:: Mower - Make It A Double

Mower

Two years after making a big impact on the scene with their sophomore release ‘Not For You’, San Diego based act Mower are back with their third full-length release ‘Make It A Double’. While it’s not entirely obvious from the outset, the latest effort from the five piece act is genuinely made up of two completely different halves. The first half of the album is, as you would expect, very much like the Mower that most will be familiar with. The opening track ‘The Party’ is an energetic thrashing rocker that stands out with the band’s very distinct dual vocalists (Sheerin provides the heavy rock approach side of things, while Moscatello brings up the higher pitched efforts) very much driving the band. Despite some dreadful lyrical content and a thin production sound (The vocals are perhaps a little too high in the mix); the first single/promotional video clip ‘The Party’ gets the album off to a rocking and energetic start. 'Wolves’ is a definite stand out cut with its heavier direction and catchy chorus, while the raucous nervous energy of ‘The Start’ and the infectious ‘The Song We Don’t Speak Of’ keep the album moving along at a frantic pace. ‘Shneak’ and ‘Escaped’ are a couple of slower tracks which find the band opting for a heavier and groovier vibe, while the blisteringly fast ‘Sicko’ and the rather short (not to mention somewhat directionless) instrumental interlude ‘Alien’ finishing up the first half of the album. It’s on the second half that the album takes a complete one-eighty degree turn, with the band giving some of their older tracks a complete acoustic makeover. Stone Sour/Soulfly drummer Ray Mayorga helps out on percussion on the opening duo of ‘Faded’ and the excellent ‘Road Rage’ with some great results, but while there’s no denying that ‘Pieces’, ‘Shut Up And Skate’ and ‘U Turn’ are given completely different feels with their acoustic makeovers, their initial impact and energy sound too washed out to really stand up against their original versions. ‘Undone’ on the other hand really does take on a life of its own, with the harmony vocals really providing the song with something over the electrified version. Finishing up the album is the uncredited and rather short ‘Aliens’, which is again another pointless and rather silly track that only comes across as an incomplete idea. While an album of two halves is a novel concept, it has to be said that Mower doesn’t entirely succeed at pulling it off. The heavier tracks are pretty consistent for the most part, but the acoustic efforts are a little hit and miss. Overall, if you like the band’s two previous efforts, then you will at least enjoy half of ‘Make It A Double’. If on the other hand, if you’re new to Mower, then I would suggest going back a step and checking out ‘Not For You’ first before progressing to the band’s newest effort.