don't buy it, simple, why 'o why do we need Mike Usinger.

      I may not believe Mutiny WIthin are the Future of Metal, nor are they the past, they are simply the present, which has happened to land them a record deal, which has seriously ruffled the feathers of this reviewer, I figure he should be in A&R not journalism, his talents are simply wasted.

      Judge for yourself, as this review is far more effective as an assessment of the reviewer, than the reviewed.

      9 24Rating: -15

      Spencer Creaghan

      Feb 5, 2010 at 11:49am

      K this reviewer is messed up or got the wrong cd in his mailbox. this album is amazing!! I love every song. The vocals are very powerful, and the songs themselves are epic (in the proper sense of the word). I don't know what this reviewer is thinking, but the album is great, so don't listen to him/her.

      Chris Clancy

      Feb 21, 2010 at 1:42pm

      Hey Mike, Go fuck yourself. This is probably the most biased piece of shit review i've ever seen. Some people say in reviews that don't like us which is fine, but to go on a rant for that long is just fucked up. You're a fucking prick and I hope I get the chance to say it to your face one day.

      Madamebrutality

      Feb 21, 2010 at 9:57pm

      And who is this Mike guy? What are his credentials? Don't take this personal, but F*CK OFF(and let me know when your balls drop, dear)
      Mutiny Within are extremely talented individuals, each of them. Trained by the best, and very professional...more than I can say for you.Have you even heard anything from them, which btw, their debut album comes out this week!! WOO HOO.
      Leave it to biast media to speak of things they know absolutely nothing about!
      (and who did you say you were again, never heard of you)
      But I guarantee, you WILL remember me....!!!

      ~~Madamebrutality~~

      Sam Diamond

      Feb 21, 2010 at 10:03pm

      Are you kidding me!? The musicianship of this band is purely amazing. Like Chris said below, you don't have to like them but there is no need for that bullshit! Every single one of their songs I have heard thus far has drawn me in with just the intro and I can't say that about many bands. Seriously, open your damn ears.

      Jerry Bakman

      Feb 21, 2010 at 10:08pm

      wow! wtf is this shit? chris is a big reason why the band is even going to the top. who cares about his look or w.e. he can pull off almost any note. other guys in the band like brandon, dan, aj, and drew are technical as hell!

      Mike D

      Feb 21, 2010 at 10:09pm

      Fuck this review. Chris is a badass singer. I haven't heard the whole album yet, but the three songs I heard were beyond awesome, and if the rest of the album is anywhere those, it'll be an instant classic. These guys deserve better, and they will get better than this piece of shit excuse for a review.

      Dom Franks

      Feb 22, 2010 at 12:35am

      Mike Usinger Go Fuck Yourself !!!

      23 9Rating: +14

      Ed Griffith

      Feb 22, 2010 at 12:47am

      If you don't like the singing that's OK because everyone is entitled to an opinion, but there's no reason to attack Clancy for it in the whole...entire...article.

      He has a lot of talent and for you to not even recognize that (even if it doesn't appeal to you) really shows this review is a bunch of biased bullshit and you are clearly in the wrong line of work if this is what you call a review.

      Now go pull out whatever got stuck up your ass and apologize to Clancy.