Cleveland’s masked metal maestros, MUSHROOMHEAD, have announced their highly anticipated ninth studio album, “Call The Devil,” set to release on August 9th, 2024. This new album follows the success of their 2020 release, “A Wonderful Life,” and promises to push the boundaries of their sound even further.
“Call The Devil” marks the return of longtime guitarist Dave “Gravy” Felton after a 12-year hiatus. Felton, known for his contributions to some of the band’s most iconic tracks, brings his signature style to two songs on the new album. The production is once again helmed by the band’s drummer and mastermind, Steve “Skinny” Felton, with mixing by Matt Wallace, who previously worked on MUSHROOMHEAD’s acclaimed album “XIII.” The album also features mastering by Jacob Hansen, known for his work with VOLBEAT, EPICA, and ARCH ENEMY.
The announcement of the new album comes with the release of its first single, “Fall In Line.” Accompanied by a visually striking music video, the track showcases the band’s new masks, designed by Jordan Patton and guitarist Joe Gall. “Fall In Line” is a powerful blend of electro-industrial elements and spine-tingling keys, featuring a dynamic vocal performance from Scott Beck and Jackie LaPonza.
Steve “Skinny” Felton shared his thoughts on the new single, stating, “One of my favorite things about the ‘Fall In Line’ video is the use of the color red. It’s a powerful and emotional color palette. ‘Fall In Line’ was actually the last song we recorded for the LP. It came together really fast. Upbeat, aggressive, and fun.”
“Call The Devil” promises a diverse range of tracks, from the ominous intensity of the album opener “Eye To Eye” to the emotive and jazzy “Emptiness.” The album also features experimental tracks like “UIOP (A Final Reprieve)” and “Hallelucination,” as well as heavy hitters such as “Prepackaged,” “Hideous,” and “Torn In Two.” The dark and winding “We Don’t Care” is expected to become a live favorite, with its chanting chorus and earworm hook.
The album also highlights the musical prowess of bassist and keyboardist Ryan “Dr. F” Farrell, who brings a cinematic and vaudevillian touch to tracks like “Decomposition,” “Grand Gesture,” and “Shame In A Basket.” The album closes with the bizarre and intriguing “Doom Goose.”
Steve “Skinny” Felton humorously commented on the album title, saying, “We played around with a few different album titles, and apparently ‘Shout At The Devil’ was already taken… so we figured we’d just try calling.”
MUSHROOMHEAD’s “Call The Devil” is set to be a significant addition to their discography, showcasing their ability to innovate while staying true to their signature sound and imagery. The album’s tracklist is as follows:
1. Eye To Eye
2. Fall In Line
3. Emptiness
4. We Don’t Care
5. UIOP (A Final Reprieve)
6. Prepackaged
7. Decomposition
8. Grand Gesture
9. Hallelucination
10. Hideous
11. Torn In Two
12. Shame In A Basket
13. Doom Goose
In support of the new album, MUSHROOMHEAD has announced a series of tour dates. The tour kicks off on July 19th at the Ohio State Reformatory’s INKcarceration Festival and includes a European tour with DYMYTRY and SILENZER, as well as a US tour with UPON A BURNING BODY, THERE IS NO US, and MIND INCISION.
MUSHROOMHEAD’s lineup for the tour includes vocalists Steve Rauckhorst, Scott Beck, and Jackie LaPonza, guitarists Dave Felton and Joe Gall, bassist and keyboardist Ryan Farrell, and drummers Aydin Kerr, Robert Godsey, and Steve Felton.
Reflecting on the band’s longevity, Steve “Skinny” Felton expressed gratitude, saying, “All I can say is that we have been very blessed to be able to do this. Whether it’s 10, 20, 30 years — pretty much any time at all — anyone who gets to do this for any length of time knows how blessed and lucky and fortunate they are and to really soak in that.”
“Call The Devil” is set to be a landmark release for MUSHROOMHEAD, offering a mix of hard-hitting anthems and experimental tracks that will captivate fans old and new.
