John (JD) Deservio, Black Label Society's bassman has wanted to record this band for some years now. 25 years to be precise.
An impressive, enduring career, most notably as Zakk Wylde's sideman, occupied the time between.
Such was the potency of the music and the chemistry of the band that guest musicians queued for a place at the table.
Deservio chose carefully and well, ensuring the band's brand of cutting, pounding heavy rock / metal - liberally leavened with memorable melodies - isn't usurped by the immense presence of big guns like Zakk Wylde, Ray (Korn) Luzier, Sen (Cypress Hill) Dog, Hugo (Tantric) Fereira and many others just as subversive.
As you might expect, the music is closely related to that of BLS, but where Wylde's band ploughs a predictable furrow, Deservio takes the road less travelled, thundering down twisting chicanes and sheer drops or slowing through short stretches of simple beauty to ensure he keeps your attention.
The musical scenery is dark, stark and fearful but somehow strangely attractive.
Chunky, thick cut riffs, resounding with bottom end clarity and thudding beats never allow the lead axeman of the day to steal the show.
Gregg Locascio sings with conviction and confidence - occasionally he'll remind you of
Stevie Salas - arguably his vocal performance is the glue that holds an already sturdy, elegant structure together.
Standout tracks are
'Do My Work High' - not a million miles away from Sen Dog's SX-10; The piano driven ballad,
'I See Heaven' cuts against the album's grain, but is as good as anything written by Wylde; Understandably, there are vague eastern musical sounds on
'Egypt', a lazy, skewed stroll through stoner rock psychedelia with a fabulous tune, excitingly ascending guitars and feet-in-the-dust rhythms.
But it's probably
'14 Devils' that should be getting the banner headlines. It's announced by an icy wall of industrial rock riffing. Then Locascio's plaintive vocal lament, raw, primal - the perfect sonic partner - pierces the gloom like a light in a storm.
A word too on the album's outside bet - the urgent, demanding, hard as nails
'Reign Down'. It's maybe the closest Deservio gets to BLS, edged toward a funkier, fuller sound, with Locascio suggesting he's the metal and rock world's best undiscovered vocal talent.
Fine album, Highly Recommended.
Written by
Brian Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Show all reviews by BrianRatingsBrian: 8/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
This article has been shown 1102 times. Go to the
complete list.
