Godsmack - IV

Blurb
Critics of Godsmack often say that their material is too repetitive. To some extent that is true of this album too. But then how else does a band defines its 'sound'? Godsmack is Godsmack cos they sound like Godsmack, and they do a mighty fine job of doing it too! There is a but here, and it is this - they hold on to their roots too tightly to be able to grow their branches to cover a wider area.

This is a better album than the previous one 'Faceless', which was pretty sad for a third offering. It starts off with two high-energy tracks, trademark Godsmack. 'Speak' has been widely on the radio. The third song, 'The Enemy', is as close to a Metallica song that Godsmack can do, it just sounds like one! 'Shinedown' and 'Hollow' show them trying out a newer harmonic side, and they come off pretty good too. Lead singer Sully actually does get to flex his vocal chords with some real singing in this album.

Things start petering out into a ballady ending, which again demonstrate that they are trying out new things. 'Bleeding Me' is a good song buried in the middle of this record; this is one band not scared to play guitar solos when everyone has abandoned them. The riffs on this are not as hard hitting, and the last few tracks are forgettable. However, the record closes out with an ode to the band who inspired them, and from whose single Godsmack take their name - Alice In Chains. 'One Rainy Day' is a dreamy, drawn-out journey, and Sully really does sound like Layne, so much so that if Godsmack break up then the reunited AiC should not even think twice about snapping him up!

Track Listing
1. Livin In Sin
2. Speak
3. The Enemy
4. Shine Down
5. Hollow
6. No Rest For The Wicked
7. Bleeding Me
8. Voodoo Too
9. Temptation
10. Mama
11. One Rainy Day

Overall Rating
I expect more from a band of their pedigree and talent, this is a 7.5/10.