Review Summary: What happens when you get fifty-two recording artists from forty different acts working on the same album? Is it overly confusing or music to inspire and unite the masses?
When people hear of Roadrunner Recording Studios, they initially think of the labels heavyweights including the likes of Sepultura, Fear Factory and Slipknot. But what happens if say you could choose your favourites from those bands and get them to work together on a song? Then what would happen if you combined some of your old favourites with your new favourites? These questions you ask yourself, would it be a disaster or would it be something else entirely? For the most part, the last is true.
With members of Machine Head, Killswitch Engage, Trivium, Fear Factory and Still Remains just to name a few, listeners can expect some to a lot of diversity.
From the opening track 'The Dagger' written mainly by members of Machine Head, Killswitch Engage, and Chimaira listeners can hear an excellent example of what is to come overall this would be the perfect choice for any bands as an opening track. From the starting pick-scratch listeners are essentially punched in the face by a fast-paced metal onslaught. It is a fine example of the labels metalcore acts. From heavy riffs to screamed and melodic vocal lines before leading into a Jeff Waters (Annihliator) shredding guitar solo. 'The Dagger' is a fine example of what is to come.
Other members of the label that make appearances on the record include members of Type O Negative, Suffocation, Cradle Of Filth, Fear Factory, Sepultura and Deicide, and if that isn't enough to get metal fans excited include Mercyful Fate's King Diamond who adds vocals for 'Ín The Fire' and works with both Trivium guitarists and whilst not the best display of the 'Kings' vocal talent, there is a lot of guitar techniques with a lot of melodic leads and solos including other stages of guitar 'wankery'.
There are tracks on the All-Star Sessions however that do not fall squarely in the metal genre there is also a large amount of diversity shown with punk-themed songs 'No Way Out' and 'I Don't Wanna Be( A Superhero)' that most punk bands would be proud of.
At times there is a greater creative talent is shown and Corey Taylor's vocal work on 'The Rich Man' moves between over-raged and moody, whilst the music was created with even a higher level of talent moving from dissonance to heavy displaying raw anger as the Slipknot/Stone Sour screams his way through the chorus lines making it a very interesting listen.
The main single of the album written by the likes of Logan Mader, Matthew K. Heafy, Dino Cazeras and Roy Mayorga including Coal Chambers Nadja, titled 'The End' is over-all a quality track and its only flaws may be Heafy's lead vocals. However that does not mean the track loses its playability and is a popular track for many metal fans.
There is not often a collaborative piece that works well in the music industry, there may be songs that feature artists, but there has never been a project on this large a scale and Roadrunner have pulled it off almost perfectly. 'The Áll Stars Session' is a great buy and its replayability makes it great quality for money.
Highlights Include: The Dagger, Army Of The Sun, Blood & Flames and The End.
