L.D. 50 (album)

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Short description {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: August 22, 2000 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Kill, I Oughtta1997The End of All Things to Come2002studioL.D. 50ElDeeFifty.jpegyesMudvayneAugust 22, 2000October 14, 1999 – March 12, 2000The Warehouse Studio, Vancouver, Canada<ref name="Ruhlmann">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Flatlist68:32No-Name/EpicTemplate:Flatlistx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}} L.D. 50 is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Mudvayne. Released on August 22, 2000,<ref name="Ruhlmann" /> it is the band's first release on Epic Records, following the independently-released extended play Kill, I Oughtta. The album was co-produced by Garth Richardson and Mudvayne, and executive produced by Steve Richards and Slipknot member Shawn "Clown" Crahan.

The band's elaborate visual appearance resulted in increased recognition of the band, and L.D. 50 peaked at No. 85 on the Billboard 200. While initially receiving mixed reviews from critics on release, the album would gain praise over time for its technical and heavy style of music.

Background and production

Mudvayne formed in 1996 in Peoria, Illinois.<ref name="ink"/> The band became known for its strong visual appearance, which included horror film-styled makeup.<ref name="Hay">Template:Cite magazine</ref> After independently releasing their debut extended play, Kill, I Oughtta, the band signed to No-Name/Epic Records.<ref name="Hay"/> L.D. 50 was produced by Garth "GGGarth" Richardson<ref name="McIver">Template:Cite book</ref> and executive produced by Steve Richards and Slipknot member Shawn "Clown" Crahan.<ref name="morningcall">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="ink">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Hay"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Sharpe-Young">Template:Cite book</ref> Epic Records initially chose to promote the band without focusing on its appearance and early promotional materials featured a logo instead of photographs of the band. However, the band's appearance and music videos increased recognition of the album.<ref name="Hay"/>

According to the band, the production of the album was very hectic. Drummer Matthew McDonough reflected, "We worked around the clock, and some of the engineers we had with us literally went for days with-out sleep. It was very, very time-intensive. We didn't party. We were recording in Vancouver but didn't get to see the town-we were just there and we worked and that was it. It was very intense, and Garth ran a tight ship."<ref name="bio"/> Singer Chad Gray recalled, "Making the record was crazy. It was all about work. There were songs I left alone and didn't mess with until we were in the studio, which was not a smart idea considering the time and budget constraints we were under. I wrote 'Pharmaecopia' and 'Nothing To Gein' on our last night in the studio, before the tapes were sent to New York to be mixed. The pres-sure [sic] was insane."<ref name="bio"/>

Music and lyrics

File:Mckenna1.jpg

Several of the album's interludes feature excerpts from Terence McKenna.<ref name="morningcall" /><ref name="nme"/>

L.D. 50 features a technical style of music which has been referred to by the band as "math metal",<ref name="Sheaffer">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="revolver_math" >{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and by critics as nu metal,<ref name="exclaim2" /><ref name="rev2" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> alternative metal,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> thrash metal,<ref name="Ruhlmann" /> art metal<ref>The Rough Guide to Heavy Metal – Essi Berelian – Google Books</ref> and heavy metal in general.<ref name="Ratliff2" /><ref name="Ruhlmann2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="morningcall2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Spin magazine also described the album as having a "future-prog" sound.<ref name="spin">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Mudvayne's musical style has influences of death metal,<ref name="Bienstock">Template:Cite book</ref> hardcore punk,<ref name="Bienstock"/> jazz fusion,<ref name="Bienstock"/> speed metal<ref name="Bienstock"/> and hip hop.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Mudvayne has found additional inspiration from artists such as Obituary,<ref name="Becker" /> Emperor,<ref name="Sheaffer" /> Mötley Crüe,<ref name="Becker" /> Alice in Chains,<ref name="Becker" /> Pearl Jam,<ref name="Becker" /> King Crimson,<ref name="Sheaffer" /> Porcupine Tree<ref name="Sheaffer" /> and Metallica.<ref name="Becker">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, the band has stated that they are not influenced by other metal bands.<ref name="Sheaffer" /> The album's first track, "Monolith", refers to Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey.<ref name="McIver"/> The band were greatly influenced by this film during the making of L.D. 50.<ref name="ink"/><ref name="bio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

