Review of Godsmack's "IV"

[Veedems Veteran]

Godsmack, after three years, has finally released a new album, titled “IV”. What to say about it? Honestly, I don’t know how to judge the whole album as one single piece. There’s some old Godsmack, there’s some new Godsmack, and then there’s some acoustic Godsmack. Don’t get me wrong, it works, but I feel better off simply running over each individual track.

1. Livin’ in Sin

The song starts off with people praying in different ways until it finally kicks in. “Livin’ in Sin” is definitely one of those older styled Godsmack tracks. Hard pounding instrumentals combined with Sully’s mix of straight forward and “radio-fied” vocals. Great way to start off the album.

2. Speak

You can easily tell why this song is the first single off the album. It’s the Godsmack we’ve known all these years and is definitely what people want to hear as a first taste.

3. The Enemy

This one gets to me a bit. The lyrics are a bit weak at the beginning though Sully picks it up after the first verse, or so. The chorus is a bit different sounding that what we’re used to, also. This is a taste of what’s to come and, if done intentionally, definitely eases the transition into track 4.

4. Shinedown

There’s a harmonica. Yes, you heard me right, there is a harmonica. Now, the instrument is only present at the beginning and the end, but it definitely heightens the “southern rock” sound that this track has to it. This is entirely the new Godsmack. It’s a great track, don’t get me wrong, but people afraid of change may be taken back at first listen. Give it a chance, trust me. This is actually one of my favorite tracks on the album.

5. Hollow

Acoustic Godsmack. After their disastrously short acoustic release, I’m sure a few people thought (just like I did) that Sully has a good voice for more acoustic work and this tracks proves we were right. It’s hypnotic and deep. You can’t help but think and feel what Sully sings about. Then, once the background female singer appears, you’re gone. Iit’s a beautiful song from a band that’s usually known for beating you down with their sound instead of gently wrapping a different world around you.

6. No Rest For The Wicked

The “southern-ish” sound returns in this one. It’s a good track, but it’s not a song you should expect to knock you on your ass. Even with the heavy drums and usual guitar work, the chorus (especially the vocals) softens the track down a lot. As with “Shinedown”, you’ll need to take your time here. If you don’t give it a chance, you’ll hate it.

7. Bleeding Me

It starts off with a very brief guitar solo (of sorts, I’m no pro at these terms). You really get taken off guard at first by it. Did Godsmack just have a guitar solo? Yes, yes they did. Sully jumps in then and we’re back on that “southern roots” kind of sound. By this point, it’s pretty clear they don’t want to bash you over the head with their music anymore. However, once you get to the guitar solo at the bridge, you’ll be won over. It’s new and different, but it’s good.

8. Voodoo Too

Who hasn’t heard “Voodoo” by now? The band, in a Metallica-esque move, decided to write a sequel and it’s good. I guarantee that you’ll be singing the chorus’ lyrics all day long once you hear it. The music is a little heavier than the first part and you sort of wish it weren’t, but the lyrics are better and are more entrancing. Granted, it’s not as impactful as the original since the sound isn’t as new to us by now, but it’s still a good song. There’s another guitar solo, too. Seems like these guys are growing up.

9. Temptation

Yes, this is a track for all of us old schoolers. It’s meant to kick you in the ass within the first 15 seconds. This has our old Godsmack written all over it and it’s a huge pick me up after some slower tracks. You hear the instrumentals and then you hear Sully groan “aww ****” and you know it’s on. This is probably the highlight of the album, right here.

10. Mama

This is a power ballad and not something Godsmack has exactly been known for in their previous work. It’s emotional and surprisingly mature sounding. I’m really not sure how else to describe it. I like it, but I know many hardcore fans may be turned off a bit by the vulnerability, softness, and mature anger that weave in and out of Sully’s vocals. All I can suggest is to give it a shot and see what you think.

11. One Rainy Day

This is a slow song that has less than stellar instrumentals. The drum and bass seem too heavy compared to the rest. To be honest with you, I don’t like it. The track is a very disappointing end to the album.

All in all, it’s an album that will take some time to grow on you. If I had to single out one major weakness, I’d probably have to say it’s the order of the tracks. The beginning of the album gets you very amped up and then, midway through, you get brought into an entirely different environment that only gives you a break once, during “Temptation”. If they had spread out the emotionally weighing songs and used the hard hitting jams to keep you going up and down, I think it would have been a more enticing experience. That’s why it’s so hard to judge the album as a single entity. Almost each individual track has merit to it, but the way it was compiled takes away from the journey you are asked to go on.

*I want to note that I have not included the two bonus tracks in my review. In my opinion, being bonus tracks, they are not a part of the album experience and are meant to be judged separately. They are titled “Safe and Sound” and “I Thought” and are only available from the website of either Best Buy or Target, respectively, depending on which store you bought it from (if at all).

Source: bangbang023.com

Edited May 6, 2006 by bangbang023

[U2K Tha Greate$t]

Despite any sort of review, i was gonna buy it anyway.

Thanks tho.

[jakesangel]

*huge Godsmack fan here* :D

Right off the bat..No Rest for the Wicked was my fav. I couldn't get the song out of my head. Then Shinedown became my fav. How I missed this one the first go around I don't know. I LOVE it.

I like the CD as a whole with One Rainy Day probably being my least fav. About halfway through the song I'm ready to hear something heavy again.

