Reviews list for Godsmack - When Legends Rise (2018)

Godsmack is still going throughout their Grammy-nominated 3-decade career, though they've retired from making new albums after Lighting Up the Sky. Their first 6 albums had their modern mainstream alt-metal on display, but with When Legends Rise, Sully Erna and the gang decided to turn things around with a more hard rock direction. Sadly, it just doesn't work as much as it would, and not even the songs that go back to their roots can help out.

So yeah, this Massachusetts band consisting of Sully, Tony Rombola (guitars), Robbie Merrill (bass), and drummer Shannon Larkin have some catchy hard rock in their hands. While it's clear where they're going, the album is not without some slight metal heaviness...

The opening title track moves on well in the verses. The chorus, not so much. The kind of chorus that's too radio-focused is the bad kind for full-on metalheads. The next track and first single "Bulletproof" may be too accessible for earlier fans, but it soars much better with its catchy melody. Reminds me of Breaking Benjamin a bit, which must be why my brother likes that one. Also exciting is "Unforgettable", indeed an unforgettable anthem complete with a choir-backed gang chorus.

Then things start falling apart further in "Every Part of Me". That track and "Take It to the Edge" follow the opening track's motive of having promising verses followed then by painfully predictable choruses. That kind of structure can cause weakness to reduce the strength. "Under Your Scars" is an interesting track. It's a power ballad similar to the ones made by Guns n' Roses. And yet I actually find it stronger than those poor previous two tracks. So emotional! "Someday" has better potential with heavy-hitting action, though it's too far out to make highlight status.

"Just One Time" is a repulsive sh*tter. It starts heavy in the first 15 seconds then drops into Johnny Cash-ish country rock. That's rather disappointing. The kind of rock in "Say My Name" is too close to that of Clutch. "Let It Out" take the radio-infused power of the first 3 tracks and makes too much of that for its own good. The closing track "Eye of the Storm" is a heavy anthem like the ones the band made 15 to 20 years prior.

You might think When Legends Rise would be like a rising phoenix, but this phoenix seems more watered down. Erna made his attempt at rebuilding the sound of Godsmack and it seemed like he had fun in the process. Still it doesn't sound like something to please metalheads and longtime Godsmack fans. But would it please my brother? Sure....

Favorites (only songs I enjoy): "Bulletproof", "Unforgettable", "Under Your Scars", "Eye of the Storm"