Shot to hell- This is BLS's 7th studio release and it is GREAT.!! This is also their first release with Roadrunner Records.
Zakk Wylde (lead vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, piano, keyboard)
John DeServio (bass guitar)
Craig Nunenmacher (drums)
It does remind of the time of their 2nd release Stonger Than Death. THe feel is good but the same as earlier albums. After all they have been able to creat a good name for tyhemselves in the world of heavy metal.
The album is a must buy for everyone who's liked BLS and Zakk's solos, now may that be a 14yr. old or a 40yr. old. The album's duration is of 44 minutes only and that is the best part about it. Instead of proving themselves as metal maestros they have attempted to make music from the view point of an average music listener. NO FLASHY STUFF.!!! The album is short and gives the listener a mix of both mellow and heavy songs.
The opening track puts you in the perfect mood to headbang.The track is called concrete jungle and is a perfect opener. It starts with a slow guitar and bass line and jumps into the typical BLS heaviness soon after. Zakk has for the first time has to me proved himself as a vocalist. The guitaring consists of the good old use of pinch harmonics.The solo is very good and gives a clear reason...why zakk is a great musician. 3.5/5
Black Mass Reverends:The next track is called Black Mass Reverends and is my favourite on the album.The riff might remind you of Suicide Messiah though but is actually quite different. The chorus is quite hummable and the solo is fast and has a lotta fell as usual. The reason why Roadrunner signed them up is quite visible. Its a short track of 2:37 only. Everything about this song makes BLS what they are.
Blacked Out World: The song kicks off with a cool bass line and wierd toned guitar lead by Zakk. It can be termed as a bass oriented song. John DeServio is very good, very, very good. Drums are also exceptionally good on this track though the feel is just about the same as other songs. Repetitive in nature. 3/5
The Last Goodbye: This is one of my gavourites on the album again. ITs not te usual fats heavy song. Its one of those mellow ones where BLS proves itself as a an overall feel band. You will understand it when you've heard the album. The lyrical content is quite clever. The buzz roll on drums complement Zakk's piano playing perfectly. Bass contains nothing more than the whole notes but the song is mesmerizing. The song really picks up with Zakk's solo after about 3 minutes. 4.5/5
Give Yourself To Me: The song is pretty OK. The off timing riffs sound good and can be termed as one of the very few songs by BLS which is technical, though not to the fullest. A good song overall. The solo being the best part of the song. 2.5/5
Nothing's The Same: This is again one of the mellow sounding tracks which puts you in the slow dancing mood with your girlfriend. Zakk's pain is visible in the track. Guitar overdubs on the piano are really kewl!! The lyrical content is actually better than any other heavy song on the album. The chorus Nothing's the same is very nice and the solo is commendable too with a lot of reverb.Short track of 3 minutes again. 4/5
Hell is High: As the title suggests , its not one of the slow songs on the album. The lyrics start off like" HEll IS HIGH AND SO AM I" and can be credited to the biker gang life of Zakk. Funny but true. It's all metal and bikes and guns and machines that he's talking about here. The solo is nothing great. A junkie rush track. 3/5
New Relegion: If you thought that this was enough then wait there's more of Zakk's crying out -slow - mellow songs with piano and an orchestra behind. You will have to wait for a long time for the vocals to start. After about 2 minutes the song picks up speed and becomes this adrenaline pumping song and puts in the mood to headbang. Though the riff sounds simple but it has a lot of feel. The song makes you wonder what made them do this experiment of mixing a slow and a heavy metal song. Though the combination is not bad and sounds good. The song overall is good. 3.5/5
Sick of it all: The song is a slow one again. He probably is not talking about music here. The lyrical content certifies him as a half poet. The slight power chords behind the piano riffing only makes the song sound better. This time round he makes use of backing vocalists also. All in all a good song. Nothing great. 3.5/5
Faith is blind: One of my favourites on the album again. Probably the only song on the album with double bass on it. This is the kinda song which makes you wanna play guitar and perform live on the stage. Vocals are not great. There is a lotta tempo variations and has a different feel to it. The solo isnt exactly very good...very short. Probably the second best heavy song on the album. 4/5
Blood is thicker than water: The only song with acoustic guitars on the album but it has not been used in the way you think it would have been used. Wait till you listen to the track. A pretty good song. Lyrically stong song. The solo has a lot of feel. The song is hummable throughout.4/5
Devil's Dime: With the ending of the album close, BLS tries to make another attempt to make to make you jump off your seat. The chorus is quite good and the song is quite fast than the rest of the songs. Though its quite short of only 2:16 but manages you to keep the volume high. 3/5
Lead Me To Your Door: When the track opened it made me wonder if this is U2 or BLS. Because it has a good and clean feel to it. They couldnt have come out with better song to close the set. Throughout the album i think this song's solo is the best of all. Very hummable-- the whole song. All in all a good ending.
PROS: The album has proved Zakk as an overall good musician. It doesnt keep the same tempo throughout and jumps from slow to fast and fast to slow. This doesnt make it monotonous and repetitive. The short duration of the songs makes it better.
CONS: The solos are not as good as they generally are. This time round Zakk has concentrated more on feel rather than lightning fast speed.
Overall - 3.5/5 Cant be termed as a classic but manages to impress the fans.
If u like the album, BUY IT. DONT KILL MUSIC!!!
Please let me know what you thought about this review as this is my second one only. Also dont forget to rate the album.
