My review of the Mongoloids last full-length, Time Trials, was probably one of the worst reviews I have ever written. I had the vinyl version of the album and for some reason my record player wasn't working and everything sounded sloppy and off time. Don't ever buy record players from Target. Anyhow, I found a copy of Time Trials on CD for cheap and after listening to that it became one of my favorite records of last year.
The Mongoloids are one of those bands that people either really like or really hate. The people that hate them dislike this New Jersey straight-edge band for their ridiculous merch and occasionally confrontational attitudes about other bands around them. You can't really blame the naysayers, The Mongos did put out a shirt that said, "We Told You Verse Wouldn't be Straight-Edge This Year." The people that did like this band either didn't care what the band had to say or were usually new to the scene just wanted a mouthy band to support. For me I've always liked a band with a little piss and vinegar in their ranks. With today's hardcore scene, which has been really dull with backslapping and everyone being good dudes that are backed hard, it's nice to see a little ribbing between bands. The hardcore scene itself was brought up on areas of the country hating on each other. Boston hated DC and they both hated New York. Every section of the country had their own style, their own lyrics, and their own crews, which is sadly missed into today's stagnant hardcore scene.
Assorted Music is probably the last thing we will hear from The Mongoloids if the rumor mill holds true. And unfortunately The Mongoloids wouldn't be going out on high note either. Assorted Music is a collection of crossover styled riffs that don't go anywhere as the songs run the gambit of quick-stepped rhythms coupled with a couple of predictable mosh parts. Sometimes a guitar solo shows up to really annoy you as you start to think of The Mongoloids as nothing more than a hardcore band going through the motions of becoming a metal band. Some of the tracks on Assorted Music work in a headbanging way but they are few and far between and only to distract you with silly interludes and typical writing.
Even the vocals, which were a standout on Time Trails, are nothing more than a hindrance on Assorted Music. We get it dude, you want to be Paul Bearer from Sheer Terror. However, what made Sheer Terror great vocally was the lyrics about being a fucked up human being filled with regrets and anger. All I get from Assorted Music is a random mishmash of someone trying to use words that are way too big for their own vocabulary. And they are only presented in a shouted grunt between mosh parts, sick riffs, and two note solos.
If Assorted Music is the end of The Mongoloids then it's a shame to see this bunch of snarky kids from Jersey go out on such a substandard note. Assorted Music is not the worst thing I've heard this year so far, but I would probably classify it as one of the bigger letdowns. There was so much potential in this band that went far past their stupid t-shirts and their shit-talking. They could have been a great hardcore band. It's too bad it feels like they got too wrapped up in themselves to write a better record.
