Mugshot Slows It Down but Cranks Up the Metal with Newest Release “Next to Your Idols”

Cover Photo by: x.thad.x

Song Review

San Jose’s own, Mugshot, continues to deliver raw, punishing energy with every release. Their sound is a fusion of anguish, chaos, and the heaviest noise imaginable—and its completely addictive. They’ve quickly climbed into my top five bands. The past four days have been a constant cycle that surely doesn't leave out Next to Your Idols. This track definitely eases you into their more panic-inducing hits which, if you aren't already, will have you hooked.

I’ll admit I came late to the game, but after first hearing Death Has a Shadow, I fell head over boots in love and haven’t looked back. Every track from their latest project in the works, All Devils Are Here, feels like a brutal—but welcome—blow to the senses. I’m obsessed. One minute I’m just shuffling through my playlist, and the next, I’m blurting out, “Siri, play Mugshot.”

The band has been working with powerhouse producer Randy Leboeuf (known for work with Kublai Khan, Bad Omens, Gideon, and more—this man's flexes are stacked), and the results speak for themselves. His influence brings out more dynamic layers in Mugshot’s sound, but even with the evolution, I still find myself going back to older favorites like Hate Speech.

Their latest single, Next to Your Idols, leans into a slower pace without losing any of the crushing weight. It’s heavy in the most intense way—dark ambience, echoing vocals, and a seamless blend of metal and hardcore. The contrast between frontman Ringo Waterman’s fierce vocals and guitarist Michael Demko’s crushing riffs—paired with his own gritty, thrown-in vocal lines—is grimy in the best possible way. Add the raw energy of bassist Ciro Abraham and drummer Connor Haines, and its chaos contained. And while we’re on the subject of those two, the intro to Die in Fear deserves a shoutout—it’s a perfect example of the structure and tension these two bring to the band.

According to the band, “Next to Your Idols’ is a critique on celebrity culture and the adornment of those who use their platform to mistreat or take advantage of others. It’s an indictment of Hollywood and the manipulation that surrounds it and similar circles.”

It’s a message we hear often, but never enough—and Mugshot doesn’t hold back. They’re not afraid to call out the rot behind the glamor, and they do it with sound that demands attention.

Personally, I’m counting down the days to see them live. I already know the album is going to be one of my top choices this year. They’re playing Chain Reaction in Anaheim the day after my birthday, and I couldn’t have asked for a better gift. But don’t let my partial date make you think they’re not hitting the road till then, their upcoming tour with Orthodox, Omerta, and Fromjoy kicks off this June with first stop Nashville, TN on the 21st, and it’s one you will absolutely regret if you miss it.

Stream Next to Your Idols