By: Mike Madavi
Mondo Generator
“Dog Food” (mp3)
from “Dog Food EP”
(IMPEDANCE MUSIC)
It would be easy to label Mondo Generator as a super group due to its lineup, but in reality the band is a manifestation of a number of musical friendships and collaborations that winds much deeper than the big names currently involved. One thing is certain, Nick Oliveri is the founder and core member; you will recognize his name from his time in Queens of the Stone Age, and listeners of a more specific crowd will also (and arguably more importantly) cite his work in the influential “desert rock” group Kyuss. The band’s current lineup also boasts the hard rock drumming talent of Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Them Crooked Vultures, Scream), the savvy guitar alchemy of Marc Diamond (The Dwarves), and the pounding low-end of bassist Happy Tom (Turbonegro).
The band seems to never contain the same members, as musicians such as Josh Homme (Stone Age, Kyuss), Brant Bjork (Kyuss, Fu Manchu), Dave Catching (Eagles of Death Metal) and numerous others have all played with Generator at different times. If you’re noticing a pattern in the participants, that’s observant: most of the members come from the Desert scene that sprouted up in the dry central-California roads of Palm Desert, which would gain a cult following in the 90’s and establish the bands listed above as legendary acts. Mondo Generator seems to be a working project for all of them, under Oliveri, to return to each other and collaborate once more. The group’s newest release, the Dog Food EP, is a preview of what’s to come. The record includes the “Dog Food” single, which is taken from their upcoming full-length, Time To Destroy, that features the full lineup mentioned above. The rest of the album is acoustic demos performed solo by Oliveri as a skeleton of the full-length. Already, even without the other instruments, you can hear the pounding punk-meets-prog-meets metal sound these guys have become known for. When the record is done, be sure to prepare yourself for a booming, unforgiving assault. We’ve included the title track above for your listening pleasure.
You don’t have to wait till August to hear Mondo Generator’s newest material! Pick up the Dog Food EP and check out this video for a tasty appetizer and insight into what is to come.
