LIVE TO DIE ANOTHER DAY

This War of Mind, whether purposeful or not, seemed to elevate itself above its mismatched physical appearance. Hailing from four different planets (Pelage, Gorby VII, Travistal Plane 181, and Xercenta XI), the nonet were exceptionally politically active, lending their voices in support of the Great Migration III that occurred in the Ymor Galaxy and in opposition to Funk Wars V through IX. However, their cuddly exteriors of shaggy fur and colorful stripes snuffed their rhetoric like striking a match underwater. With Breakout!, they saw their fourth album as a literal "breakout" of their previous personas, less politically inclined, with a focus on tasty beats. Telling the story of a heist gone wrong, the band set themselves as the central characters, eventually getting caught but refusing to squeal on one another and happily serving jail time to remain together. This shift proved to be both highly lucrative and instantaneously beneficial. Before, with sales teetering on the brink of cataclysm, their newfound notoriety afforded them the funds to take their political fire and put the Space Bucks where their mouths were (and three out of the nine, with multiple mouths to boot). Breakout! became known as a party anthem, a feel-good time that was as much a thinly veiled criticism as it was a total lean into the lifestyle. Who would dismiss a chance to break free of the shackles of daily life to tap their toes (hooves, tentacles, etc.) to some of the most fun beats in the Universe? This War of Mind, while their band name left much to be desired in this new heel turn, backed up their enthusiasm with loads of cash, assisting in the rescue of several children from the clutches of the Skrix (a sickly, gelatinous species known for their constant meddling) and providing housing for those left behind in the wake of the Wrebhonoshi Shuttle disaster. Breakout! was a tough act to follow, and it wasn't until their sixth album, All For None, that they found similar success, the album's political ferocity hitting at precisely the right time for the midterm elections. What's left to be said of Breakout!? As we always say, dear Audionauts, there is nothing like blasting through the cosmos with your brothers committing illegal acts, and This War of Mind was certainly the party you wanted to be privy to the fun.