Tag: stuck mojo

This is the Atlanta-based groove rap metallers fourth studio album, and the last before the acrimonious split in 2000 when egos started to rip the band apart. Such a shame, this was the best thing they ever did. It’s worth buying for the riffs and guitar sound alone. The production by Andy Sneap is huge and pounding, and is a lesson in how to produce a metal album. It’s a sound that Ward has tried to reproduce on all other efforts he has put out since.

There is always a hint of melody in nearly all the songs here, which add to the dynamics greatly. Set The Tone blows the album into life. It’s a monster groove and riff. More of the same with Raise The Deadman, and the hook is huge with the melody I mentioned. Drawing Blood has a killer grooving riff, and the middle section is superb. It’s favourite track time next, after a short political groove based statement aimed at Rev. Jesse Jackson. Give War A Chance has the kind of riff and groove that any self respecting metal band would die for, coming after such an angelic start. The groove comes down large with Side 1 close out track Feel It Comin’ Down where the groove and the crunch zinc together perfectly.

Side 2 opens up with The One, and this is about as commercial as their albums get, and that’s only in the main verse as the crunch and devil vocal is never far away. Evilution is up next and the pounding continues, this time it’s the hook and chorus that drag you in. Ward’s political affiliations are represented again in Declaration with a short spoken word over a hip hop base track. An instrumental piece called The Ward Is My Shepherd follows, and this is the weakest piece on the album. I think you can tell whose ego was out of control here as Mojo was about Bonz’s lyrics and delivery as much as the riffs and grooves.

Walk The Line sees normal service resumed with a great riff and groove in the main verse with added evil riff in the chorus. Hate Breed with its stomping riffs and groove has a great swing . The album closes out with Reborn; a bonus track. The vibe doesn’t quite fit the rest of the record. The strings and the chorus are quite radio friendly, but the tune feels out of place.

Yes, the band have released further albums with different front men, but they have never quite captured the intensity of this record.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

Stuck Mojo are the kings of what was groove rap metal. This Atlanta-based band was formed back in ’89. I remember reading a blurb in Kerrang magazine calling their first release, Snapping Necks a groove metal onslaught, and I bought it straight away. This was their third release, and their love of all things WWE was evident for all to see with Rich Ward and Corey Lowery pumping iron to look like their heroes. The guitar sound and production are freaking awesome, courtesy of Andy Sneap who now in his spare time is the touring guitarist for Judas Priest.

The album explodes into life with Crooked Figurehead, a blast at US politics and the reporting of. Great groove and riffage. Next up is Trick, a monster groove and the middle eight is to die for. The relentless groove continues with Assassination Of A Pop Star and drummer Bud Fontsere is laying it down hard. The title track is next and the music video showed the band in the ring with some of their heroes, this is the most commercial tune on the album. The outro’s heavy riffage is awesome as well. Next up is the ultra groovy Southern Pride. Killer riff and just the slight hint of funk to complement the crunch. Enemy Territory closes out Side 1 and man, what a huge heavy beast of a tune it is. Killer stuff!

Side 2 blows in with Back In The Saddle. A huge sounding chord progression opens up what is a slow paced groove, but it sounds oh so heavy. Dry follows and jeez, another killer groove and max riffage blows the cobwebs away. I love the hook and melody to this one. Next up is one of may favourite mojo tunes, Throw The Switch. The riff and groove are relentless and the twisted Throw The Switch line is killer. Hang ‘Em High moseys on in with a seriously dirty riff and groove. Tears slides on in and the riffs continue to pummel the brain. I love the hook and the accompanying riff. Pipebomb follows and the relentless assault continues. Huge sounding riff and groove. The album closes out with Suburban Ranger, the only totally rap groove on the album and it works so well.

This album and the one that followed (Declaration Of A Headhunter) were two of the best albums of the 90’s.

10/10 from The Grooveman.

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.