Release Date: November 08th 2024. Record Label: Ouga Booga and the Mighty Oug Recordings / Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Cheat Death - Track Listing:
1.Overthrown
2.The one who keeps me down
3.Götzen Hammer
4.Astral Odor
5.Love
6.Speedhead
7.Misery
8.Bluebird
9.Cheat Death
10.Grey, Green Blues
Review
Stoner Rock legends 1000MODS return with Cheat Death which is their first full-length album in four years and it’s everything you want from the band. Focusing upon a wider and heavier narrative compared to previous albums, 1000MODS deliver a heavy hitting blend of Doom, Fuzz, Psych, Sludge and Stoner Metal that sees the band delve into areas of Heavy Metal. The sound has a slightly dark and rebellious narrative which appears right away within the sublime opening track of Overthrown.
The sound is cautiously aggressive with subtle flashes of Stoner Rock/Metal imagery the band have delivered time and time again but this time round there’s a fast-paced Psych Rock and Punk Rock sound bursting through the seams. The lure of 1980’s Classic Heavy Guitar shredding plays a big part of Overthrown which appears throughout the album though 1000MODS throw a few welcome surprises along the way.
The music here is played with deft sounding precision with 1000MODS honing their musical and technical ability unlike ever before. Though, the band never lost sight of what made them such a beloved and well-respected band within the Stoner Metal field with the majority of the tracks sticking to that sound quite closely with room for experimentation as well. Check out tracks such as The One Who Keeps Me Down and Götzen Hammer.
1000MODS showcase a fine style of raw-sounding aggression and psychedelic soundscapes which has an air of intensity which sees the band bring a fresh DOOMED OUT perspective to their creative core. The album is benefited by the heavyweight talents of Matt Bayles who co-produced the album, mixed and engineered the album as well. Brad Boatright is on mastering duties at his famed Audioseige lair and the results are spectacular from start to finish.
Cheat Death is at it’s strongest and heaviest when 1000MODS go slightly off script by blending different styles of Heavy Rock we haven’t heard from them before. There’s moments of Alt Rock, Punk Rock and Heavy Metal that feel out of place at first but the band pull out a cool sounding riff that holds everything together which allows the album to be 1000MODS most exciting record in years. With influences as diverse as Motorhead, The Ramones, MC5, Black Sabbath KYUSS and FU MANCHU being heard at times, 1000MODS still create their own original blend of melodic driven Stoner Rock/Metal with hard hitting lyrics to match.
The second half sees a huge STADIUM ROCK swagger starting to appear on tracks such as Speedhead, Misery, Cheat Death and the wonderful standout final track of Grey, Green Blues. There’s perhaps an element of “NOTHING IS WHAT IT SEEMS” appearing with how 1000MODS deliver their music with different musical compositions and melodic structures taking you by complete surprise which rewards the listener with some classic sounding instrumental passages and heavy STONED OUT guitar solos.
Cheat Death is perhaps the album that announces and cements 1000MODS reputation as one of TITANS of the global STONER ROCK/METAL scene. This is a future classic album in the making and perhaps 1000MODS landmark record to date.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to 3P Lab, 1000Mods and Purple Sage PR for the promo
Cheat Death is available to buy now on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ouga Booga and the Mighty Oug Recordings and Ripple Music.
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