Mongrel: Evolution Review: Not a Wasted Second

Mongrel – an individual resulting from the interbreeding of diverse breeds or strains.

This is exactly what Boston metal band Mongrel is all about with their new EP symbolically titled “Evolution.”Evolution features five tracks in roughly 15 minutes and makes every second count.

The strongest track “Snakes” opens the album with an Alice in Chains crossed with Danzig feel. The instrumental grooves wrap around your ears like a boa and while the vocals of Jessica Sierra sonically constrict them. “Oxygen Mask” slows Evolution down for a moment but stands as more of an anthem than a ballad. The bass driven verse builds to a hard hitting chorus in the vein of classic arena rock. It makes you feel good and it’s heavy as well.

The music video for “Oxygen Mask” is something Beavis and Butthead would definitely get a kick out of.

“Consumed” is an Overkill laced hurricane with a hint of Guns ‘N Roses. The sound is very bass heavy with crunchy guitars that wail out a nice solo, compliments of Adam Savage.“Best Revenge” and “Over and Over” are straightforward closers. Mongrel offer the standard pedal to the metal and do it well. These two songs are hard hitting and are guaranteed to please. They don’t seem to present anything new or unexpected but the style is sleek enough to secure a strong finish.

One of the best features Mongrel has is their synchronicity. Each musician’s style compliments the other without any frequency battling. An edgy rhythm section with powerful vocals is what separates this band from the rest.

This EP is a freight train running on the best metal from the ‘90s laced with the heaviest bands from the 80’s. From the thunderous opening of “Snakes” to the ferocious grooves of “Over and Over,” Evolution is that spark of lightning that could be a game changer for the band.