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Mutilator > Into the Strange > Reviews
Mutilator - Into the Strange

Should we thrash or just go tame some strange? - 71%

hells_unicorn, December 26th, 2013

For some bands, being a trailblazer means building up a successful institution that blossoms into a movement with multiple generations, as can be seen with the likes of Death, Sepultura, Morbid Angel and so many others that played a role in developing the death metal sound. Then again, some bands stumble into a time period where they've got something surprisingly original on their hands and end up meandering into something else in an attempt at keeping things fresh. Granted, most of the aforementioned pioneers that stuck to their guns for longer than 1 or 2 albums did eventual wander off into varying degrees of uncharted territory insofar as their base sound was concerned, but a fairly early death/thrash act in Mutilator found themselves making a near 180 after cutting a very impressive debut, a mere year later no less.

It should be stressed that the change in direction that occurs on "Into The Strange" isn't quite as drastic as what happened on "Frolic Through The Park" or "The Black Album", but it's definitely a far cry from the overt intensity on display on "Immortal Force". Whereas the latter was in the same general league as "Schizophrenia" and "I.N.R.I.", this album is a lot closer to the somewhat restrained and contrived character of late 80s releases heard out of Testament and Defiance. Gone are the noise-driven insanity after mid 80s Slayer that was the guitar solos on the debut in favor of a still technical, but far more methodical approach in line with Skolnick and Hammett. Likewise, while the production is cleaned up to resemble a typical Bay Area release for 1988, culminating in an album that comes off as both tame and not very strange.

Right from it's inception with a sub-2 minutes instrumental after the mold of any number of Testament clean toned fits of balladry, it's clear that what was being sought after here was along similar lines to "The New Order". Even Alexander Magoo's vocal display has a heavy Chuck Billy character to it, with perhaps maybe a hint of Ron Rinehart, going for more of a controlled gruff, though his lack of range makes for a fairly flat performance. It isn't a massive liability as this style can be pulled off with a limited vocal range provided that the riffs are constantly cutting off heads at the shoulder, and it's this department where the album wants for something. Generally an album built out of a mixture of fast and mid-paced work will tend to have a fairly dynamic vocal performance, whereas all out fits of chaotic rage like this album's predecessor is where Magoo's voice finds a better home.

This is one of those albums that falls pretty far short of being essential, but has enough redeeming elements to be entertaining if heard by a rank and file late 80s thrash fanatic. Testament fans, in particular, will find some winners in the rapid paced fun of "Vanishing In The Haze", the largely mid-paced but fancy "Greetings (To The Deads)", and the frenetic thrasher of a title song "Into The Strange" (which sounds strangely similar to "Into The Pit" but with a few more guitar solos). There was no shortage of this sort of technical yet moderated violence by the time the 80s were reaching their close, and it's easy to see how an album like this was largely passed up for more established acts in the U.S., to speak nothing for not keeping the band's original target audience. It's an album that speaks to a group of musicians that were probably bored and wanted to try something different, but didn't quite hit the mark.

Amazing - 90%

Captain_Satan, July 22nd, 2010

Not nearly quite like their last album, this album has a cleaner sound, better structured songs, and better guitar solos. This album was a great progression from the usual raw, low-fi, fast paced thrash metal most of us are used to, without loosing what we all love about thrash. Magoo and C.M. (MX/Cova guitarist) shred it up throughout the entire album. These guys really are riffmasters, I don't know why everyone thinks Immortal Force is so amazing, yet shuns this album, as if they pulled a Sepultura and took a step in the wrong direction.

The only song I really don't like is Greetings to the deads, the chorus is a bit goofy, but sure enough the solo will melt your face off if you can stand the song long enough to get to it, I usually skip to the next track before it gets to the chorus. My favorites would have to be Vanishing in the haze, Fighting the past, and Raise the strange. The only reason I didn't include every other song from this album, is because there are some dull moments between the awesome riffage and orgasmic shredding. Five minutes behind walls is amazing, but the build up takes nearly two minutes before it gets completely awesome.

Overall, this is one of my favorite albums, twice now I've been to Brazil looking for it, and I still haven't found it. Most of the people I know who've listened to Mutilator couldn't really get into em, or really liked Immortal Force, but couldn't get "Into the Strange." I think this is a great step forward from Immortal Force, I don't think I'd like Mutilator as much if they had just made two raw, lo-fi thrash metal albums. I'd highly recommend this if you're a die hard thrash metal junkie like me, but for anyone else, I'd definitely recommend you'd at least give it a listen. Also if you really enjoyed this album, I'd recommend Chemako, Magoo's only other band (that we know of) after this one. There's only a self titled album, and it's only available on LP, but you can still get it at Cogumelo records.

A Pair of Sneakers That Didn't Fit - 55%

Byrgan, November 23rd, 2008

Within a year's time Mutilator have changed into a different category of a band. A few demo songs were used on the previous album. While they could have in all likelihood already had this in the writing process while laying down recordings for their debut. Maturing and lessoning their overall impact. They're still young guys who probably had enough of hateful themes, while previously taking it out on their poor instruments. Now it is taken out on their die hard fans of the previous releases.

