Korn‘s Jonathan Davis was so excited by ORGY that he created his own record label …
Last week the news broke that founding member and drummer extraordinaire Darren King would be leaving math-rock pioneers Mutemath due to ‘irreconcilable differences.’
While Mutemath is by no means the most important band in the world, their off-the-grid creativity and technically dazing instrumentation have marked them as one of the (sort of) hidden gems of the alternative world. Throwing alternative, progressive and odd-meter grooves into a melting pot, fused with pop and synth rock, King was the superglue that somehow transformed the band’s chaotic mess of sonic power into articulate, danceable grooves.
King isn’t the first member to leave the band this year, with guitarist Roy Mitchell-Cardenas opting out to spend more time with his family. Whilst the remaining original members have committed to releasing the band’s fifth LP and touring it across both Europe and the States, it’s impossible to imagine the band pulling off such demanding music, as well as living up to their fearsome live reputation, without King on the skins.
But hey, Mike Portnoy left Dream Theater and they are still (sort of) cool, right?? So rather than lament the loss of a key member to one of the most exciting contemporary bands, we’ve decided to cast our eyes back over five of King’s works that are guaranteed to inspire you to start shedding the wood in the practise room.
1. Progress
Heading back to the band’s early days, Progress offers a snapshot of the infectious shuffles that would come to characterise so much of King’s work. Laid back, yet plaid with a purpose, King’s half-time swing is the momentum needed for this dreamy song to soar to incredible heights. The perfect example of serving the song, King doesn’t overcook the part, yet keeps things tasty all the same.
2. Typical
Yes, it might be the song that put Mutemath on the map that everyone who knows the band heard first, but you’d be hard pressed to find a drummer with the dynamic ability to pull off both the thunderous assault of the opening fanfare and the stop-start pulse of the verse with such flow and ease. Even David Letterman, who witnessed his fair share of drummers in his time hosting The Late Show couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw how King played this one.
3. Clipping
As we said above, King does one hell of a mean shuffle. No doubt a student of Toto, King compliments the reverse synth effect with a beautiful mix of ghost notes across the hi-hat and snare, providing a wonderful texture to the tune. King keeps things on a knife-edge here, controlling his own energy and in turn allowing the band to slowly rise with him, eventually releasing the pressure in a triumphant final chorus of bells and cymbals. This song isn’t a live favourite for no reason.
4. Hit Parade
It hurts to put one of his final tracks on this list, but King’s drumming on the bands latest single shows that he’s lost none of the excitement or flair that makes him unmissable. From slow, sludgy grooves to roaring fills channelling his inner John Bonham, it’s clear that King didn’t leave Mutemath because he felt he was losing his musical touch. Listen in at 2:07 for an absolute schooling on triplets without the assistance of a double-kick. Despite the disappointment of his departure, the band’s forthcoming record is sure to showcase King at his best.
5. Reset
Every band has an instrumental that throws all creative caution to the wind in favour of sheer freakishness. Think Dance Of Eternity by Dream Theater or the late Cliff Burton’s work on Orion by Metallica. That’s the kind of league that Reset, the closing track to the band’s debut self-titled and most live sets, fits in. Starting with a nod to Radiohead’s game-changing Everything In Its Right Place, King takes control from the get-go, breaking into a steady march pock-marked with flourishing fills over the hats snares, seasoned with some gorgeous buzz- rolls. From there, like so many of his other works, the song builds into intensity eventually making way for King to break out into a free-time solo more in the vain of neo-soul as opposed to traditional rock & roll. Reset has always been Mutemath’s time to remind audiences why they paid the price of admission in the first place, with King laying all his chops on the table to be marvelled at. Of all the tunes that will feel different with someone else on the throne, it’ll surely be this, a recorded ode to King’s incredible flare and skill. Mutemath may not be done yet, but it’s one hell of a long way back to replace a drummer as powerful, disciplined and creative as King. Regardless, at least we have freakish recordings like these to entertain us for years to come.
Mutemath’s new album Play Dead will be released on 8 September via Caroline Australia / Wojtek Records.
Listen to Mutemath on Hysteria Radio daily
