Declaration Of A Headhunter is one of my favourite sounding metal albums as the guitar sound and groove is crushing. But fast forward to 2016, and the band has basically become a Rich Ward solo project. When I first heard of the band it was upon the releases of their first album, Snapping Necks. I saw it advertised as groove metal and I ordered it on that alone. Groove it most certainly did, and mixed with the rap style vocal from original frontman Bonz, for me it was a winning formula.
This version of the Mojo still has the rap vocal, but with new boy Robbie J Fonz spitting the rhymes. Rich Ward’s guitar and riffs still drive everything though, and I’m glad that hasn’t changed. When this band smoke best it’s on tracks like Rape Whistle and Charles Bronson, where the monster riffs and grooves are huge. I’m not sure there is a heavier rhythm tone anywhere. There are moments that are pure classic rock, like the guitar break in Verbal Combat, that I’m not sure would have appeared in earlier Mojo records. There are also very commercial moments like Tambourine which should have been released as a single on MTV or some other station – it’s one beast of a hard rock track. Destroyer would not be out of place on a full on Rap station, well at least until the fat monster guitar kicks in. I Am Legion is the best track for me. This track just freakin’ smokes, the guitar riff and groove are killer, and Robbie J’s vocals are awesome and worth the money for the record alone.
With Fozzy being the main focus of Mr. Ward’s attention, I’m not sure there will ever be another Mojo record, which is a shame as I’d rather listen to these heavy grooves than the made for money nonsense that is Fozzy.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
