Album Review. MUDVAYNE - L.D. 50 (2000)

“L.D. 50” is the hidden side of the human psyche, born of an inflamed brain. It is sometimes difficult to discern the line between aggressiveness and melody, between calm and madness, between sleep and reality.

Album's release comes at the beginning of the second wave of nu-metal. But it would be an unforgivable insult to the band members, if someone described this work as a meager nu-metal. Too complicated music for this primitive genre. And the complexity is not in virtuoso guitar parts, but in non-standard tact sizes.

It's quite difficult to understand this album from the first time, because you will spend a half of your first audition in an attempt to understand what is happening, but by the last track you will have hours of searching for your head. This is a pressing atmosphere for the unprepared listener. Longplay turned out pretty depressive and, at the same time, very aggressive.

Lyrics cover topics such as hate, depression and self-disappointment, violence, and, of course, drugs. The guitar playing in some places resembles Tool, only with a more metallic, torn and broken sound.

Perhaps the main feature of this creation is the magnificent bass lines, written by Ryan "RyKnow" Martinie. His parts are very interesting and complex, one of the best nu-metal bass players. It is on this album that his game is the most diverse: in addition to slap and finger play, there are a lot of playing chords, tapping and other unusual things for bass.

Another unusual thing is Chad "Kud" Gray's vocals. He is extremely emotional and contrasted. We can hear high pure singing, which brings sorrow, and crazy screams, which cause the desire to destroy everything around, and painful hysterical cries, which convey all the pain inherent in band’s music.

"Death Blooms" - one of the main hits of the album. I heard the song is dedicated to the deceased grandmother of Chad, with whom he spent his childhood.

"Severed" is a composition that tears apart into depression and emotionality. The guitar does not sound like a machine, as in most parts of the album, lively and melodious. Intro riffs are some cosmic and, at the same time, disturbing. Hysterical scream is also abundant, it creates a feeling of despair, hopelessness, madness. As for me, one of the best tracks on studio work.

This is my favorite album with the band, and one of my favorite albums in general. It sounds very holistic and, at the same time, very diverse. Each song has its own face, and as a bundle between tracks, electronic tracks that carry little meaning are used. This is not to be heard anywhere else. Get acquainted with this work, if you have not done it yet.