On July 26th internationally, Dying Victims Productions will release worldwide CD and vinyl LP editions of Mean Mistreater’s debut album, Razor Wire. And today, Deaf Forever magazine’s website premieres a promo medley from the album. Hear Mean Mistreater’s promo medley for Razor Wire exclusively HERE.
Formed in 2023, Mean Mistreater are a heavy metal band from Austin, Texas. Armed with heart-racing riffs and powerful vocals, they meld classic heavy metal with retro hard rock, inspired by bands like Chastain, Warlock, and W.A.S.P. In 2023, their debut single, “Bleeding The Night,” was named “Metal’s Song of the Summer” by Stereogum.com. Then, in early 2024, the band self-released their debut album, Razor Wire, featuring “Bleeding the Night” alongside seven other tracks.
An entirely DIY effort, Razor Wire now sees worldwide CD & vinyl editions courtesy of Dying Victims, who were won over by Mean Mistreater’s bruising & blue-collar metal. Right from its opening seconds, Razor Wire exudes excitement and good-fucking-times every step of the way. While undoubtedly early ‘80s traditional metal by nature, the quintet don’t forget the hard rock foundation of so much early metal, and indeed ROCK OUT with the zip & zeal of prime Thin Lizzy and early Cirith Ungol. Indeed, that throwback nature isn’t so much an affection as an overall attitude: the recording’s warm and analog and fully HUMAN, never overloading the senses with sterile tones that are too much too often; the rhythm section provides the pounding pulse, steady and straightforward, but just as commandingly plays counterpart to the dazzling twin-axe attack; and frontwoman Janiece Gonzalez drives the point home with her gritty-yet-soulful voice, at times reminding of a young Suzi Quatro but always illustrating each song’s inner drama with bluesy aplomb. And then, at a little less than a half hour, Razor Wire’s over and it’s time to hit the back alleys with it again!
Embodying that “American Metal” that Lizzy Borden sagely sang about so long ago, with no jingoism attached nor intended, Mean Mistreater fly the flag prouder than ever now with this new worldwide edition of Razor Wire!
In the meantime, hear a special promo medley exclusively HERE, courtesy of Deaf Forever, Germany’s defenders of the true. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Mean Mistreater’s Razor Wire
1. Forget It
2. Razor Wire
3. Visions
4. Waiting to Die
5. Let ‘Em Roll
6. Bleeding the Night
7. One By One
8. Bedevil
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