Superbuick cover

Released 30 years ago

Superbuick

Mushroomhead · 1996

46 min · 11 tracks · industrial metal

Aggressive industrial metal collides with haunting melodies, creating a dark atmosphere that resonates with themes of alienation and introspection.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Bwomp — Opening the album, this track features a relentless rhythm and aggressive vocals that set a powerful tone, encapsulating the band's industrial metal style.
  • →
    Never Let It Go — This track showcases a more melodic side of Mushroomhead, blending intense instrumentation with haunting vocal harmonies that highlight their dynamic range.
  • →
    These Filthy Hands — The song stands out for its raw energy and lyrical intensity, addressing themes of struggle and defiance, making it emblematic of the album's overall message.
  • →
    Idle Worship — With its darker tone and complex arrangements, this track reflects the band's inclination towards theatricality while delving into themes of societal expectations and personal despair.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

51 /100
Foothills
Higher than 34% of albums we've rated

The album features strong contrasts in vocals and instrumentation, contributing to its distinct sound within the industrial metal genre.

What we noticed

  • The album opens with a high-energy track that sets a fast pace, which is maintained through the first half before slowing down in the latter tracks.
  • Vocals alternate between aggressive screams and melodic singing, creating a contrast that enhances the emotional weight of the lyrics.
  • Several tracks incorporate electronic elements and samples, blending industrial sounds with heavy guitar riffs.
  • The final track is a reprise of the opening song, creating a cyclical structure that reinforces the album's themes.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
6/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
6/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • wave-like dynamic progression
  • haunting melodies with aggression
  • captivating confrontational energy
  • intense peaks and valleys

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer straightforward song structures
  • seek instant gratification tracks

Where this album fits

Career context
When Mushroomhead released Superbuick in 1996, they were establishing themselves in the heavy music scene following their self-titled debut album in 1995. This record marked their second studio effort, showcasing an evolution in their sound and thematic exploration as they began to gain traction within the burgeoning industrial metal genre.
Stylistic neighbors
Slipknot· Fear Factory· Static-X

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Bwomp 6:14
  • 2 Never Let It Go 4:38
  • 3 These Filthy Hands 5:19
  • 4 The Wrist 5:16
  • 5 Chancre Sore 2:35
  • 6 Flattened 3:40
  • 7 Big Brother 5:07
  • 8 Idle Worship 5:12
  • 9 Fear Held Dear 2:39
  • 10 Unintended 1:40
  • 11 Bwomp 3:49

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata