Mongrel

Fear, Lies, & Propaganda

By Reb Sixxx
(SugarBuzz International)

SugarBuzz Magazine

If you tossed both the late 70's punk era and the early 90's Seattle scene into a blender and pressed LIQUEFY, you'd be drinking a Mongrel malted.

Mongrel hails from the Boston Massachusettes area and are rumored to be the hardest working band on the circuit. Formed in 2003 and comprised of 5 members (headed up by deliciously edible vocalist Drew Barker), their music has a unique sound that is strangely familiar. It is a bad-ass combination of both the punk and metal sounds of days gone by. Hard, groovin', catchy style music surrounds well-written, anthem-style lyrics that definitely make them stand apart from the stereotypical punk genre.

In the fall of 2007 they signed to Screaming Ferret Wreckords, and just re-released their first album, "Fear, Lies, & Propaganda" in early April. Mongrel's full length album was recorded at Moontower Studio in Cambridge, MA and mastered by Grammy award winner, Jay Frigoletto at Pro Mastering in Brookline, NH.

Drew Barker has an amazing voice and reminds me of a punked out version of Jim Morrison with some Glenn Danzig sprinkled in. He's raw and gutsy and has complete control over his voice, even in the most trying of vocal situations.

Dualing guitarists Adam Savage and Andrew X are not anything out of the extreme extraordinary, as far as guitarists go, but they blend perfectly with the rest of the band and keep it constant, loud, heavy, and crankin'. Bass player Rev is most definitely connected by the balls to drummer Ed Loguercio and they make for a truly solid rhythm section. As a whole, not one player outshines the other but that's what I think makes a great band.

The song, "Dyslexic Alchemist (F.I.A.A.)" was one I could not help but to listen to over and over. The dark undertone with the chorus chanting, "Had it all and I fucked it all away" kept reverberating through my skull like a mantra gone awry. From start to finish this is a song that belongs in every CD player world-wide. It was also featured on a complilation CD released in February 2008 by Metal Edge Magazine.

"Bound to Crash" is another highlight on the album. Drew's opening vocals are hauntingly beautiful and his emotion is quite visible to the naked ear. The music is written in a minor tone with splashes of major tones all around it. Definitely another one to listen to as it keeps your attention and doesn't let go.

All of the other songs are just as well constructed and you can't help but to wiggle around listening to them. It's about time someone did something unique. This is a must-hear band and I highly recommend them.

Mongrel will be touring extensively in 2008 and has opened for such bands as the Misfits, GWAR, Dizzy Reed, The Exploited, Prong, Otep, Wednesday 13, Michale Graves, Blitzkid, The Independents, Trashlight Vision, Piggy D's Evacuation Plan, Mushroomhead, Hed(pe), and All That Remains. Look for them coming to a city near you soon. I suggest you all get your asses to one or all of their live shows. You won't be disappointed.

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Dyslexic Alchemmist

Bound to Crash

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www.MongrelBand.com

http://www.myspace.com/mongrel

SugarBuzz Magazine