Author: Sebastijan Videc
Artist: Monster Magnet
Label: Napalm Records
Release: numbers
Length: 60:12
Rating: 4.5/5
The New Jersey quintet is considered one of the most influential pioneers of stoner rock. While other bands more or less stuck to their own sound, Monster Magnet, with their cosmic, comic-book-inspired extras, rose above the gray average. Music soaked in psychedelia, battles with inner demons and drugs, dressed up in hard rock rhythms and swaying melodies, has been their trademark from day one. And considering it’s been three years since Mastermind came out, it was slowly about time for a new album; Monster Magnet have been putting out records every three years since Dopes to Infinity in 1995.
The first thought that popped into my head while listening was that the guys have made the most mature record of their career. Sound-wise they’re heading back to their roots, to their first albums Spine of God and Superjudge, but with better production. They even recorded with vintage instruments to get that authentic sound from the start of their career. Anyway, if you dig the Monsters, you’ll dig Last Patrol too, since Wyndorf steers deftly between styles like a wizard, mixing hippie elements, space rock and hard rock, all backed up by trippy, drawled-out lyrics, as is only proper for MM. And when you picture yourself free on a Harley with the wind in your hair, pulling up at McD’s with a beer in one hand and a pretty young lady in the other – yep, that’s another world Monster Magnet can pull you into real quick.
The moment you hit play on your favorite device, the dark, atmospheric little ballad I Live Behind the Clouds will carry you up among the clouds – an autobiographical story about Dave’s overdose in 2006. The title track that follows calms down after its repetitive, dirty opening rhythms, then kicks in and slides into psychedelic madness, with rage and anger cutting through as if the track were the backdrop to some biker showdown action scene on the big screen. On top of that, it’s all split into a layered mix, accompanied by bongos and assorted space sounds. Three Kingfishers is an excellent dark cover of a 1966 hit by British songwriter Donovan and fits perfectly into the whole of Last Patrol. The acoustic Paradise is yet another little ballad that, with a lovely bass line, sends your thoughts drifting off among the stars. If all the tracks so far started off slow, Hallelujah lifts us up, southern-rock bluesy and bouncy, yet just restrained enough.
Wyndorf’s comic-book passion already shows in the title of Mindless Ones, the first single from Last Patrol. Fast and punchy, the way it should be and, sadly (for some), the kind of track this record doesn’t have in abundance. The Duke (of Supernature) sounds like a crossover between hippies and bluesmen, played on the road to Mars. Any fears that the Monsters can’t rip it up fast anymore are chased away by End of Time, almost eight minutes of hard, fast riffs and solos over Dave’s screaming vocals, ending with two minutes of psychedelic soloing on both guitars and bass. The latter spills over with space sounds into Stay Tuned, an acoustic ballad to close, with Wyndorf’s emotional vocals front and center.
Last Patrol is the calmest album Monster Magnet have ever released. Wyndorf himself admitted that, unlike their other albums, which were worked out on tour so they’d sound as good as possible on stage, this one is made more for listening and experiencing than for partying. The return to their roots does the band good, and Wyndorf does his job with distinction, especially considering we’re talking about a 56-year-old with a history of drug abuse; and as he says in the title track, »I’m a wise old dog and you have much to learn«.
Line-up
Dave Wyndorf – vocals, guitar
Phil Caivano – rhythm guitar
Garret Sweeny – lead guitar
Chris Kosnick – bass
Bob Pantella – drums
Production
Dave Wyndorf, Phil Caivano
Tracklist
- I Live Behind the Clouds
- Last Patrol
- Three King Fishers
- Paradise
- Hallelujah
- Mindless Ones
- The Duke of Supernature
- End of Time
- Stay Tuned
