Monster Magnet – Mastermind - 2XLP

From note one of opener “Hallucination Bomb” it’s apparent Wyndorf has at least partially returned to his roots, which means thick, Black Sabbath-inspired riffs and a palpable 70’s vibe teamed with strange, often hilariously oddball lyrics. This song is classic Monster Magnet and makes me realize how much I missed their earlier style. However, don’t start expecting another version of Spine of God. As Mastermind unspools to reveal one top-notch rocker after another, it’s clear Monster Magnet has morphed from a stoner rock band into a finely tuned, greasy and dirty American hard rock unit.  

The 70s vibe is still there but it isn’t always the defining characteristic it once was. Great tracks like “Bored With Sorcery,” “Dig That Hole” and “Gods and Punks” are really just good old fashioned hard rock and some tracks even have a noticeable Clutch vibe to them (“Hallucination Bomb” and the excellent “100 Million Miles Away” in particular). This time out Mr. Wyndorf has really nailed that perfect balance between the older 70s worship and straight-up, no bullshit hard rock and everything about this album feels rejuvenated, hungry and pissed off. 

A1        Hallucination Bomb    5:27
A2        Bored With Sorcery    4:02
A3        Dig That Hole    5:34
B1        Gods And Punks    5:31
B2        The Titan Who Cried Like A Baby    3:36
B3        Mastermind    5:08
B4        100 Million Miles    5:01
C1        Perish In Fire    4:42
C2        Time Machine    5:30
C3        When The Planes Fall From The Sky    5:46
D1        Ghost Story    5:20
D2        All Outta Nothin    4:28
D3        Watch Me Fade    3:05
D4        Fuzz Pig    3:13