Mudvayne boasts a couple of elements that distinguish it from most contemporary heavy metal outfits. The band adopts bizarre facial makeup that is less suggestive of Kiss than of a bunch of boys who, having failed to plan their Halloween costumes, threw something together by raiding their mother's vanity case. And lead singer Kud (they have funny pseudonyms, too) doesn't always sing in a typical hardcore howl, sometimes descending into a more conventional voice, as if he were auditioning to replace Sebastian Bach in the Broadway production of Jekyll & Hyde. Such characteristics suggest that, for Mudvayne, the thrash style is something of a pose, a suspicion enhanced by reference to the CD booklet, which contains an acknowledgments section as lengthy and gushy as what you'd find on a teen pop album. Can these guys giving thanks and love to family and friends be the same ones performing aggressive lockstep metal, spewing obscenities, and singing about suicide? It seems so, but it's hard to take seriously. (The "L.D." in the album's title refers to "lethal dose," and the "50" refers to a level of toxicity at which 50 out of 100 test animals will die.) [A 'clean' version of the album was released in 2001 as well.] ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
This was Mudvaynes BEST album. they need to return to this sound. man...they have changed sooo much. many bands are changing from something heavy to much lighter. All that remains, In Flames, Mudvayne, Mastodon, Static X...etc.
Jkgfish: A) This is pulled from the Allmusic Guide, which is something of a separate entity. B) A review isn't supposed to be nice. It's supposed to weigh what they do well against what they do poorly. That said, I think this was unnecessarily harsh. I was drawn in by what I heard on Pandora and not their live show, and I think that their vocalist is quite talented. Just because a band does something interesting doesn't make them nothing but a gimmick.
These guy have probably the most impressive bass player of any metal band today, which is important to me cause i play bass, and we get this douchebag talking s**t that their costumes aren't nice enough...
Mudvayne rules! Chad shouldn't have involved himself with such a foolish band like Hellyeah, what a horrible example of metal. They all wear stupid rolled up cowboy hats. That's called gay metal I think. Ugghhh!!!
Why is "William Ruhlmann" writing about Mudvayne if he so obviously does not like them?! This album is amazing and all he does is knock their vocals and stage costumes. What a s**tty review!
This band is incredible; from vocals to music they are just mind blowing. Tight, extremely talented, and very sincere in their music. Here's a band that wants to get their thoughts across and is not around for merely "just making another album" to please the record label gods and make some cash. They deserve every penny they earn. Even their live recorded music is superb.
I agree, the structure of the album is so amazing, and yes it is by far their best album. The are such talented musicians. Listen to the whole album all the way through and when the album is over you feel like you just experienced something amazing. Try listening to it on shrooms, WOW!F**king TRIPPIN' BALLS.