Roadrunner Records, the metalabel par excellence which has presented us infamous groups which got classic status in course of their career like Slipknot, Sepultura, Soulfly or Machine Head to name just a few. And all these bands signed Roadrunner?s A&R Monte Conner who always had a good nose for potencial superstars.
Roadrunner celebrated their 25 anniversary and Monte Conner had the job to do something special for this anniversary. What he planned was a single cd with some songs written in a day by a group of 4 members of different Roadrunner bands. This worked so well that he decided to make a full record that way. He chose 4 team captains which should enter the studios and record 4 songs. The team captains were allowed to choose the musicians who should play the songs in the studio with them by their own. Every roadrunner and ex-roadrunner member was welcome. What came out was a record which included 55 musicians and a wide spektrum of differnt styles of metal and rock.
Robb Flynn:
The head of machine head has the honour to open up the record with the from Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage) sung metalcore anthem "The Dagger" which could be a part of a machine head record. He has created the perfect mix between thrash- and modern metal. The song contains a godly solo played by Mr. Thrashmetal himself, Jeff Waters (Annihilator), which is just amazing like the whole song itself. 5/5
"Independent (Voice Of The Voiceless)" is his second song. The song has a thrashy Sepultura-vibe that?s why he chose Max Cavalera to sing this. The song is fast, dynamic and very aggressive sung. The song could be contained on Cavalera?s project from 1994 Nailbomb. The bridge contains the same riff like on the song "Downstroy" from Soulfly which was written Max Cavalera. It?s a bit strange to hear the same riff in two different songs. 3.5/5
His next song "The Rich Man" is sung by Corey Taylor (Slipknot) which is built up slowly with an evil atmosphere. The song has a decent instrumentalisation with just bass in the verses and a standart metalriffing in the chorus. Interesting nu-metal song with the well known quiet verse/hard chorus schema which on this song is more interesting like on many other nu-metal songs. 4/5
The last song written by Rob is "Army Of The Sun" which is the only song you maybe wouldn?t recognize that it?s written by him. The song is less heavy, more melodic but still metal. The song has a very catchy chorus and a beautiful bridge and it?s sung by Tim Williams (Bloodsimple). 4.5/5
Dino Cazares:
is the ex-guitarist from the band Fear Factory which became famous with their back then revolutionary record Demanufacture. Cazares is very well known for his stakkato riffing. She shows his skills first on the song "The Enemy" which is introduced by acoustic melody played by Andreas Kisser (Sepultura). And then the drums and guitars set in and bring totally chaos. A death/thrash song sung by Mark Hunter (Chimaira) which is very recommendable. 4.5/5
"The End" sung by Matthew Heafy (Trivium and also a team captain of this project) is a very melodic rock song where the lyrics are in the foreground. This song is very Cazares and Heafy untipical but directly therefore this song is so interesting, they enter new territory. This song is the only one which was released as a single and a video clip was shot for. 5/5
On "Baptized In The Redemption" Dez "The Freak" Fafara (Ex-Coal Chamber, Devildriver) has the honour to complete this song with his growly vocals. The song starts very Latinometal like which leads into such a heavy neckbreaking metalriff that it?s really impossible don?t to headbang to this song. The bridge contains a wah-pedal solo done by Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) who already appeared in "The Enemy". 5/5
Cazares? last appeareance is "No Mas Control" which sounds more after his old band Fear Factory than the band self, so this song is a very stakkato oriented massacre which has a little Ill Nino touch maybe cause of the singer cause it?s sung by Christian Machado the singer of the mentioned band. 3.5/5
Matthew Heafy:
The 19 year old all-rounder Matt Heafy is a rising star in the metal scene. From all team captains his writing is the most diversified. And his diversifation he first shows on the song "In The Fire" which is sung by the metal legend King Diamond which shows one of the best vocal performances on the whole record cause of his variable singing. This song sounds after pure 80?s metal with a solo battle in the middle of the song between Matt and his Trivium mate Corey Beaulieu. Like King Diamond said on the DVD (which is contained as a bonus) This song is just killer. 5/5
His next song is "Dawn Of A Golden Age" which is pure black metal dominated by blast beats. Dani Filth (Craddle Of Filth) sings along to this song. It will only appeal to people of the mentioned genre. 2.5/5
A more interesting song from Heafy is "Blood And Flames" a complexe groovemonster with Jesse Leach (Ex-Killswitch Engage) on vocals who sings very soulful to this doom metalgroover. Definitely one of the album?s highlight. 5/5
And his last song "I Don?t Wanna Be A Superhero" is ... what? That?s something I would have never expected. A 2 minute punk anthem which sounds heavily after Pennywise. It?s pure fun to listen to this song. It has a happy tune which makes you feel good and it?s also a pleasure to listen to Ex-Misfits singer Michael Graves. 4.5/5
Joey Jordison:
And the only Team Captain who is left yet is the drummer of Slipknot alternatively the guitarist from The Murderdolls which first offering is the death/black metal song "Annihilation By The Hands Of God" which contains Joey?s striking drumming style. You will directly notice that it?s him. This is an okay song which gets a lower rating cause of Glen Benton (Deicide) dull growling. 2.5/5
On "Tired `N? Lonely" the music style changes about 180 degress. It?s a rocksong which is very blues-influenced and could be written by Slash (Velvet Revolver). If Wednesday 13 would sing on this song this could also be a Murderdolls song. Keith Caputo (Life Of Agony) borrows Joey his voice for Tired ?N? Lonely which fits perfectly to the overall sound of the song. 4/5
"Now Way Out" is again a simple rocksong. It follows the same direction like Joey?s previous song but it?s less heavy and very bad sung by Daryl Palumbo (Glassjaw). The only word you could call his vocal work is gay. Sorry. 2/5
"Constitution Down" follows finally a more heavier direction. A middletype of Joey?s Black/Death- and Rock style. It?s an enjoyable song but not really a necessary track. It reminds me a bit on Pantera. 3/5
Joey is the only Captain who wrote 5 songs. And his last song "Enemy Of The State" opens up with a beautiful piano melody which leads into the typical Type O Negative style, calm and depressive. That?s probably the reason why Joey chose Peter Steele (Type O Negative) to sing this song.It?s an okay album closer, I would have wished a more spectacular one. 3/5
So, ... the record is over. But ... is not a song missed? Yeah, "Roads". The only song which wasn?t written by a team captain is a really beautiful and relaxing acoustic song which brings a bit variety into all the heavyness. The mhmhmh singing melody in the chorus is very catchy. The song was written by Josh Silver from Type O Negative.
Overall it?s a really impressive record which contains so many worlds of metal which remind you on so many stations metal had. Nu-Metal, Metalcore, Black Metal, Death Metal and many more. The most impressive work delivered us in my opinion Matt Heafy and Dino Cazares. The weakest composer was definitely Joey Jordison who wrote mostly average stuff. But apart from that this record is not just a cheap compilation. You can hear the love the musicians wrote these songs.
Hope you enjoyed reading this. =)