During the songwriting process, the band members paired riffs with lyrics based on what Matthew McDonough referred to as "number symbolism".<ref name="Bienstock" /> According to McDonough, while he and Chad Gray wrote the lyrics to "Nothing to Gein", Greg Tribbett performed a riff which alternated in bars of 4 and 5. Because the number 9 is a lunar number, McDonough felt that the riff would fit the song's lyrics, which referred to serial killer and grave robber Ed Gein, whose actions McDonough associated with nighttime activity.<ref name="ink" /><ref name="Bienstock" /> Gein's story grabbed the attention of McDonough and Gray as they were leafing through a book on murderers and true crime.<ref name="ink" /> Regarding Gein, McDonough commented, "It seemed so impossible [for Gein] to bridge the gap into mainstream society. I found that exciting that I could find humanity in him".<ref name="ink" />

The album's title derives from the technical term 'Median lethal dose', abbreviated 'LD50', used by toxicologists to refer to the dosage of any given substance required to kill half (50 percent of) the members of a tested population.<ref name="ink"/><ref name="McIver"/><ref name="Bienstock"/> A sound collage entitled "L.D. 50", composed and recorded by drummer Matthew McDonough, appears on the album as a series of interludes. The complete piece appeared as a bonus track on The Beginning of All Things to End, Epic Records' reissue of the band's 1997 self-released EP Kill, I Oughtta.<ref name="Sharpe-Young"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album also features distorted audio clips voiced by American philosopher and psychonaut, Terence McKenna, who died around the time of the album's recording.<ref name="morningcall"/><ref name="nme">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Release and commercial performance

L.D. 50 was released on August 22, 2000.<ref name="Ruhlmann"/> It peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart and number 85 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA.<ref name="RIAA"/><ref name="Charts">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The singles "Dig" and "Death Blooms" peaked at No. 33 and No. 32, respectively, on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.<ref name="Charts"/>

L.D. 50 was repackaged with The Beginning of All Things to End on August 30, 2011.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> These albums, plus The Beginning of Things to End, a reissue of the band's demo Kill, I Oughtta, were repackaged as part of the Original Album Classics in 2012.<ref name="Monger">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Critical reception

L.D. 50 received mixed to positive reviews from critics. Rolling Stone contributor Ben Ratliff gave the album three out of five stars.<ref name="Ratliff">Template:Cite magazine</ref> He noted the band's technical background, comparing the songwriting style to that of Nirvana and stating that the album's interludes are better than those of Slipknot.<ref name="Ratliff"/> Blabbermouth.net writer Borivoj Krgin praised its technicality and heaviness.<ref name="Krgin"/>

AllMusic described the music as "hard to take seriously", noting that "the CD booklet, which contains an acknowledgments section as lengthy and gushy as what you'd find on a teen pop album. Can these guys giving thanks and love to family and friends be the same ones performing aggressive lockstep metal, spewing obscenities, and singing about suicide?"<ref name="Ruhlmann"/> Exclaim! gave the album a negative review, stating that "Despite titles like 'Internal Primates Forever,' '-1,' 'Nothing To Gein,' 'Pharmaecopia' and '(K)Now F(orever)' nothing can improve this pathetic nu-metal drivel" and "The only redeeming quality to this record is the intrusive fretless bass sound that kind of sounds like Les Claypool's noodling."<ref name=exclaim>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> NME gave the album a negative review, describing the album as "An unholy stew, baby, a musical ebola" and that there were "far too many incidences of Rush-style mid-'70s ponce metal 'proper' singing. Think Yes. Think 'Stonehenge' by Spinal Tap. Think prog-rock bollocks, baby!"<ref name=NME>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Nick Terry's review of the album for Terrorizer, which awarded no marks, read only: "No. Nonononono. NO. Come back, Coal Chamber, all is forgiven...".<ref name="Terrorizer" />

Revolver put the album on their "10 Nu-Metal Albums You Need to Own" list, stating that "the album's prog-rock experimentalism and virtuosic playing hold up amazingly well–even if the rapping on tracks likeTemplate:Sic "Under My Skin" binds 'L.D. 50′ more to nu-metal than to the math-metal tag".<ref name="rev">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2020, it was named one of the 20 best metal albums of 2000 by Metal Hammer magazine.<ref name="MHtop2000">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personnel

Mudvayne

• Chad Gray – lead vocals
• Greg Tribbett – guitars, backing vocals
• Ryan Martinie – bass
• Matthew McDonough – drums, keyboards

Additional personnel

• Garth Richardson – producer, audio production
• Dean Maher – engineer
• Steve Richards – executive producer
• M. Shawn Crahan – executive producer
• Steve Sisco – assistant engineer
• Scott Ternan – assistant engineer
• Andre Wahl – audio engineer
• Andy Wallace – mixing at Soundtrack Studios, New York City
• Howie Weinberg – mastering at Masterdisk, New York City

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart

Chart (2000–01)	Peak position
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	32

Singles

Song	Chart (2001)	Position
"Dig"	Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks<ref name="Charts"/>	33
"Death Blooms"		32