| 4-Way Diablo | ||
|---|---|---|
 One of three variations of the album cover. | ||
| Studio album by Monster Magnet | ||
| Released | November 2 2007 | |
| Recorded | 2006 - 2007 at Sound City Studios, American Studios, The Sunset Lodge and Hydeaway Studios in California | |
| Genre | Stoner rock · psychedelic rock · garage rock | |
| Length | 57:47 | |
| Producer | Dave Wyndorf | |
| Monster Magnet chronology | ||
| Monolithic Baby! (2004) |
4-Way Diablo (2007) |
Mastermind (2010) |
4-Way Diablo is the seventh studio album by Monster Magnet. Released initially on 2 November 2007 in Germany (And later 5 November 2007 in Europe and 6 November 2007 in the United States). The album would be described by Wyndorf as "the least planned and programmed recording of my life" and "A little thrashy psycho garage sound" along with several of the songs recorded in one take with minimal overdubs and editing.[1] Initially planned for a 2006 release the album would be delayed when frontman Dave Wyndorf suffered a drug overdose in March that year, pushing back the recording and release to the next year.
The album's sound deviates more into garage rock and psychedelic rock rather than the hard rock sound established in prior works. Notably it's the first studio album to feature Bob Pantella on drums and the first since Dopes To Infinity to feature the band as a quartet as Phil Caivano had left in 2005 (Though he would return in 2008.). Notably it's the first Monster Magnet release to not credit Tim Cronin in some capacity.
Background[]
Following an extensive touring cycle in support of 2004's Monolithic Baby! work would begin on the next Monster Magnet record as early as December 2005, working with Matt Hyde at Sound City and Paramount Studios among other locations.[2] The band had a tour of Europe lined up with Witchcraft (And a warm-up gig with Lunarmile, whom featured Toni Marie, daughter of Tony Iommi)[3] However on the same day of the warm-up show (1 March 2006) it had been announced that the show, along with the entire European tour, had been canceled due to Wyndorf suffering a drug overdose.[4] Recording on the album would be put on hold as Wyndorf would recover.[5]
Once Wyndorf had recovered work would resume on the album on 5 April 2007[6] with guitar tracks laid down by Ed Mundell by May.[7] On 6 July 2007 4-Way Diablo would be announced, notably announcing the album had a cover of "2000 Light Years From Home" originally performed by The Rolling Stones from their 1967 album Their Satanic Majesties Request.[8] "No Vacation" was a re-recording of "Atom Age Vampire" from Wyndorf's 1988 demo Love Monster.
4-Way Diablo saw release in November 2007 on CD and 2LP, the latter only attaining one pressing and becoming somewhat of a rarity. 4-Way Diablo would sell 1,800 copies in the United States on first week of release, while peaking at #51 on the Swedish charts and #81 on the German charts. The artwork, done by Alexander Von Wieding, is slightly altered on different versions (Either depicting the two women on the cover without nipples, with nipples or with electrical tape pasties ala Wendy O. Williams.). 4-Way Diablo would attain generally positive reception from critics the likes of Blabbermouth (7/10)[9] and Metal-Temple (8/10)[10] though some reviews would criticize the production such as Your Last Rites[11] or length such as Sputnik Music[12] and Sea of Tranquility.[13]
Monster Magnet would tour Europe in 2008 and 2009 but no songs from 4-Way Diablo would be performed. In a 2011 interview with Guitar World, Wyndorf would explain that the songs weren't written as live songs and "too delicate to pull off". Wyndorf stated that they would be suited should the band ever work in a "mellow set".[14]
Being out of print for many years, 4-Way Diablo (Along with Monolithic Baby!) would be re-issued on CD, Vinyl and Digital on 16 September 2022 via Napalm Records.[15]
Tracklist[]
All songs written by Dave Wyndorf except where noted.
Track 14 is a vinyl-only bonus track.
- 1. 4-Way Diablo (3:19)
- 2. Wall Of Fire (3:44)
- 3. You're Alive (4:03)
- 4. Blow Your Mind (4:27)
- 5. Cyclone (5:32)
- 6. 2000 Light Years From Home (4:51) (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards)
- 7. No Vacation (5:00)
- 8. I'm Calling You (4:21)
- 9. Solid Gold (5:51)
- 10. Freeze And Pixillate (4:25)
- 11. A Thousand Stars (5:29)
- 12. Slap In The Face (4:26)
- 13. Little Bag Of Gloom (2:18)
- 14. Tomorrow's Sun (5:22)
Personnel[]
- Dave Wyndorf - Guitar, Vocals, Producer
- Ed Mundell - Guitar
- Jim Baglino - Bass
- Bob Pantella - Drums
- Matt Hyde - Engineer, Mixing, Producer
- Chris Rakestraw - Additional Recording and Editing
- Tom Baker - Mastering
- Jon Nicholson - Drum Technician
- Alexander Von Wieding - Artwork
External Links[]
References[]
| V·T·E Monster Magnet | |
|---|---|
| Current Members | Dave Wyndorf • Phil Caivano • Bob Pantella • Garrett Sweeny • Alec Morton |
| Past Members | John McBain • Tim Cronin • Tom Diello • Ed Mundell • Jim Baglino • Joe Calandra • Jon Kleiman • Michael Wildwood • Chris Kosnik |
| Studio Albums | Spine of God • Superjudge • Dopes To Infinity • Powertrip • God Says No • Monolithic Baby! • 4-Way Diablo • Mastermind • Last Patrol • Mindfucker • A Better Dystopia |
| Extended Plays | Monster Magnet • Tab • Superjudge / She Digs That Hole • Dopes |
| Demo Albums and Remix Albums | Forget About Life, I'm High On Dope • We're Stoned, What Are You Going To Do About It? • The TAB Remix • Milking the Stars: A Re-Imagining Of Last Patrol • Cobras and Fire: The Mastermind Redux |
| Associated Bands, Artists, Etc. | The Atomic Bitchwax • Gallery of Mites • Black Nasa • Daisycutter • Shrapnel • The Desert Sessions • Love Monster • The Ultra Electric Mega Galactic • Godspeed • Riotgod • The Ribeye Brothers • A Thousand Knives of Fire • Queens of the Stone Age • Raging Slab • Dirty Bird • Jakalope • Love Among Freaks • Dog of Mystery • Pinque Phloyd • Acid Reich • The Wellwater Conspiracy • 9 Chambers • Human Remains |