Godsmack - Faceless (2003)^{Release ID: 9495}

Hearing an awesome popular single from this band in a show I've been binge-watching made me up to checking more of this band Godsmack via their 3rd album Faceless. And that wasn't the only time that song was used for a show or movie; you might know the song as part of The Scorpion King soundtrack. So what is that battle-ready nu/alt-metal song? As usual, I'll save what it is for when get to that song in the review...

It's part of this Boston-based band's blazing return in popularity that is Faceless. The vocals sound rough yet harmonic over guitar heaviness. I'm sure anyone listening to some of these tracks on the radio 20 years before this review was having great headbanging joy.

"Straight Out of Line" crashes in with tribal percussion in this live staple for the band. Both the guitar and vocals by Sully Erna cry out in heavy anger. The title track continues that in more of a radio-friendly form. "Changes" has more rock, though those killer guitars and vocals continue to soar. "Make Me Believe" once again has heavy guitar destruction by Tony Rombola and bass devastation by Robbie Merrill.

"I Stand Alone" is a different standout in this collection, and the aforementioned single featured in The Scorpion King and the show I've been binge-watching. An absolutely killer song for battle! The nice follow-up "Re-Align" continues the band's earlier heaviness used in this album since the previous track. Next one "I F***ing Hate You" is filled with rage and heaviness worth ranting against your estranged ex. "Releasing the Demons" fits right in the name for Sully unleashing the personal demons from his soul and mind. Lots of great potential in that one!

Following this is "Dead and Broken" which has TOOL-esque guitars in nice contrast with Sully's lyrics of women and their mind games. You can think of that as Nickelback's "How You Remind Me" but heavier. "I Am" has the band's classic intense/melodic blend. "The Awakening" is an interlude with tribal percussion and chanting. "Serenity" is a slow cool way to end, inspired by the late Rush drummer Neil Peart's book chronicling his motorcycle trek through North America after losing his wife and daughter.

Faceless can be considered part of the popular alt-metal release lineup of 2003, alongside albums by Evanescence, Linkin Park, and unfortunately Metallica. Godsmack's killer entry into that lineup shows that the album can stand both alone and altogether....

Favorites: "Straight Out of Line", "Changes", "I Stand Alone", "Re-Align", "Releasing the Demons", "I Am"