Into the Strange's music is applied at more of a mainstream thrash and heavy influenced sound. The name strange is more or less a misnomer in representing the feel of the album. Conventionally speaking, Mutilator tackled a new approach to their last hammering and pounding more death-thrash album: Immortal Force. Change isn't so bad when the band is able to present a new turn of events into a plausible and enjoyable successive album. However, with Into the Strange's music, it is breaking away from a sound that would be an original high point.

The music follows along with versatile moments and progressing thrash riffs: still with plenty of palm mutes, and more technical higher strings from newest guitarist C.M. There are points where it just stays stationary, and plods due to a building process that takes a little too long to build sometimes. There are acoustic sections, like on the first track, which probably captures the soft looking album cover of a setting or rising sun. With them forgetting to alter their more-harsh-than-represented band name at that point. Making the cover look like a ruined vacation setting with the word Mutilator hovering over it, yet adjusted upright 'T's in the logo. The riffs are more in a Metallica line of thought around that point. Both playing in a defined thrash placing and adding some heavy influences as well. And using plenty of chug on the guitars, mixed with smooth solos, but mostly with open arms and a need to please. The kind that is served watered down and gives a small superficial buzz. Yeah, you get you hang out with a few guys from Mutilator, yet who nurse their beers and want to talk about their life problems.

Magoo switched over to lead vocalist, substituting Kleber's place, and uses a roughened, yet mild, back of the throat strain: all coming from a deeply toned voice. At points using fluctuating notes. Like an updated Lemmy, where he uses that hoarse and rough voice, while still following the flow of the songs without sounding entirely monotone. Although, mumbled in a way and said in a speedier fashion. Yet, on a few tracks used in a more chorus-like way, like on 'Greetings' he uses an accenting, following-of-the-riffs phrase that is more clearer sounding. And gets on my nerves enough to want to steady my hand and change the track when it does.

There would be certain Brazilian groups that would drop the over-bearing or evil-toned sound in the 80s. Namely Holocausto, which I'm suspicious to think that they were trying to just fit in to begin with. Even Vulcano got some slack in their home town for having an evil-themed first album, that's apparently why the second dropped these aspects. Attomica's first and second albums differ substantially, from aggressive to just plain commercial Bay Area thrash worshippers. Although, I think Dorsal Atlantica did it right with a creative sophomore. Whether it was some bands then that would switch to using English for global access. Or in this case a band wanting to drop their innovativeness and switch to a middling formula, instead of plowing their way forward.

Mutilator decided to take a different thrash-pathway, mixed with some heavy influences as well. Using more versatile song structures and altered music in proper fashion. Which works some of the time, then at other points plods along with their newer building processes. I think when they were more aggressive it was more fitting because they brought to the table an engaging attention. You could almost smell the creeping aroma of the third-world from their previous album. It had innocent blemishes and also a respectable originality because of them. Which leads me to add that when they were playing at that point it was more fitting, and showed a band that was standing in the right pair of shoes, with the right Mutilator charisma. If the moon walk looked cool with spikes and gauntlets on, I'm sure they could have done it with an appropriate bow, followed by an equally appropriate applause. Although, they seemed like they were tired of being recognized with old and beat up footwear that all the other guys were wearing. That would be considered unfavorable and dwelling in their own past. Mutilator restocked their shelves, buying the wrong sizes and spending too much to return them. Which eventually caused them to be put in a dusty closet somewhere in vain. A place that would hardly be touched but remembered with an overzealous urge to step into a pair of sneakers that didn't fit. Sure they were tight, and you could squeeze your foot in them, but who's the one suffering when they are sitting around with 20 years of collected dust.

More Thrashy, but a bit Boring - 76%

CHRISTI_NS_ANITY8, October 14th, 2007

The second Mutilator album is definitely more mature in the music than their previous one. In Brazil, those bands that used to play a violent death/thrash metal by the middle of the 80s, at the end they started to play a more mature thrash metal. So it has been with Sepultura, Chackal and also for Mutilator.

The main problem is that, while Sepultura found the way to great albums, this new Mutilator’s one is less catchy. “Immortal Force”, in its violence, was made of catchy and direct songs, while with “Into The Strange” they focused the attention on the technical side, losing a bit the inspiration. Let me explain: the riffs are very good but there are less good refrains and songs of 6 or 7 minutes are a bit boring because there isn't GREAT stuff, just quite GOOD.

The main problems are the too long, even if good, mid paced riffs that in too long songs are too heavy to “stand”. The real good things come with the guitars solos. The new lead guitar player brought to the group a new form of melody (also in the rhythmic parts) and quite technical solos. They are mostly thrash in their style and quite melodic.

The intro is done with few melodic arpeggios and already from here you can see the group’s new direction. I liked this intro a lot, very catchy. “Vanish In The Haze” is, along with “A Place To Go” and “Fighting In the Past” the fastest and best songs here. The tempo changes a lot during these songs and the structure is more complex.

“Lost Words” with its melodic intro, reminds me early Iron Maiden (!!). The song is quite long and here we can find one of the most melodic rhythmic guitar riffs of the album. “Five Minutes Beyond the Wall” is instrumental and quite long, sometimes too boring in my opinion.

At the end we can say that Mutilator achieved the goal of recording a quite good album, but not excellent, absolutely. The good thing is that they became good musicians but unfortunately they didn’t show us so catchy structures, but only complex songs, and that is not enough. Anyway a quite good effort.