Mushroomhead

"XIII"

Grade: A-

Heavy metal band Mushroomhead has taken its sound to another level on its sophomore project "XIII."

Many songs on the album are just as heavy as the ones on the 2001 debut, "XX," but the band has added a few slower, more melodic tunes.

"Sun Doesn't Rise" is an upbeat, catchy single that epitomizes the Mushroomhead sound.

"Nowhere To Go" shows the eight members' abilities to slow it down without losing their touch.

"Thirteen," the last track on the album, is almost 10 minutes long.

Listeners should stick it out through a crackling five-minute instrumental of soothing music and baby laughs to hear Mushroomhead's rendition of Seal's single "Crazy."

There is one thing "XX" had plenty of that fans may find lacking in "XIII" -- the expletives.

This album features not one curse word, showing real lyric-writing capabilities, which only further proves the band's maturity.

The title hints at the band's former bad luck. "XX" was good but failed to get them the mainstream attention they think they deserve.

With "XIII," the band shows their versatility, hoping to get that push into the limelight.

-- By Heidi Hausmann, Associate Editor