Mutilator Defeated at Last
Mutilator Defeated at Last puts the guitar firmly at the front. Thee Oh Sees play heavily and fiercely, but the riffs have enough melody to survive without that volume. John Dwyer's voice sounds sharp and strange above the rhythm section. Familiar psychedelic colours come with a directness that keeps this from becoming an exercise in old sounds.
Web builds its force from a threatening groove. Drums push hard and the guitar makes everything increasingly dense. When the song opens up, the unease of its beginning has already done considerable work. It immediately shows how well this band can make a repeated movement grow.
Withered Hand maintains the pressure. Turned out Light then chooses a looser boogie without abandoning the sharp guitar sound. Variety involves more than playing louder or softer. Another way of moving can give the same instruments fresh roles. The shifts make the record lively without interrupting its momentum.
Lupine Ossuary places an assertive rhythm against guitar sounds that keep circling around it. Afterwards, Sticky Hulks gives the music more time. Its slower pace preserves the force while making room for a weary, bluesy atmosphere. That combination of weight and melody prevents the record from becoming one continuous attack.
Holy Smoke is a quieter instrumental diversion with less obvious direction. It provides breathing room, although it has less grip than the strongest songs. The musical language is familiar too. Performances make those reservations small: the band sound sharp, riffs stay recognisable, and the compact running time maintains the momentum. Mutilator Defeated at Last gets plenty from a limited set of ingredients because the musicians keep applying the right amount of pressure. Its strongest moments feel powerful without becoming shapeless.
