Swedish Metal Mastery
Mustasch are apparently a 'Tom Selleck / Earl Hickey / The Cop Bloke from The Village People' Tribute Band. If only! I couldn't help but make the comparison. Mustasch have one if not the most a) unusual, b) shitty, c) ingenious - names in Metal, I'll leave that for you to decide.
'Fuck Me!' I've just typed it into a English to Swedish Translator and it is 'Moustache', c'mon guys think!
'Latest Version Of The Truth' is the sixth release from Mustasch, and once again, I have to admit I have not heard a single goddamn thing from them. By the end of 2005 they ended their contract with EMI and they wanted to go stand on their own eight feet and issued 'Parasite' EP which has previously been reviewed here at R13. 'Parasite' led them to the present and a new deal with Regain Records and 'LVOTT'.
What we have with these Swedish Mettallers is a right mix of styles, typically from 70's and 80's style Classic Rock. One thing which makes this album rise above the pile is its Classic Rock sound entwined with orchestral arrangements, something very rarely heard in modern rock music. I know it sounds strange but believe me, they haven't half got the blend right.
The opener 'In The Night' is one of the best opening tracks Ive had the pleasure to hear in quite some time. The intro alone is almost half the length of the song, but it is so melodic in nature I could just listen to it on a loop and never tire. When the vocals kick in it takes the song to another level.
Singer Ralf Gyllenhammer (great name) is definitely a contender for the 'Stars In Their Eyes' Metal night as he is an absolute ringer for Ian Astbury (Cult/Doors). If you liked the Cult when they went through their Metal period then you'll absolutely love this heavier / melodic beast of a version. Best example of this is on 'Double Nature' and which hit No2 in the Swedish charts. If only the UK chart was anything like this. String section as the intro, then I half expect it to go into a disco number from 'Sat Night Fever', but then takes a wicked turn with Ralf and fellow guitarist Hannes Hanson crash in with a crunching melodic style which carries through into all the songs.
Whether it's intentional or not 'Falling Down' bears an uncanny resemblance to the riff from Magnum's 'Vigilante'. I half expected short-arse Bob Catley come wading in and waving his arms everywhere, such is the similarity.
The pace of the songs fall only a little through the middle section of the album, but pick up pace again with 'Bring Me Everyone' which has a Sabbathesque feel. "Forever Begins Today' not only sounds like the title of a Bond movie, the song deserves to be on one! Move aside Tina Turner, I'm starting the petition here and now.
Sound quality is excellent throughout, courtesy of the mastering mixery of Vlado Meller (Audioslave / Metallica / Slayer).
Will this album sell in its current climate? As we know Sweden/ Scandinavia has more Metal bands per square inch than you can shake a stick at, and if this album doesn't rise above the rest then God help us all. Like the Vikings my hope is that they plan to invade someday soon. This album needs you! You don't need me to tell you to buy it, check out their myspace page and listen for yourself – you won't be disappointed.
Enough of this Scooch shit, I'm emigrating to Gothenburg.