Album Review: Mudvayne by Mudvayne

Mudvayne's self-titled album is slightly heavier than 2008's The New Game, but it still features songs written in their current default mode, which is a sort of combination of Linkin Park and Tool -- churning basslines, the occasional faux-tribal rhythm, lots of angsty roaring and crooned choruses. Lyrics like "the death of love as we know it" raise serious questions about whether these guys -- and the entire nu metal generation -- are as emotionally stunted and scarred as they seem, or whether they've latched onto a schtick and can't imagine switching gears for fear of losing their share of an already diminished market. There are some surprises on Mudvayne, like a surprisingly Slash-like guitar solo on "Closer" and the death metal intro to the Slipknot-esque "I Can't Wait," but too much of it is more of the same from the band and its genre.

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