Sewn Mouth Secrets

Sewn Mouth Secrets
Studio album by
Soilent Green
ReleasedOctober 6, 1998
RecordedMay 22 – June 1, 1998
GenreSludge metal, grindcore
Length45:46
LabelRelapse
Hydra Head (vinyl)
ProducerKeith Falgout, Soilent Green
Soilent Green chronology
Pussysoul
(1995) 		Sewn Mouth Secrets
(1998) 		A Deleted Symphony for the Beaten Down
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal8/10[2]
Kerrang![3]

Sewn Mouth Secrets is the second studio album from Louisiana-based heavy metal band Soilent Green. It was released on October 6, 1998.

History

Sewn Mouth Secrets was Soilent Green's first full-length album to be released on Relapse Records. They had already worked with the label for their previous EP A String of Lies.[4] It was recorded in 1998, on May 22 through June 1; it was produced by Keith Falgout and Soilent Green. It was mixed during the June 20 and 21 of the same year at Festival Studios by Keith Falgout and the band. It was mastered by Dave Shirk at Sonorous Mastering, Inc., in Tempe, Arizona.[5] The album was finally released on October 6, 1998.[6] Scott Hull remastered the album at Visceral Sound[5] for a compilation with the EP A String of Lies which was released on October 11, 2005.[7]

The album was generally well received. It was given a 4.5 out of 5 by William York of AllMusic, who called it "the band's strongest effort to date."[1] It made Rolling Stone call Soilent Green one of the "ten most important hard and heavy bands right now"[4] and was 18th on Terrorizer's top albums of 1998.[8]

Music and artwork

The record features Soilent Green's mixture of grindcore and sludge metal.[4][1] According to William York from AllMusic, "each song is a nonstop sequence of constantly morphing riffs and assaultive, split-personality vocals, leaving listeners little chance to catch their breaths." Throughout, frontman Ben Falgoust alternates between black metal screams; a hardcore-derived, semi-barking voice; spoken word passages; and death growls. According to York, "his varied vocals, together with his sadistic lyrics, make for a frightening and intense presence." During the album the band uses Southern-flavored rock grooves,[1] blast beats, moments very complex musically and Black Sabbath-inspired riffs. There are a few quiet moments, like the intros on "Build Fear" and "Her Unsober Ways."

Although not credited, Phil Anselmo provided backing vocals on the album. He is given thanks in the liner notes.[5]

The cover of the album is based on a picture by Alfons Mucha.[9]

Track listing

All songs by Soilent Green.[a]

  1. "It Was Just an Accident" – 4:12
  2. "So Hatred" – 3:48
  3. "Build Fear" – 2:48
  4. "Looking Through Nails" – 3:03
  5. "Breed in Weakness" – 4:13
  6. "Cold-Steel Kiss" – 3:37
  7. "Openless" – 0:26
  8. "Her Unsober Ways" – 4:03
  9. "Sewn Mouth Secrets" – 5:24
  10. "Walk a Year in My Mind" – 5:10
  11. "Gagged Whore" – 4:23
  12. "Emptiness Found" – 3:42
  13. "Sticks and Stones" – 0:53

Personnel

  • Louis Benjamin Falgoust II – vocals
  • Brian Patton – lead guitar
  • Donovan Punch – rhythm guitar
  • Scott Williams – bass
  • Tommy Buckley – drums
  • Phil Anselmo – backing vocals (uncredited)
  • Keith Falgout – producer, mixer
  • Dave Shirk – mastering

Notes

  1. ^ The album's liner notes don't show the actual authorship of any of the tracks.

References

  1. ^ a b c d York, William. "Soilent Green – Sewn Mouth Secrets". AllMusic. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  2. ^ Popoff, Martin (2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 413. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
  3. ^ Alexander, Phil (November 7, 1998). "Albums". Kerrang!. No. 724. EMAP. p. 47.
  4. ^ a b c York, William. "Soilent Green biography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  5. ^ a b c Soilent Green. Sewn Mouth Secrets & A String of Lies. Relapse Records. Liner notes.
  6. ^ "Sewn Mouth Secrets by Soilent Green". Rate Your Music. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
  7. ^ "Soilent Green – Sewn Mouth Secrets and & A String of Lies". AllMusic. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
  8. ^ "Terrorizer albums of '98". Terrorizer. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  9. ^ "Soilent Green". Metal Blade Records. Archived from the original on March 15, 2008. Retrieved June 11, 2009.