Electrified Brain
| Electrified Brain | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | July 1, 2022[1][2] | |||
| Genre | Crossover thrash | |||
| Length | 33:51[2] | |||
| Label | Nuclear Blast[1] | |||
| Producers | Arthur Rizk, Municipal Waste[3] | |||
| Municipal Waste chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Electrified Brain | ||||
Electrified Brain is the seventh studio album by American crossover thrash band Municipal Waste, released on July 1, 2022.
Background and singles
[edit]On October 29, 2021, Municipal Waste resigned with Nuclear Blast Records and announced their seventh studio album (which had not been named yet) would be released sometime in 2022.[7]
On April 1, 2022, the band officially announced the album’s release date along with the album’s first single "Grave Dive."[8] An animated music video created by Pierre Mousquet was later released for the song on July 26, featuring cameos of pop culture figures such as Skeletor and Lemmy.[9] The second single "High Speed Steel" was released on May 18, alongside an official lyric video. Rhythm guitarist Ryan Waste stated that the song is "their ode to an era when heavy metal was transitioning into a faster form."[10]
The third and final single the title track was released on June 2, the song was accompanied with a horror inspired music video directed by FX artist Norman Cabrera. In a press release Waste also commented on the meaning of the song stating "Electrified Brain’ is a tale of revenge and redemption, continuing the concept of our song ‘Mental Shock’ rounding out the ‘Deathripper Trilogy.’ It’s about being wrongfully accused and stripped of your rights, only to overcome and break free through the electric power of heavy music."[11]
Composition
[edit]The band first began working on the album prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, however when the pandemic went into full effect and stopped the band from touring they used the extra down time to their advantage. Guitarist Ryan Waste commented "It allowed us to focus on putting together structured songs, we wanted to diversify some of the tempos and bring in some new dynamics that we hadn’t ventured into before."[12] Municipal Waste recorded the album Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with producer Arthur Rizk. The sessions marked the first time the band reunited in person after a year.[13] When it came to writing material lead singer Tony Foresta stated "Our approach to writing it matches the lyrical content insofar as not trying to overthink things all of the time and remembering to enjoy what you’re doing."[12]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Blabbermouth.net | 8.5/10[14] |
| Kerrang! | 4/5[15] |
| Metal Hammer | 5/7[16] |
| Metal Injection | 7.5/10[17] |
| New Noise Magazine | Positive[18] |
| Ox-Fanzine |   [19] |
| Metal.de | 8/10[20] |
Metal Injection said: "There aren’t any huge surprises, but tempo shifts and a few twists and turns make this album anything but predictable."[17] Kerrang! wrote: "Those looking for any kind of genre-reinventing revelation – or, indeed, even the slightest subtlety – need not apply. But for those of us after a band who still kill the old way, Municipal Waste remain the ultimate soundtrack for smashing cans and banging heads."[15] New Noise Magazine gave a positive review and called "Blood Vessel/Boat Jail" the best song on the album.[21] Blabbermouth.net said: "[...] "Electrified Brain" is a brilliant blend of the expected and the ever-so-slightly unexpected."[14]
Metal.de wrote "With Electrified Brain The "hit factor" may have been higher on *Slime and Punishment*, but the mosh factor remains high, and the occasional detours into heavy metal pleasantly enliven the band's sound."[22]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Electrified Brain" | 2:45 |
| 2. | "Demoralizer" | 2:54 |
| 3. | "Last Crawl" | 2:28 |
| 4. | "Grave Dive" | 2:31 |
| 5. | "The Bite" | 1:37 |
| 6. | "High Speed Steel" | 2:31 |
| 7. | "Thermonuclear Protection" | 3:02 |
| 8. | "Blood Vessel/Boat Jail" | 1:55 |
| 9. | "Crank the Heat" | 2:42 |
| 10. | "Restless and Wicked" | 2:24 |
| 11. | "Ten Cent Beer Night" | 2:15 |
| 12. | "Barreled Rage" | 2:22 |
| 13. | "Putting on Errors" | 1:30 |
| 14. | "Paranormal Janitor" | 2:55 |
Personnel
[edit]Municipal Waste
- Tony Foresta – lead vocals
- Nick Poulos – lead guitar
- Ryan Waste – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Phil Hall – bass, backing vocals
- Dave Witte – drums
Guest vocalists
- Blaine Cook (on "The Bite")
- Barney Greenway (on "Putting on Errors")
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2022) | Peak
position |
|---|---|
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] | 53 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[24] | 19 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[24] | 11 |
| UK Independent Album Breakers (OCC)[24] | 6 |
| UK Album Sales (OCC)[24] | 89 |
| UK Physical Albums (OCC)[24] | 87 |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "DISCOGRAPHY". Municipal Waste. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- 1 2 "Electrified Brain - Municipal Waste". AllMusic. NETAKTION LLC. Archived from the original on May 26, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- 1 2 "Back cover". Electrified Brain. Nuclear Blast. 2022.
- ↑ "MUNICIPAL WASTE - to release new album "Electrified Brain"". Nuclear Blast. April 1, 2022. Archived from the original on May 26, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ↑ "MUNICIPAL WASTE - Spews Molten Thrash With New Single "High Speed Steel"!". Nuclear Blast. May 18, 2022. Archived from the original on July 23, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ↑ "MUNICIPAL WASTE - Reveal New Single "Electrified Brain"!". Nuclear Blast. June 2, 2022. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ↑ wookubus (October 28, 2021). "Municipal Waste Re-Sign With Nuclear Blast, Complete New Album". Theprp.com. Retrieved May 26, 2026.
- ↑ Staff, BrooklynVegan. "Municipal Waste announce new LP 'Electrified Brain'; pre-order on limited vinyl & hear new single". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
- ↑ wookubus (July 26, 2022). "Municipal Waste's New Animated Music Video For "Grave Dive" Features Cameos From Skeletor, Lemmy & Many More". Theprp.com. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
- ↑ "MUNICIPAL WASTE Brings Classic Speed Metal On New Single "High Speed Steel"". Metal Injection. May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
- ↑ Mahmud, Abir (June 3, 2022). "News: Municipal Waste Reveal Face-Melting Dystopian Horror Flick For New Single 'Electrified Brain'". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
- 1 2 "Municipal Waste". The Masquerade. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Municipal Waste - Electrified Brain". Nuclear Blast. July 1, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- 1 2 Lawson, Dom. "Reviews - MUNICIPAL WASTE Electrified Brain". Blabbermouth.net. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- 1 2 Law, Sam (June 28, 2022). "Album review: Municipal Waste – Electrified Brain". Kerrang!. Wasted Talent Ltd. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ↑ Halupczok, Marc (July 1, 2022). "Kritik zu Municipal Waste ELECTRIFIED BRAIN". Metal Hammer (in German). Axel Springer SE. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- 1 2 Bowar, Chad (June 27, 2022). "Album Review: MUNICIPAL WASTE Electrified Brain". Metal Injection. The Orchard. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ↑ https://newnoisemagazine.com/album-review-municipal-waste-electrified-brain/
- ↑ https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/municipal-waste-electrified-brain-129698
- ↑ https://www.metal.de/reviews/municipal-waste-electrified-brain-441224/
- ↑ Romanski, Ray (June 30, 2022). "Album Review: Municipal Waste, "Electrified Brain"". New Noise Magazine. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Municipal Waste - Electrified Brain Review • metal.de". metal.de. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Municipal Waste European Charts".
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Official Charts Municipal Waste Electrified Brain Charts".