Mushroomhead - Make a spritlely return to the UK

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Mushroomhead are back with a new image and singer!!!

Mushroomhead **** are a band from Cleveland, Ohio that have influenced so many in the Metal World, you would not have Slipknot without them and countless other bands. The big question is, why are Mushroomhead not headlining areas. Because anyone that has seen their live show, knows they put on one Hell of a live show. 

This is the first time that the UK audience has got to hear and see Steve Rauckhorst on vocals, he was not with them on the last tour. On vocals was Jeff Hatrix (Jeffrey Nothing), you know the creepy one... with hands on his head. I have to say I have always been a fan of him with his distinctive tone and vocals and Waylon Reavis with his harsh undertone. 

Steve does a very good job tonight and think Mushroomhead have done a good job by picking him, but the fact his vocals are too low in the mix. And for this tour the singers masks are not as distinctive as the last couples harms how the audience see him, but this is not a problem that can't be easierly fixed. It's nice to see the rapping of Jason Popson (J Mann) mixing throughout the performance, a long with a guest performance of Jackie LaPonza who is one of the touring musicians with the band.

Mushroomhead have some really good songs and you can see this from the beginning of their set, with songs like 'Bwomp'... 'Qwerty' which I love the chaotic vibe and of course the anthem 'Sun doesn't Rise'. The last of which, you cannot not mention when your talking about Mushroomhead. Like a side before, some of the vocals where do low during the set and annoyingly on this one that was really the case. But maybe it's because the bangs on the water drums were so loud, and the Islington, o2 Academy isn't the biggest venue.

What I really love about Mushroomhead is that you get on stage, exactly what you see in one of their music videos. So many bands look cool in their music videos, they are energetic and sound and look great. But when you go to see their show, it doesn't live up to expectations... well Mushroomhead are a band that do. And they play a setlist of songs, that would be the exact same set as the fans would pick if they had a choice.

So one of the highlights of the set saying all this is 'Solitaire/Unraveling', like you would expect it to be. So as the band work as a tight unit, you can see why they could be one of the best live acts on the Metal scene these days. And that they are all quality musicians that can make any song work in their set, so as they play Pink Floyd's 'Empty Spaces' you know this is a band that is a little bit special. I have even see them do a Prince cover live before, they have done 'When doves Cry' and it was just simply brilliant.

Mushroomhead are always good, and this is another great show. But by their already high standards set, not the best one I have seen. But that is only because they are always great, and their standard already set... are almost unreachable. But if they can do it, then that is one show I really can't wait to see.

Mushroomhead - Setlist
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43 / Kill Tomorrow
Bwomp
Qwerty
Sun doesn't Rise
Dancy 
Got
Nowhere to Go
Solitaire/Unraveling
Pre-Machine / KM
Log / Becoming Cold (216)
The Dream is Over
Empty Spaces / Born of Desire

Review and Photo's by Dan Devour

Check Out! the Video for 'We are the Truth' Below...