ALBUM REVIEW: Cult Mentality – Avoid
Trying to bring messages of inclusivity, innovation and passion to their music, genre-hopping five-piece AVOID release their new album Cult Mentality. Speaking about this new record, vocalist Benny Scholl has said, “Welcome to Cult Mentality! This record is a collection of everything we’ve been through in the last few years. Cult Mentality is a mindset. It embodies what it takes to pursue anything you want in life. We hope this record can be there for you the way it’s been for us.”
Beginning with My World, the track opens with some hip-hop electronic beats before Scholl‘s FEVER 333-esque unclean vocals take over. The stripped back track really highlights their vocals, allowing for a hard-hitting opening verse. This then transitions into another electronic melody, but this doesn’t last long before the impactful pre-chorus jumps in, supplying us with head bobbing material. The lyrics to this song emote the fast and hard element of the verses, transitioning into a calmer chorus giving off pop punk vibes. Bringing the volume down to emphasise the incoming breakdown, it would be hard to miss this brutal tone change. Some down-tuned guitars and meaty drum beats mixed with techno elements mesh to create this wall of music before switching to a mixed version of the chorus once again.
The third track on the album, Cowabunga, creates a contrast to the first couple of songs, displaying the range and genre fluidity that AVOID are known for. Supplying more of a pop rock sound, this track begins with a toned down guitar riff played slowly and atmospherically, breaking to show off some distorted vocals backed by some consistent drum beats. The chorus follows suit and melds into a more pop punk sound, with catchy lyrics flowing along with some groovy riffs. This song has a range of elements, but generally sounds pretty similar throughout due to the band choosing to go for a mainly clean song.
Split (Kill It) starts as it means to go on, with the lyrics “Just kill it” being shouted in the distance before the track drops into a fast paced drum and riff blend – definitely a triumphant combo. The lyrics of this album tend to have a sense of frustration to them, encompassing the struggles many of us face every day. The chorus enters, giving a mix of LINKIN PARK and metalcore as a heart-churning growl comes almost out of nowhere; this band clearly don’t want to fit into a box. It’s fun to see so many different elements used throughout this album, but it’s hard to label AVOID. Perhaps this is the new path rock and metal is taking as more bands start to sound like everyone else. AVOID is AVOID, it’s hard to say much more than that.
Track number eight, Bored, could be taken straight out of a 90s teen comedy, but with a little bit of techno incorporated. An anthem many may find relatable, this song covers the subject of pushing yourself too hard to do as much as you can, but you’re still, well, bored. This sort of sound is another nice change up for the album, mixing melodic guitars and vocals, it kind of feels like you’re drifting along whilst listening to it. AVOID have managed to create an album that truly keeps you guessing throughout, something that is a lot harder than may seem at first.
Rating: 9/10
Cult Mentality is set for release on November 4th via Thriller Records.
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