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"A group who could play David Bash’s International Pop Overthrow as naturally as they could a prog rock festival. And that duality comes through in darker and more textured directions on Genius Killer, where artfulness and accessibility walk arm in arm. As this band quickly approaches their 40th anniversary as a unit, it seems like they are only getting better with age.
– Rock & Roll Globe
The Mommyheads release their new album, Genius Killer, today. After exploring dystopian territory on the synth-driven Age of Isolation, the Mommyheads have returned to rockier ground but with their cerebral prog in full bore on Genius Killer. The album sees the band continuing to explore progressive pop waters but the results here are darker and more refined. The progressive theatrics are more extreme and yet the songs themselves are tighter and downright pop through and through.
The album was heralded earlier in the summer with the video for the first song from the album, "Idealist." The clip was directed by Patrik Karlson and is available now via the band's YouTube channel.
WATCH "IDEALIST" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
“The original intent for this song was an acknowledgment of how following your muse can sometimes be heartbreaking both emotionally and spiritually," says guitarist/singer Adam Elk. "The filmmaker, Patrik Karlson, has such maturity and humanness in his work. In this instance, he gracefully illustrates the duality of being held captive by your own desire for success and accolades with a stunningly beautiful approach. This video is a visual dream-poem that expresses and expands the meaning of the song while leaving much open for interpretation of the viewer—we feel he brings out those same qualities of gravity and maturity in our music.”
When "Impulse Item" opens with immaculate strings and glistening slide guitar strewn throughout the stereo spread, it becomes clear that this album is going to be a dense but beautiful ride. The chorus rings: "step out of the dream into the real you" / "give in to your impulse item" with richly layered backing vocals reminiscent of Jeff Lynne's 80s productions. While still packed with color and complexity, the song rolls along with anthemic, acoustic glee; progressive music has never felt so unifying (and downright catchy).
The album also sees the Mommyheads covering pop terrain previously uncharted by the band on previous releases. "She's a Fighter" breezes along like a prog-pop bossa nova, complete with hushed vocals and pensive keys. "Distill Your Love Into That Dying Light" shines with a chorus that calls to mind an art-damaged Abba (all the more appropriate given the band's Swedish following). The record yields healthy doses of infectious pop melody and experimental prog composition in equal measure but when the band decides to explore the latter, it's decidedly heavy like never before.
The final cut "First Five Seconds" is arguably the most progressive work the Mommyheads have ever produced. This is the most uncompromising the band has sounded in years and yet the results are immediate and joyous. The chorus unfolds with epic majesty: "After all this time, were all our efforts in vain" / "when the first five seconds and the last feel exactly the same". The song is then suddenly hijacked by blaring synths, at once akin to a frenzied arcade game and a more unhinged Genesis. Staying true to their eccentric roots, the band makes no concessions in the sounds and melodies they effortlessly combine. Art pop aesthetics and pure pop melodicism collide in perfect balance all throughout Genius Killer's runtime; it's quite possibly the closest the group has come to perfecting this combination and the results are truly inspired.
THE MOMMYHEADS
GENIUS KILLER
Release Date: September 16, 2022
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