Mondo Generator - DeadPlanet:SonicSlowMotionTrails

Wed 30th Aug, 2006 in Music Reviews

The latest offering for Mondo Generator, Dead Planet: SonicSlowMotionTrails is their best yet. Some of you may recognise the gruelling screams as Nick Oliveri, ex-Queens of the Stone Age bassist (and occasional vocalist).

The 47-minute long album kicks off with ‘Like A Bomb’, a song so full of raw punk energy that you wonder if this is actually Mondo Generator or Black Flag. Luckily, Oliveri makes it his own with his screaming vocals and raunchy guitar licks.

In true fashion, ‘So High’ has appeared again on this album. Thus far, there are two versions of it floating around. (An early track by the name of, ‘I Want You To Die’ now has at least five versions.) Why does Oliveri feel compelled to produce the same song more than once, when he could take the time and write a brand new song? That would be the only flaw that I could find on this true masterpiece of punk rock.

The first single, ‘I Never Sleep’ is one of the many highlights on the 14 track album. I could see myself listening to this all day and never getting sick of it. It’s the perfect song for a festival with its chanting chorus of
“I never sleep / I never eat / Don’t you wish you could be like me / I’m always high / I’ll never die / Don’t you wish you could be like me”.

The only time that the album slows down is for track 10 ‘Take Me Away’. I’ve heard this song played live before and am excited that its finally been released in studio form. Close your eyes and let the song take control, as Oliveri’s gentle vocals and acoustic guitar take you to another place entirely. “Take me away / Take it all dear” the chorus chimes, leading you to think that this man has been hurt one too many times.

I’ve now listened to this album about sixty times since I got it a couple of days ago and its my favourite Mondo Generator record by far. I can’t find much wrong with it. Mondo Generator fan or not, if you miss out on this, you’ll regret it!