Xpression.v2

Godsmack, after three years, has finally released a new album, titled “IV”. What to say about it? Honestly, I don’t know how to judge the whole album as one single piece. There’s some old Godsmack, there’s some new Godsmack, and then there’s some acoustic Godsmack. Don’t get me wrong, it works, but I feel better off simply running over each individual track.

1. Livin’ in Sin
The song starts off with people praying in different ways until it finally kicks in. “Livin’ in Sin” is definitely one of those older styled Godsmack tracks. Hard pounding instrumentals combined with Sully’s mix of straight forward and “radio-fied” vocals. Great way to start off the album.

2. Speak
You can easily tell why this song is the first single off the album. It’s the Godsmack we’ve known all these years and is definitely what people want to hear as a first taste.

3. The Enemy
This one gets to me a bit. The lyrics are a bit weak at the beginning though Sully picks it up after the first verse, or so. The chorus is a bit different sounding that what we’re used to, also. This is a taste of what’s to come and, if done intentionally, definitely eases the transition into track 4.

4. Shinedown
There’s a harmonica. Yes, you heard me right, there is a harmonica. Now, the instrument is only present at the beginning and the end, but it definitely heightens the “southern rock” sound that this track has to it. This is entirely the new Godsmack. It’s a great track, don’t get me wrong, but people afraid of change may be taken back at first listen. Give it a chance, trust me. This is actually one of my favorite tracks on the album.

5. Hollow
Acoustic Godsmack. After their disastrously short acoustic release, I’m sure a few people thought (just like I did) that Sully has a good voice for more acoustic work and this tracks proves we were right. It’s hypnotic and deep. You can’t help but think and feel what Sully sings about. Then, once the background female singer appears, you’re gone. Iit’s a beautiful song from a band that’s usually known for beating you down with their sound instead of gently wrapping a different world around you.

6. No Rest For The Wicked
The “southern-ish” sound returns in this one. It’s a good track, but it’s not a song you should expect to knock you on your ass. Even with the heavy drums and usual guitar work, the chorus (especially the vocals) softens the track down a lot. As with “Shinedown”, you’ll need to take your time here. If you don’t give it a chance, you’ll hate it.

7. Bleeding Me
It starts off with a very brief guitar solo (of sorts, I’m no pro at these terms). You really get taken off guard at first by it. Did Godsmack just have a guitar solo? Yes, yes they did. Sully jumps in then and we’re back on that “southern roots” kind of sound. By this point, it’s pretty clear they don’t want to bash you over the head with their music anymore. However, once you get to the guitar solo at the bridge, you’ll be won over. It’s new and different, but it’s good.

8. Voodoo Too
Who hasn’t heard “Voodoo” by now? The band, in a Metallica-esque move, decided to write a sequel and it’s good. I guarantee that you’ll be singing the chorus’ lyrics all day long once you hear it. The music is a little heavier than the first part and you sort of wish it weren’t, but the lyrics are better and are more entrancing. Granted, it’s not as impactful as the original since the sound isn’t as new to us by now, but it’s still a good song. There’s another guitar solo, too. Seems like these guys are growing up.

9. Temptation
Yes, this is a track for all of us old schoolers. It’s meant to kick you in the ass within the first 15 seconds. This has our old Godsmack written all over it and it’s a huge pick me up after some slower tracks. You hear the instrumentals and then you hear Sully groan “aww shit” and you know it’s on. This is probably the highlight of the album, right here.

10. Mama
This is a power ballad and not something Godsmack has exactly been known for in their previous work. It’s emotional and surprisingly mature sounding. I’m really not sure how else to describe it. I like it, but I know many hardcore fans may be turned off a bit by the vulnerability, softness, and mature anger that weave in and out of Sully’s vocals. All I can suggest is to give it a shot and see what you think.

11. One Rainy Day
This is a slow song that has less than stellar instrumentals. The drum and bass seem too heavy compared to the rest. To be honest with you, I don’t like it. The track is a very disappointing end to the album.

All in all, it’s an album that will take some time to grow on you. If I had to single out one major weakness, I’d probably have to say it’s the order of the tracks. The beginning of the album gets you very amped up and then, midway through, you get brought into an entirely different environment that only gives you a break once, during “Temptation”. If they had spread out the emotionally weighing songs and used the hard hitting jams to keep you going up and down, I think it would have been a more enticing experience. That’s why it’s so hard to judge the album as a single entity. Almost each individual track has merit to it, but the way it was compiled takes away from the journey you are asked to go on.

*I want to note that I have not included the two bonus tracks in my review. In my opinion, being bonus tracks, they are not a part of the album experience and are meant to be judged separately. They are titled “Safe and Sound” and “I Thought” and are only available from the website of either Best Buy or Target, respectively, depending on which store you bought it from (if at all).

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