Black Label Society--Sonic Brew (1999/Spitfire)
Rating--8.7
Bored to Tears--RealAudio No More Tears--RealAudio
Guitar god Zakk Wylde continues with his post-Ozzy exploits, which have included the band Pride and Glory as well as a
solo, mainly-acoustic album. With this undertaking, Zakk may have finally found his most potent niche. BLS is a grueling,
toned-down metal fest... and just plain mean and nasty as hell!
Zakk's caustic vocals drip over bass-heavy tunage, and
his usual harmonic-laced riffs are everywhere. Much heavier than the Pride and Glory material, as the band dwells near areas
occupied by Sabbath and the like-- but with much more vitality. This particular "reissue" version contains a bonus track--
a Zakk-ified "No More Tears". More on that later...
A mean groove and head-moving chorus breaks things in on the first
track "Bored to Tears," and the chugging, mewling "The Rose Petalled Garden" is hot on its heels. Top highlight "Low Down"
is an absolute rip-fest, and features the runaway-train sound that will dominate the band's sophomore release. "The Beginning...
at Last" is similar, and has a grooving pre-chorus.
Virtually every song is mentionable... The pulsing "Mother Mary," "World of
Trouble" and its nasty chugging, the staccato-laced notes of "Lost My Better Half," and the slow chunker "Born to Lose."
Want more? "Hey You," "Beneath the Tree," and "Black Pearl" all deserve ink as well, and the acoustic, 'Book of Shadows'-like
"Spoke in the Wheel" is smooth.
And then... we have "No More Tears". This is a toned-down, heavy, EVIL track, as Zakk
just kills and destroys, with that damn nasty-ass smirk no doubt planted squarely on his face!
Come back for the next one,
kiddies. It only gets better...
TRACK LIST: Bored to Tears/The Rose Petalled Garden/Hey You (Batch of Lies)/Born to Lose/Peddlers of Death/Mother Mary/
Beneath the Tree/Low Down/T.A.Z./Lost My Better Half/Black Pearl/World of Trouble/Spoke in the Wheel/The Beginning... at Last/
No More Tears
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