Mudvayne was formerly known for its strong visual appearance. During the release of L.D. 50, the band performed in horror film-styled makeup. 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. The band's appearance and music videos increased recognition of the album. The band appeared under the stage names Kud, Gurrg, RyKnow, and sPaG. With their second album, 2002's The End of All Things to Come, the band changed make-up styles from multicolored face paint to dressing up as aliens and changing the stage names, now they were Chüd, Güüg, Rü-D, and Spüg. Mudvayne's reason for wearing such extravagant make-up was, according to the band, to add a visual aspect to their music and to set them apart from other run-of-the-mill metal bands. Mudvayne is known for performing a technical style of music which they have called "math metal".last=Sheaffer The band's music often contains what McDonough refers to as "number symbolism", in which certain riffs are used that correspond with thematic elements of the song's lyrics.