Mutiny Within

One would think that such concepts only existed in video games, movies or ancient mystical bestiaries. But no, they exist in real life as well: Mutiny Within is an entity conceived of pure commercialism; an abstract concept become reality. These guys can’t be called sell-outs because there was nothing to sell out from: they were born already fully corrupted as Roadrunner Records’ biggest cash whores ever, and that’s saying something. The band’s self-titled album is the nadir of integrity in metal (although other similar bands are in the works… *cough* Blackguard *cough*).

Mutiny Within’s music is purely horrible because it’s not some unlistenable attempt at being metalcore or deathcore or whatever the fuck. They make the most poppy, catchy music in the history of the world. That shit, much like sweet alcoholic beverages, sneaks up on its unsuspecting victims and destroys them as they constantly take, take and take in the seemingly good and innocent stuff. Let me describe Mutiny Within’s sound: they play an excessively obnoxious mix of metalcore (or as they like to call it, “progressive melodic death metal”) during their verse sections, I.E. harsh –core yells and metalcore chugging riffs, while every since chorus is a reroll of the same bubblegum pop catchy chorus, brought down to emo punk standards.

If I were to break the sound down the band’s sound in terms of external influence, here’s what it would be: the biggest influence is emocore, and more precisely Devil Wears Prada (30% of the sound). Then, for the pure emo sections, I call to attention: Simple Plan (25% of the sound). But wait, it actually gets worse: I hear some fucking pop rock in there, in its most heinous form: Nickelback (20% of the sound). A final similarity I can name (and the only metal one) is a pure insult for the named band, but must be said in light of their fall from grace: this reminds me of new Scar Symmetry and similar bands like Soilwork (25% of the sound). That’s what Mutiny Within is. Not content with ripping off any one of those awful bands, they had to take every one of their sounds and mix them together to form the most commercial type of mallcore ever created. This album, this entire band spits on all real metal, and both are disgusting beyond belief because of it.

An individual song analysis is completely useless because there is no real variation here. Every song follows the exact same model of harsh verses and clean emo choruses, to such a point that a full spin of the album causes actual fatigue in the listener. From an individual standpoint, the music wouldn’t deserve a zero, but because of the means chosen to reel in the band’s hapless victims as well as the absolute lack of both integrity and variation, this must be fully denounced. The superficial attractiveness of this band’s elements is akin to that of a hooker: she may be among the most attractive, easy and desirable of women on the outside, but succumbing to temptation will leave you diseased and broken. There is no substance, nothing of value whatsoever inside.

The emo lyrics, the pathetic music, the absolutely despicable lack of any integrity whatsoever, those are the reasons why this band deserves endless hatred from all able, true metalheads. Mutiny Within must be avoided because they’re the poster boys for commercialism, a new level of mallcore that labels were only able to dream of until now. Under no circumstances should we let them taint metal with this filth.