ALBUM REVIEW: Cartoon Violence – Mother Vulture
While on paper MOTHER VULTURE’s mix of old-school rock swagger and noughties hardcore energy may sound too chaotic for its own good, the band’s sophomore LP Cartoon Violence proves they’ve got the secret ingredient to pull it all together. Sitting somewhere between GRETA VAN FLEET and THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, Cartoon Violence avoids sounding like something from a group of octogenarian classic rockers, instead imagining a world where those vintage sounds never stopped being cool or heavy.
For those unfamiliar with MOTHER VULTURE’s specific brand of noise, intro track Mike Check acts as a startling welcome into their world. Frontman Georgi Ivanov introduces the band with a curtain drop and a demented screech before roaring into a swirling maelstrom of THE WHITE STRIPES style blues rock riffs and unrelenting metallic hardcore energy, all building up to a memorable sing-along chorus. While it’s clear from the first notes of Cartoon Violence where MOTHER VULTURE first learned about rock and roll, the four-piece also make a deliberate effort to steer away from dreary nostalgia, instead accelerating headfirst into unhinged hardcore territory.
Although their concept may seem straightforward at first, MOTHER VULTURE manage to keep their sound fresh, speeding through decades of underground music, grabbing sounds as they fly by. Despite billing themselves as a blend of vintage rock swagger and modern hardcore attitude, Cartoon Violence draws from genres as far apart as surf punk and 90s alternative metal on Treadmill or 80s glam metal and noughties indie revival on Phoenix. While their core concept would be strong enough to carry a lazier band through a decades long career, MOTHER VULTURE refuse to let it pigeonhole them, building upon their retro-futuristic vision with a manic sense of sonic exploration.
While MOTHER VULTURE barely leave themselves room to breathe throughout most of the album, the track Slow Down stays true to its name and gives the band some room to stretch into heavier stoner rock territory. Almost entirely ditching their vintage sheen, Slow Down gives MOTHER VULTURE the opportunity to show off their songwriting prowess without the option to fall back on their breakneck speed, instead going low and slow with a steady guitar line and powerhouse chorus. Drawing from acts like QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE and ROYAL BLOOD, Slow Down removes MOTHER VULTURE’s rapid speed but retains their memorable, punishingly heavy riffs.
With much of Cartoon Violence making a deliberate effort to explore beyond the old-school acts that MOTHER VULTURE have referenced in the past, dedicated fans will be pleased to hear that the 70s style bravado hasn’t gone away, it’s just been updated for a new generation. Whereas tracks like Knuckles lean closer to modern alternative than nostalgic rock and roll, The Masquerade takes plenty of inspiration from smoky psychedelic rock and classic punk and closing track Mountain Of Youth ends the album on a sing-along rock banger with plenty of SKID ROW style riffs and gang vocals. However, rather than copying their influences piecemeal like plenty of other retro inspired acts, MOTHER VULTURE pick elements from their record collection with surgical precision, layering only the most exciting moments from the last 50 years of rock on top of their contemporary alt and hardcore bedrock.
While not abandoning their core concept, MOTHER VULTURE manage to expand their sound, crate digging through heavy music history to add an old-school swagger to their modern sound. Cartoon Violence is far too eclectic and violent to be your dad’s rock and roll but at least he’ll like the bits that sound like ZEPPELIN, who knows, maybe it’ll even be his gateway to THE CHARIOT or BOTCH.
Rating: 8/10
Cartoon Violence is set for release on January 15th via self-release.
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