CMJ (4/30/01, p.17) - "...Employs piano, clean vocals, and strong song structures; and beckons more to Faith No More ca. KING FOR A DAY or FOOL FOR A LIFETIME..."
Contains 28 hidden tracks following "Episode 29".
Mushroomhead: Jeffrey Nothing, J Mann (vocals); Bronson, Gravy (guitar); Shmotz (keyboards); Pig Benis (bass); Skinny (drums); Stitch (samples).
Additional personnel: Scot Edgell (vocals).
These wacky Cleveland nu-metal-heads have been wowing Midwest audiences since the early '90s with their masked-men-of-mystery schtick, but XX proves that they're no mere posers. With an intriguing mix of hip-hop, metal, the requisite cookie monster vocals, and most importantly some actual songs (witness "Never Let it Go"), Mushroomhead are set to fill the yawning metal gap currently sparsely inhabited by bands such as Tool.
"Chancre Sore" is blistering metal/hip-hop, while "Before I Die" is festering, synth-laden heavy rock, "Xeroxed" is a full throttle assault on the senses, and "Episode 29" consists mainly of a lot of Gothic-style screaming. In short, if this forceful major-label debut is anything to go on, Mushroomhead may be the answer to a metal-starved music fan's prayers. If they manage to keep the masks on, they could, in theory, continue for decades, with a revolving door of personnel--a kind of metal Menudo.