### Monster Magnet: Last patrol

#### 21/12/13 || gk

Monster Magnet used to be awesome. I love everything they’ve done up to and including “Powertrip”. Somewhere along the way main man Dave Wyndorf let his rock star ambitions get the better of his band and the result was a series of lackluster recordings that all tried to emulate the success of “Powertrip” but failed.

Then in 2010, the band signed to Napalm Records and released “Mastermind”. That record was a return to form and the band managed to combine the hard rocking groove of “Powertrip” with the occasional nod to their space rock roots. Now in 2013, the band returns with their 9th and much awaited studio album. With talk of a return to the space rock sounds of their formative years it got my interest and “Last Patrol” delivers to a large extent.

The first indication that things have changed is album opener “I live behind the clouds” with its distinct lack of hard rock hooks. Instead we get a gentle, partly acoustic song with a meandering middle section. It’s with the title song “Last patrol” that things start to pick up. This 9 minute song delivers what you’d expect from the band with catchy hooks and ripping solos but the inventive use of percussion and effects make this slightly unpredictable. Mindless ones is classic Monster Magnet and a worthy successor to “Negasonic teenage warhead” from their “Dopes to Infinity” album. “Hallelujah” is all blues boogie fun while a cover of Donovan’s “Three kingfishers” is so completely owned by the band that it sounds like a Monster Magnet song. “The duke of supernature” again utilizes some pretty cool percussion and mostly acoustic guitars as its base and is another memorable song. “End of time” has an addictive main riff and Wyndorf’s best vocal performance in years. The album ends with the reflective and atmospheric “Stay tuned”. The song again relies on some acoustic guitar strumming but then adds sound effects and a slide guitar to lift the song above the usual.

“Last Patrol” is the first album in a long while without lead guitarist Ed Mundell and honestly, new guitarist Garrett Sweeny more than makes up for Mundell’s absence. Wyndorf hasn’t sounded this good and focused in a long while and Philip Caivano is rock solid on bass and occasional guitar. The star on this album though is drummer Bob Pantella. His drumming is inventive, rock solid and often provides the momentum for these songs. Whether the band is rocking out or drifting through space, his drumming is the glue that holds everything together.

There’s something here for everyone and the song writing (despite the occasional lapse into self- imitation) is quite strong. If you never liked Monster Magnet, then this album will do nothing to change your mind but “Last patrol” should please fans of the band regardless of which era of Monster Magnet they first heard.

- Information
- Released: 2013
- Label: Napalm Records
- Website: www.monstermagnet.com
- Band
- Dave Wyndorf: vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Philip Caivano: bass, guitars
- Garrett Sweeny: guitars, sitar
- Bob Pantella: drums, percussion

- Tracklist
- 01. I live behind the clouds
- 02. Last patrol
- 03. Three kingfishers
- 04. Paradise
- 05. Hallelujah
- 06. Mindless ones
- 07. The duke of supernature
- 08. End of time
- 09. Stay tuned