When I am trying to learn a song on the guitar, the first thing i do is to listen to the tune and then try to replicate it. But one fine day, i picked up this song by Mudvyane called "World so cold" and my technique didnt help. To pick up this particular song, figuring out the tune was only half the battle one. I had to actually count the number of times the guitarist picks a particulat note and only then could I get the song right. This led me to notice the highly mathematical structures used in every Mudvyane song.
Mudvyane cosists of guitarist Greg, bassist Ryan, drummer Matt and vocalist Chad.The music they play is dingy, dark and tough. The high amount of energy and innovation leads the band to follow unconventional structures of rhythm. Mudvyane themselves consider their music to be more about energy and momentum rather than power. The bands first album was gold certified and was a monster epic of whomping riffs, strategic arrangements along with turbo charged performances. But this success only drove them towards further innovation keeping any complacency at bay. The basic
instinct that they so blindly trust is the only constant. The second album "The end of all things to come" has drifted further down the path of precision playing. This precicion coupled with a fet fueled explosion of energy makes the album a treat to every Mudvyane fan.
The band still feels that playing music is a part of living. According to bassist Ryan "You live, you learn, and play" and this very idea is the essence of the band. Most of the songs being rhythm based come back to the building blocks of rhythm.
On the other hand the members of Mudvyane don't consider themselves to be playing math-metal. Instincts are very different from mathematics and music, without any doubt,is all about instincts. Calling them a math-metal band is oversimplification of a highly complex and intellectual band. Mudvyane is concerned about altering time signatures, they are ready to philosophize and delve deeply into subjects. Something loud and powerful is not what they aspire to create, because a conscious effort to do so will just take away all that drives the creation of music.
The making of the second album was all about pressure because the had gone on for two years without a new album. The ground breaking track "Grind" required nine months for its completion and they had exactly half of that time to complete the second album. None of them were used to this pressure of deadlines. Eventually they did work quicker and this pressure, surprisingly, acted as a catalyst ot their quality. They let details take a back seat and played their music as a whole. At this point in time, no market,label or fan expectations played any role in the making of their music. Instinct guided them all the way.
The guitaring abilities are well matched by the drummers intellect and judgement. But the most noticeable change in the present band is the vocalist Chad. He did pretty well growling along with guitarist Greg's complicated rhythms but he has come a long way in the second album with some real soulful singing. Call the rhythm based musicians or math magicians, gut instinct and raw energy has and always been associated to udvyane.
Siddarth Ayyagari
6th Sem
BAJ
