In my review of Last Day of Sun all the way back in 2023, I made sure to point out how the strange and downright depressing set of circumstances Fuming Mouth found themselves in played a part in the structure and function of that record. Go ahead and inflate my ego by refreshing yourself on those circumstances, because they are integral to understanding both that album, and The Ringing Bell, an album that might be considered a comeback for a variety of reasons, although I would argue LL Cool J was right about Fuming Mouth when he said it: they’ve been here for years.

Born and bred out of the bustling Massachusetts hardcore scene, frontman Mark Whelan began Fuming Mouth as an homage to the blend of hardcore and death metal that inspired him, at first emulating your Trap Thems and your Nails…es, but soon adding his own signature style to the project. I was a huge fan of the way that blend was handled on their debut The Grand Descent, and I had high hopes that big things were in store for Fuming Mouth, Inc. Well, they were, but perhaps not the kind of big things I expected. To make a long story short, a pandemic, lots of death, a gnarly cancer diagnosis, and remission from said cancer (thankfully) all played a role in Last Day of Sun, an almost-concept album that ended up being more about the situation Whelan and company found themselves in than the original story idea (awesome as it is). Thankfully, on The Ringing Bell, things are looking up for Fuming Mouth: their third full-length release sees them hearken back to the aggressive and snot-nosed mix of hardcore and death metal that took a backseat to more grandiose and melodic ideas on their last record; they are back once again at GodCity Studio with the inimitable Kurt Ballou behind the desk; and they even managed to score Jay Fucking Weinberg as their new drummer upon his less-than-amicable exit from Slipknot and his actually amicable (?) exit from Suicidal Tendencies. A glow-up for both parties? Perhaps; Weinberg fits in with the rest of the band like a square peg in a square hole, and his infectious energy and ridiculous chops propel the cuts on The Ringing Bell into a high-caliber territory that feels like Fuming Mouth are turning a page and capitalizing on some momentum.

Need further convincing? Opener and lead single “Cheat Death” makes about as compelling a case as it can as Fuming Mouth’s mission statement, both thematically (for obvious reasons) as well as musically. Two and a half minutes of blistering riffs and two-stepping grooves are the perfect way to kick any record off, and the song does wonders to highlight the synergy between Weinberg and the rest of the band. Not that Fuming Mouth needed a return to form, per se, but this feels like one regardless. Although I loved Last Day of Sun for what it was, I’m also thrilled to death that Whelan and company have put the hardcore back front and center. Cuts like “A Blaze of Nihilism,” “After Oblivion,” and “Flourishing Flesh” feel like the most fully realized tracks of Fuming Mouth’s tenure, and there’s an undeniable sense of fun that permeates how great these riffs are, backed up of course by the HM-2-drenched guitar tones and Ballou’s stellar production job. The back half of The Ringing Bell sees Fuming Mouth branch back out into territory covered on Last Day of Sun, so it’s not a total departure. “Respect Mortality” and the title track are a touch more melodic and experimental (as far as Fuming Mouth goes), which makes them feel a little out of place next to the rest of the album, but honestly I don’t know how much I care when the songs are this good.

It’s a wonder to me that Fuming Mouth are not more recognized for what they’ve been doing. Perhaps time will be a little kinder to them as they march forward, but I’d imagine that there’s no stopping them either way; tenacity is their brand at this point, and it’s honed their musical edge razor sharp. The Ringing Bell is a victory for a band that doesn’t have any misses to look back on, and here’s to their continued success in the future, personally and musically.

-Ian

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The Ringing Bell is available now on Triple B Records.  For more information on Fuming Mouth, visit their official website.