REVIEW: Puddle of Mudd – Welcome to Galvania
Artist: Puddle of Mudd
Album: Welcome to Galvania
Rating: 7.5/10
With a myriad of blast beats, death growls, and tasty slams, some folks want to change up what they listen to. If they’re feeling some lighter listening but still want the fervor of heaviness splashed in, look no further than Puddle of Mudd’s newest record, “Welcome to Galvania.” Their first album since 2009, their timeless wait has shown that musicians improve and adapt over time. Don’t let this fool any old-school fans; there’s something for fans both new and old, riffs that will get you hooked and melodies that will infest the mind.
“You Don’t Know” is a fantastic welcome-back track to open an album with. It’s a testament to their older sound while incorporating newer sounds, a little heavier, tight production, and lots of busy work being performed on the guitars. This song opens the stage for the rest of the album. It cycles through its riffs a few times, but the main focus of this song is the lyrics: “You don’t know what it’s like to be in my head,” a testimony on display from the singer that kindness begets kindness and to treat others well. Nobody is ever sure what others are going through.
“Uh Oh,” the lead single, is a bop. This is the song that will bring older fans to listen to this album. The most intricate part of Puddle of Mudd is their vocal style; it’s rather country-esque but still fits in perfectly with distorted guitars and heavy drum hits. “Uh Oh” is a sing along, feel-good song. Fans will be screaming the lyrics and dancing to the rockin’ guitar solos that layer this tasty track. Once the music stops, the singer says, “You can take the house, you can take the dogs/you can take the cats…” until heading right into the chorus again with a key change.
“Sunshine” starts with a swelling of the guitar before the whole band enters on a bouncy lead riff. The song goes back and forth between quiet palm mutes and uproarious guitar parts as the verses blend in with the chorus, reminding the listeners to “feel the sunshine.” This is one of the heavier songs on the album, with the bass booming while the guitars dip out for some delicious bass tone. The song has very Breaking Benjamin-esque vibes in the first half until the chordal toward the end. It feels as though someone is truly sitting in the sunshine at this part, almost purposely done by the band to give that feeling; a well-crafted song.
“Slide Away” is one of the slower songs on the record. It’s uplifting and relatable to listeners, going from a softer side to the heavier side all in one. Like a Mudvayne song, it has a lighthearted feeling before plummeting into some tasty riffs. The singer’s vocals truly shine through here. The band has progressed musically in ten years, showing that they know their roots but also are willing to incorporate new strategies to make this album even better. This is the last song on the record, and it ends with a dissonant chordal section before the guitar fuzz out of existence, leaving the listener wanting to repeat the album.
Overall, the album is good ol’ Puddle of Mudd. There are new aspects within the instrumentation and the vocals still sound classic but much stronger. They say that rock is dead, but it’s just changed, and Puddle of Mudd are going to jump on top of the charts next to Volbeat on this. This band has a lot of potential, and with so much musical background, their long-awaited returned is going to be welcomed with open arms.
FFO: Volbeat, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace
