Review | Mental Hippie Blood – Web Of Lies

MHB Records

Some thirty years after playing on Dynamo Open Air (1995-edition) and breaking up a few months later Swedish rockers Mental Hippie Blood are back from the dead. Guitarist Mikael Jansson and singer Michael Sosinski (a.k.a. Michael Oran) have come together again to present us with a third Mental Hippie Blood record. So far it is being released by the band themselves. Surprisingly enough no record company has jumped in.

HISTORY OF MENTAL HIPPIE BLOOD

I know that results from the past do not guarantee a positive result in the here and now or even future, but some people might remember the 1993 debut ‘Mental Hippie Blood’ and its successor ‘Pounds’ that followed a year later. Only released in Scandinavia at first on MVG Records the first record gained more than enough attention and sales for Steamhammer/SPV to step in to secure a Europe-wide release and giving the group the opportunity to release a second album. To me the first album ‘Mental Hippie Blood’ is even today an absolute metal classic.

Inspired by alternative grunge (read Soundgarden and Co.) the group added a heavy portion of classic rock to the mix, plus songs that answered the call. The tracks ,,Wheel Of Fortune’’, ,,No Use’’ (about Sosinki’s trip to the USA in the hope to find a band and built up an existence there), ,,Honey Child’’, ,,Wanted Her Head’’, ,,Life Sucks’’, ,,Law Breaks Law’’ and the ballad ,,I Pray In Silence’’ still sound superb in 2025! The second album ‘Pounds’ was slightly less, but still way above average of what was released in those days. The band toured several times through Europe supporting Accept amongst others, plus the already mentioned gig at Dynamo Open Air. It came as a shock hearing that the group had split up at the end of 1995, leaving fans and press wondering of what could have been.

MENTAL HIPPIE BLOOD – THE CONCLUSION

Here we are in 2025. The two core-members Mikael Jansson and Michael Sosinski have penned eleven songs together (including the very short piano-intro ,,The Big Event’’). Today’s line-up is completed by Mats Rydstrom (bass), Axel Jansson (guitar) and drummer Habo Johansson. Listening to ‘Web Of Lies’ not a lot has changed. The band still combines classic heavy rock with slightly psychedelic influences (especially the track ,,Addicted’’) plus a gorgeous portion of alternative grunge-rock. What I found outstanding with the band was the manner on which they combined these influences with power metal riffs with the forceful voice of Sosinski leading the way. It is quite refreshing to hear this kind of stuff once again in 2025.

Time had no influence on the once again outstanding vocal-chords of Sosinski who only added more depth into his performance. The power riffs by Mikael Jansson still punch and kick. Add to that a modern sounding production and in general good to excellent songs (there are certainly no bloopers to be found) and the conclusion can only be that Mental Hippie Blood after thirty years have made a strong and very welcome return to the scene. Are there any record companies that are having their ears on? I know what I would do if I was an executive….

Release date: 12 September 2025