BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - The Blessed Hellride
1. Stoned and Drunk
2. Doomsday Jesus
3. Stillborn
4. Suffering Overdue
5. The Blessed Hellride
6. Funeral Bell
7. Final Solution
8. Destruction Overdrive
9. Blackened Waters
10. We Live No More
11. Dead Meadow
Label: Spitfire Records
Release date: 2003
Artist site: http://www.spitfirerecords.com/home.htm/
GRADE:
8/10
Zakk Wylde is one bad muthafucka. At least, that's the impression I get when listening to BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's latest release, The Blessed Hellride. What a ride it is! Full of southern stomp and swagger, for those uninitiated, BLS are like a trainwreck involving PANTERA and the likes of LYNYRD SKYNYRD or the ALLMAN BROTHERS. It's pummeling.
Nevermind that Ozzy basically ignored Zakk's songs for his Down To Earth album, as Zakk ended up using those on the 1919 Eternal album and has grown even more because of it. The Blessed Hellride is where it's at and where Zakk needs to be. His guitar playing has never been better and his vocals are so full of soul, imagine if you will Gregg Allman, Layne Stayley, Chris Cornell, Ozzy all rolled into one. Zakk performs everything, aside from the drums which are annihilated by Craig Nunenmacher.
"Stoned and Drunk" starts it all off in true BLS fashion, with attitude and swagger. Wylde's bellowing vocals matched only by his molten guitar riffs. The well oiled machine that is "Doomsday Jesus" rumbles like some sort of ALICE IN CHAINS/PANTERA hybrid, extremely catchy, yet oh so powerful. The monster grooves that these two create on this track are of the many highlights to be found on this release. Three songs in and we're treated to the vocal duet of Wylde and one Mr. Ozzy Osbourne, their voices interchangeable, this one is pure ear candy. Other standout heavies include "Funeral Bell," "Final Solution" (no lyrics included on this one, hmm....), and "Destruction Overdrive." My personal favorite is "We Live No More," the beat, the riffs, the vocal delivery, which is so full of SABBATH it's sick, and a kick ass chorus! Closing the whole affair perfectly is "Dead Meadow," a mellow number that shares characteristics of PINK FLOYD's "Breathe," so much so that every person I've played it for notices it first thing. It's a beautiful song though and stands on its own just fine.
Whether riffing it up with the Prince of Fucking Darkness and Reality TV or smoking, drinking and shooting his load with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, one thing's for certain, Zakk Wylde is the man. A blessed hellride, indeed.
PJ
1. Stoned and Drunk
2. Doomsday Jesus
3. Stillborn
4. Suffering Overdue
5. The Blessed Hellride
6. Funeral Bell
7. Final Solution
8. Destruction Overdrive
9. Blackened Waters
10. We Live No More
11. Dead Meadow
Label: Spitfire Records
Release date: 2003
Artist site: http://www.spitfirerecords.com/home.htm/
GRADE:
8/10
Zakk Wylde is one bad muthafucka. At least, that's the impression I get when listening to BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's latest release, The Blessed Hellride. What a ride it is! Full of southern stomp and swagger, for those uninitiated, BLS are like a trainwreck involving PANTERA and the likes of LYNYRD SKYNYRD or the ALLMAN BROTHERS. It's pummeling.
Nevermind that Ozzy basically ignored Zakk's songs for his Down To Earth album, as Zakk ended up using those on the 1919 Eternal album and has grown even more because of it. The Blessed Hellride is where it's at and where Zakk needs to be. His guitar playing has never been better and his vocals are so full of soul, imagine if you will Gregg Allman, Layne Stayley, Chris Cornell, Ozzy all rolled into one. Zakk performs everything, aside from the drums which are annihilated by Craig Nunenmacher.
"Stoned and Drunk" starts it all off in true BLS fashion, with attitude and swagger. Wylde's bellowing vocals matched only by his molten guitar riffs. The well oiled machine that is "Doomsday Jesus" rumbles like some sort of ALICE IN CHAINS/PANTERA hybrid, extremely catchy, yet oh so powerful. The monster grooves that these two create on this track are of the many highlights to be found on this release. Three songs in and we're treated to the vocal duet of Wylde and one Mr. Ozzy Osbourne, their voices interchangeable, this one is pure ear candy. Other standout heavies include "Funeral Bell," "Final Solution" (no lyrics included on this one, hmm....), and "Destruction Overdrive." My personal favorite is "We Live No More," the beat, the riffs, the vocal delivery, which is so full of SABBATH it's sick, and a kick ass chorus! Closing the whole affair perfectly is "Dead Meadow," a mellow number that shares characteristics of PINK FLOYD's "Breathe," so much so that every person I've played it for notices it first thing. It's a beautiful song though and stands on its own just fine.
Whether riffing it up with the Prince of Fucking Darkness and Reality TV or smoking, drinking and shooting his load with BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, one thing's for certain, Zakk Wylde is the man. A blessed hellride, indeed.
PJ
