The latest release from heavy-hitting Godsmack is a rock’n’roll fanatic’s wet dream. It’s heavy without being generic, it’s dark without being satanic, and we never hear Sully try his luck at rapping. Sounds like the perfect metal album, right? Well, it would be had they just appeared on the scene, but Awake is pretty much the same album as their 1998 debut.
The first single and title track is an anthematic hard rock gem that has frontman Sully singing about his newfound power of being alive. It’s the same kind of stuff that Alice In Chains did in the early 90’s, only with Godsmack, they stay away from the drug references. Sully’s Wiccan background also lays the foundation for most of the album, as it did on the previous one, with hints of witchcraft and voodoo reflected in almost all of the lyrics. “Mistakes” is the heaviest track on the album, with a dirgy procession of droning guitars and slow rumblings from the drum kit. “Spiral” is another attempt at an eerie “Voodoo”, with tribal drums and acoustics replacing the tonnage that Godsmack normally delivers.
Awake is a good album for the current state of music, but it lacks in creativity and motivation. It seems their motivation is to stay the same, without exploring any new avenues. All four of the guys possess great talent as far as musicianship goes, but they just don’t seem to want to stray from their groove. Some things aren’t meant to change, and I guess Godsmack is one of those things. If you’re looking for a repeat of the first album, then Awake will really please you. However, if you’re like me and praise musical craftiness, then this album falls short in that department. It doesn’t have much staying power, much like many other new releases in the heavy music world. It’s all fine though, there’s still plenty of amazing music going around, you just have to look beyond Mtv and the radio to find it.
+ rick hinkson
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