Black Label Society--Stronger Than Death (2000/Spitfire)
Rating--9.5
All For You--RealAudio Counterfeit God--RealAudio
With this album, Zakk Wylde has planted his foot firmly in the ass of every straight-forward metal act within earshot, and given them
a lesson in how it's done. This is pure power... No tricks, no gimmicks. It is more consistently heavy and groove-infested than the band's debut... and moreso
than just about any album in recent memory. More bottom-heavy than Sabbath... As deep and grooving as Trouble's finest... More
ripping and rocking than any of his Ozzy work. Zakk is the man. Bow down, son.
"All For You"... and the pulse-drive begins. The chugging, harmonic-induced piledriver that is "Counterfeit God" will send many a
shiver up a metalhead's back, to be sure... and stands alongside such tracks as the solid "Superterrorizer" and "Love Reigns Down," as well as
the chugging, strafing drive of "Phony Smiles, Fake Hellos".
Wanna get on that horse and ride? "13 Years of Grief" takes you
there. Need something that moves from grind, build, kill? The title cut does just that.
In "Just Killin' Time," Zakk has written and performed a tremendous
mood piece-- one that showcases not only his deep, down-home and earthy voice, but also the emotional and purely artistic
side of his playing.
In all, this is simply a hell of an album. No-nonsense, in-your-face raging. Make no bones about it-- this
will be one of the top releases of the year, bar none. Do yourself a favor and pick it up---because you know it won't be getting
the press it deserves in today's poor excuse for a music media "scene".
TRACK LIST: All For You/Phony Smiles, Fake Hellos/13 Years of Grief/Rust/Superterrorizer/Counterfeit God/Love Reign Down/Just Killin' Time/
Stronger Than Death/Ain't Life Grand
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