Mogwai
Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will
Glasgow, Scotland
“A return to their roots”
Mogwai has been around the block and back again, and their latest offering, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will, is a testament to that. Recorded at Chem 19 Studios with producer Paul Savage (who also recorded their debut Young Team), Hardcore is the band’s seventh album and first on Sub Pop.
On Hardcore, the band explores sounds dark and light, switching back and forth between dreamy guitars, dirty electro and indie rock. Throughout the record, the band provides a sharp reminder why they’re still relevant. “White Noise” kicks off the album with a bright, warm melody that lures you in for the sucker punch that is the one-two combo of the indie-electro rocker “Mexican Grand Prix” and muddy “Rano Payo.” On “Death Rays” the band finds a melodic terrace to rest on, sending spacey keyboards and synths to fight growling guitars in the sky.
Gorgeous and cold moments are caught on the track “Letters to the Metro,” as flighty piano keys slowly dance around slinky guitar slides. Equally cool and calculated, “Too Raging to Cheers” is a trip back to the heyday of early ambient electronic that the band helped pioneer. The standout “How To Be A Werewolf” may be the most upbeat track on the album, invoking a “get in the car and drive” attitude, recalling bands like Broken Social Scene and Secret Machines.
Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will is a wonderfully eclectic mix of songs that fans of the old Mogwai will love, and others that they will learn to love. (Sub Pop)
Produced by Paul Savage // Recorded at Chem 19 Studios in Glasgow, Scotland
www.myspace.com/mogwai