Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Mushroomhead - Savior Sorrow (2006)

Although Mushroomhead is more of an experimental nu/alt-metal, there are some times when they lean into industrial metal. Savior Sorrow is where the industrial side of the band shines the most. It's also where the band decided to just have Gravy do all the guitars after Bronson left. Co-lead vocalist J Mann also left and was replaced by Waylon Reavis. He can perform growls as greatly as J Mann and can almost be considered the band's savior!

The tight structure of this album has reduced a bit of the experimentation from their previous albums. It's also less commercial and not so radio-friendly, though it has spawned singles/music videos for half the amount of songs in the album. And even at their most mainstream, Mushroomhead is still what they are.

Firing things up is the opening track "12 Hundred", beginning the album in a more kick-A fashion than most of their previous albums. "Simple Survival" is one of my favorite and more industrial-sounding Mushroomhead songs, beginning with the sinister yet melodic opening line, "The shadow within me, the sorrow at my feet". This will make you wanna pay more to get more of Mushroomhead's releases. So cool! I can hear a bit of a Linkin Park influence in the music and a Slipknot influence in the aesthetics, though it's no reason to start a feud between these bands. Still an awesome song! "THE END IN ME!!!" Unorthodox instruments roam in "Damage Done" which starts off sounding like Korn until they bring in a sitar. "Save Us" is a softer ballad suitable for the radio.

Then we have the mighty heavy "Tattoo" with guest vocals by Sean Kane of Gizmachi. Next song "Erase the Doubt" stands out well to smoothly end the album's first half. "Burn" stands right on the line between the industrial metal of Fear Factory and In This Moment and the mid-tempo metalcore tendencies you might find in bands like Soilwork and Upon a Burning Body. The second ballad "Just Pretending" is better and heavier than the first. You can certainly point your devil horns and headbang along while doing the emotional ballad swaying.

Another anthemic ballad, "The Need" can still unleash complex power. "Cut Me" messes things up a little as a strange gothic sound creeps in and causes some confusion to affect the thunderous guitars/drums frenzy. "The Fallen" won't work in the Metal Academy clan The Fallen, but it's still nicely heavy. "Embrace the Ending" ends the album as an eerie ballad, albeit a metal-less one. The vocals, guitars, and classical strings add beauty to the haunting sound. A demo version of "Burn" appears as a bonus track.

With Savior Sorrow, Mushroomhead knows how to keep things in control. It may seem restrictive, but that's good because too many cooks can spoil the broth. Though I'm not saying 7 or 10 band members is too many. They all know how to do everything just right!

Favorites: "12 Hundred", "Simple Survival", "Erase the Doubt", "Just Pretending", "The Need", "Embrace the Ending"