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Zoetrope > Mind over Splatter > Reviews
Zoetrope - Mind over Splatter

It's too late for you to change - 57%

autothrall, December 31st, 2009

By the 90s, a band like Zoetrope was considered long past dead, and yet, six years beyond A Life of Crime, here was their 3rd album. Mind Over Splatter is one of those albums that struggles to validate its own existence. On the one hand, it's got a few decent tracks that honor the band's legacy and show that they weren't going to go out like suckers...completely. But on the other, it's also got its share of worthless songs, the lineup is almost completely different (only guitarist Kevin Michael remains), and really, the better songs could have been released as bonus tracks on a CD re-issue of one of the prior albums. But alas, Mind Over Splatter was an attempt at a new lease on life for Zoetrope, and with 12 tracks and 40 minutes of new music, it simply did not succeed where it needed to.

I don't know where the train fell off the tracks, or why most of the original lineup crashed and burned, but new vocalist Pete Montswillo does try to maintain a loyalty to Barry Stern's vocal approach. His tone is meatier, and sometimes feels like he's about to lose his breath, but he's not really the issue here. The leads are pretty well written and consistent through the album, and about half the tracks rock out in like an Amnesty revival. Also no problem on the drums and bass, which are just as busy if not busier than the previous albums, which only makes sense after six years of the genre's evolution.

"Crack" is a pretty boring and silly track, though the rhythm is pure Zoetrope and the leads are decent. The vocals sound a little off, and the riffs themselves are not exactly memorable. "Million Ways to Die" is far better, though the catchy leads and a cutting rhythm are superior to the rather dull, plodding thrash of the verse. "New World Order" is like an entirely different band... There is metal here, but the verse sounds like The Police, a proggish leaning that doesn't quite jibe with the rest of the music on the album. And then, the band returns for a number of decent, fun tunes, in "Guilt by Association" and the punishing "Down and Out", though the strange ragga-like Megadeth rhythm at :40 in the latter threw me off for a minute. "It's My Life" operates on a pumping bass line and some corny but fairly catchy melodic guitar lines, and "New York Minute", while riotous, is just not all that memorable.

"Acid Rain" is a pretty good speed metal track with some melodic doom to the bridge at 2:00 minutes, and "Deceased Corpsmen" transforms from a raging rhythm into more twisting, melodic guitars that heighten its immersion. And then..."Splattered" is a fucking rap song. Yes, a rap song, or rather a Zoetrope take on such, with big bass, samples (including Flava Flav), and a guitar solo, which seems rather lame and unnecessary. It's another one of those 'experimental' tracks which bands would toss on their albums because they were afraid of not looking as if they embraced the new diversity and open mindedness of the 90s. LMFAO. The album tries to recover with the grim tones of "Spilling of Blood", and it ends with "Tomorrow It's You", which is hands down one of the best songs on the album, though that is not saying alot.

Surprisingly, Mind Over Splatter has the most raw and underground production of all their albums, and this is a positive. Very earthen, vibrant tones carry the rhythm guitars, while the leads blaze over the top. Though it tries its hand at experimentation, those tunes should have probably been left off the album, and the rest are just not as convincing as the past albums. The parallels to Coven's Boneless Christian are a little uncanny...both released on Red Light records in 1993, after years of no real output, and both coming up far short of the bands' respective 80s work. While, Mind Over Splatter is clearly superior to that Coven offering (Boneless Christian), it's just not good, and I would never reach for it above A Life of Crime or Amnesty, though it may have the best lead guitar of the three.

Highlights: Million Ways to Die, Acid Rain, Tomorrow It's You

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com

America Needs More Thrash Like This - 97%

FrayedEndsOfSanity39, September 23rd, 2004

This is a requirement for every thrash fan's metal collection. Mind Over Splatter was a great finish for Zoetrope, it's just too bad they didn't keep going. At times this record actually reminds me of Slayer, but it's usually more peppy and upbeat, yet still raw. This comparison can really be seen when switching from track 5: Down And Out(comparable to Slayer) to track 6: It's My Life(upbeat). For the most part, it's usually the latter. Mind Over Splatter is remarkable metal, full of energy, making you want to thrash about. You can listen to this album straight through without acknowledging that fast-forward button. It's exemplary Thrash/Speed Metal.
Another comparison to Slayer concerns the vocals. Pete Montswillo's voice is quite similar to Tom Araya's, especially when he hits a high note. But, this band, in my reputable opinion, is a lot better than the renowned Slayer. They have a lot more variation concerning their song's topics, and they never inherited that mainstream sound. This release gives Amnestry a run for its money. Moving along to the instruments, Kevin Michael and Michael Ray Garret are quite apt with the guitar. The riffs are fast and flawless, and you'll want to hear every chorus again. It's difficult to explain the sound any further than that it's simply pure thrash. Not as heavy as Possessed, Tankard, or Exodus, but a little faster. The entire cd is brilliant, excluding maybe one song.... The band shows their sense of humor when you reach track 9, Splattered. It's a rap song they did as a joke.
This was recorded in 1992 and released in 93, right when thrash was settling back to the "underground". I wonder why the output of albums such as this didn't give the genre something to subsist on. It's just too bad. Mind Over Splatter is rather prevalent in the cd collections of most thrash enthusiasts. So if you're a thrash, speed, or even a general heavy metal fan, and are lacking this album, put it in your wanted list. Or better yet, go out and buy it.

Same Ol' Same Ol' - 70%

FatalStrike, November 7th, 2003

Well this album really has nothing new to say in the area of thrash. But it's still made up of solid tunes. The production is pretty muffled, and detracts somewhat from the album. The riffs are solid, but the leadwork is very well executed, and the high point of many of the songs.

Opening song Crack is one of the better songs on here. It's got decent riffs, but the vocals have a very catchy delivery, and there is also some pretty solid leadwork. Million Ways to Die slows down a little, but has more of a traditional thrash sound. But the leadwork is really what brings this song out, very well done ideas on here. New World Order has a nice intro riff, but this song turns into some wierd sort of thing. Very similar to some stuff on Death Angel's Act III album. Decent song overall with a nice ending. Guilt by Association has a nice acoustic opening piece. The song has a nice pace to it, but it awkwardly slows down at times. The riffs after the solo are very well done. Down and Out moves from fast thrasher to slow shouter. Kinda bleh. It's My Life is a happier punky song. Sounds alot like some of the stuff on Offspring's first album, although with some metal moments. Not bad. New York Minute has some good riffs, but the vocals are overdubbed with effects that just make them irritating at times. Again some solid leadwork. Acid Rain is more of a speed metal song, as has some good melodic ideas. Sounds similar to the first track, but a bit faster. Deceased Corpsemen is another ok track, nice leadwork. Splattered is a sad attempt at trying the whole rap thing Anthrax did. Just skip this crap. Spilling of Blood slows down a tad, but is a pretty damn good song. Tomorrow It's You is a solid closer. With some killer riffs popping up.

Well the songs are overall very solid. None of the riffs really stand out all that much, but there are some great ones floating around. The production is pretty bad, and the rhythm guitar is fairly muffled. The highlight of this album is the leadwork. It saves most of the songs on this album. The only bad track is Splattered. The remaining songs are all at fairly the same level, and due to the production can seem to blend together. It's worth a listen if your a thrash fan.