As far as the power in visual aspects of musical performance goes, Mushroomhead are today’s masters. Recently celebrating their 10-year anniversary in their hometown of Cleveland, Ohio, Mushroomhead has refined their music into an extremely unique combination of melodic 1990s metal and dark electronica. With two singers, one screamer and eight members, six adorned with black masks with “X’d” out eyes and two frontmen made up with red, black and white face paint, Mushroomhead immediately set themselves apart from today’s typical Ozzfest worthy nu-metal bands.

Opening with one new song “XIII” followed by two classics, “Before I Die” and “Bwomp,” the band had the immediate attention of the audience. As each of the mobile members with microphones and guitars creep across the stage, they let their masks dictate the image they want to portray: fear and power.

With such daunting stage imagery: masks, combat boots, smoke, complete with military attire and black name-tagged vests, it’s almost a shocking feeling when one hears the sweet eerie melody coming from Shmotz’s haunting keyboards, DJ Stitch’s samples and Jeffrey Nothing’s vocals. For the hardcore heavy metal fans there is just enough balance between the harmonic melodies, the distorted bass (Benis) and guitars (Gravy, Bronson), especially with J Mann on screaming details. Tying the two sides together are the heart exploding beats from drummer, Skinny. Once they performed the current single, “Sun Doesn’t Rise,” it was clear the fans knew the song word for word. For those that hadn’t heard the new material yet, there was a disturbingly loud applause. The recently released new album, XIII, will mark Mushroomhead’s sixth record release to date. There is a certain power over an audience from a band wearing masks. It lets them know that they don’t know the real Mushroomhead, but only this portion of their collective personality.

For the diehards, Mushroomhead aren’t strangers to their fans. After every show each and every one of the members come out without their attire to sign autographs and take pictures.

The new video for “Sun Doesn’t Rise,” is currently in rotation on cable channel 78, Fuse. For more information on Mushroomhead, visit http://www.mushroomhead.org.