The Smashing Pumpkins’ thirteenth record Aghori Mhori Mei sees the band draw influence from their early body of work, whilst keeping the conventions of their modern sound.
Released without singles or build-up, Aghori Mhori Mei is a treat to fans of the band who have begged them to go heavier.
After the polarising release of the band’s previous record Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts, Aghori Mhori Mei is a breath of fresh air with its brisk 44-minute run time and ten-song tracklist.
Unlike the overly ambitious and tired previous release, Aghori Mhori Mei is a consistently great album with few issues.
The album is unable to come close to the band’s early work like Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, but it cements itself as their strongest record in the last decade.
“Tears in heaven”
Edin immediately sets the tone for the album. Heavy guitars sound reminiscent of TOOL and lead singer Billy Corgan’s voice is slightly too clean for the instruments that engulf him.
This has been an issue with recent releases, but it is significantly better in this album as everything else sounds perfect.
Pentagrams builds on the prog-rock sound of the album, whilst bringing in memorable lyrics and a phenomenal build-up.
Sighommi is another great track, being one of the shortest on the album, it doesn’t drag.
Pentecost has the band bring in their recent synth-pop style and it works surprisingly well amongst the heavier tracks.
War Dreams Of Itself is another heavy track that moves at a breakneck pace, this speed has the unintended consequence of Corgan’s vocals getting lost within the sound.
“No one’s gonna show us home”
Who Goes There is the most peaceful song off of Aghori Mhori Mei. The prog-rock style is swapped for a familiar melancholy amped up with synths.
999 starts with a gentle piano melody linking it to the previous song. The transition to a slower prog-rock track is beautiful. The roaring riffs and vast soundscape make the song one of the album’s best.
Goeth The Fall is fairly forgettable coming off the energy of the previous songs. Corgan’s vocals pair well with the slower tempo of the song though.
Sicarus sounds like a seance in the best way possible. Clearly TOOL-inspired, the weight of the song is felt in every beat.
Murnau is the grand finale for the album, but it falls flat in execution as it sounds like a cut song from their previous release.
“What’s really real of dream”
For a band that hasn’t had a great album in almost twenty years, Aghori Mhori Mei is an exciting release that’s generated very little buzz.
The Smashing Pumpkins’ glory days are far gone but Aghori Mhori Mei proves that they still have some music left in them.
Its mix of heavy tracks and melancholy ballads may put many off, but the execution of both styles is close to perfect.
For fans who crave something heavier, Aghori Mhori Mei is well worth a listen.
Aghori Mhori Mei can be streamed here.
Featured image credit: Jason Renaud
Fourth year Film and Journalism student
Deputy editor
Contact - deputyeditor@brignews.com