(I guess I'm one of the few who LOVE The Other Side EP btw :cool: )

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

after liking the first 3 cds, this one is a huge disappointment. it's a true sell-out album. the only two songs i thought were decent were 'mama' and 'temptation' ... the rest are gray, boring, dreary. Voodoo Too? :rolleyes:

[Veedems Veteran]

(I guess I'm one of the few who LOVE The Other Side EP btw :cool: )

I liked it aswell, but it was way too short.

after liking the first 3 cds, this one is a huge disappointment. it's a true sell-out album. the only two songs i thought were decent were 'mama' and 'temptation' ... the rest are gray, boring, dreary. Voodoo Too? :rolleyes:

I think the album is better than you're giving credit for. Sully made it clear he's not doing lal the writing anymore so you're going to get different sounds than we're used to. He even said that they aren't walking as near the Metal line as they used to.

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

well at least Sully warned people that it wasnt supposed to be as metal as before. i'll give them credit for that. i guess their new sound just isnt for me.

[Veedems Veteran]

well at least Sully warned people that it wasnt supposed to be as metal as before. i'll give them credit for that. i guess their new sound just isnt for me.

And I don't blame you. I like it, but I don't love it. I knew it would take time, though, so I gave it more than a week before reviewing it.

[Ayepecks]

IMO, it's Godsmack. It's the same thing they've been selling their entire careers. I don't like Godsmack, but I don't dislike them by any means. I've heard all their songs (at least, the ones on the major labels), and this album doesn't change a single thing.

[Veedems Veteran]

IMO, it's Godsmack. It's the same thing they've been selling their entire careers. I don't like Godsmack, but I don't dislike them by any means. I've heard all their songs (at least, the ones on the major labels), and this album doesn't change a single thing.

You haven't given it a good listen, then. It's vastly different, especially in the middle.

[Ayepecks]

You haven't given it a good listen, then. It's vastly different, especially in the middle.

I've listened to it quite a bit.

How is it "vastly different"? I hear no difference what-so-ever.

[Veedems Veteran]

Then you are either deaf or don't know what to expect from Godsmack.

[Ayepecks]

Excuse me? Just because you're a mod doesn't mean you're allowed to insult others.

I know what to expect from Godsmack... which is exactly why I hate this record. Because you already know what to expect! I've heard all their major-label albums, and this doesn't change much from the formula. Hell, you have freaking "Voodoo Too" that is just a bid to cash-in on their former fame.

[Mutal1sk]

Excellent hard rock album. Probably my fave Godsmack although theyre all solid rockers :p

[Veedems Veteran]

Excuse me? Just because you're a mod doesn't mean you're allowed to insult others.

I know what to expect from Godsmack... which is exactly why I hate this record. Because you already know what to expect! I've heard all their major-label albums, and this doesn't change much from the formula. Hell, you have freaking "Voodoo Too" that is just a bid to cash-in on their former fame.

The sound is completely different. There are guitar solos, softer vocals, and an overall (as sully calls it) "Roots" sound to the album. When the band itself says it sounds different, I'm pretty sure it sounds different. Go play "Godsmack" and then listen to "IV". At points, it's literally night and day. Everyone notices the difference, whether good or not. I don't know how the hell you're missing something so obvious.

[Ayepecks]

There is no major difference. Yes, there are minute differences here and there, but that's because they can't simple resell the (literally) exact same songs. They have to change something.

Since when does adding a harmonica (a fact that you seem to be going completely nuts over in your review) constitute a major change? The harmonica is barely in the song at all! And when it is in the song ("Shine Down," by the way, not "Shinedown" if you want to get technical and bitchy about things as you seem to want) it's drowned out and sounds like a sample (which it very likely could be, given the introduction to the song that sounds like a crowded marketplace or something along those lines).

The album sure is a "roots" album -- if by that you mean that they're ripping off everyone who buys it because they're doing the exact same thing they've been selling for years, and trying to cash in on their debut major label album. The fact that they honestly wrote a sequel to "Voodoo" is proof enough of that. The song sounds almost exactly the same, too. I fail to see how someone's going to want to sing the chorus over and over. "Have you ever wondered why in a dream you can touch a fallen sky, you'll fly to the heavens and watch over you, telling me it's a voodoo, voodoo too" (or something like that)? Are you serious? Can you get any worse, lyrically?

Tell me exactly why it is that's a night-and-day difference. Maybe one song or two is slightly different from their pattern, but so what? That's two songs you're making a huge fuss about. It all follows the same pattern of a Godsmack album. Just because two songs have a slight country twang to the guitar (and by slight I mean slight) doesn't mean there's a night and day difference.

Tell me who "everyone" is. Because everyone I've talked to is let down by the album, too. Are you talking about die-hard Godsmack fans? Because that may be your problem right there. You can generalize things all you want, but "everyone" does not notice a difference, good or not.

I don't know how the hell you're hearing something that's obviously a rip-off of their previous albums.

[Kreuger]

Now I have to listen to it, seems good. And Godsmack have had solos before

[Veedems Veteran]

It is nothing like their previous albums. For one, besides for the southern rock hints scattered throughout the album, it's a lot softer than entire previous albums. They added a lot more softness to the tracks. The tracks "Shine Down", "No Rest For the Wicked", "Hollow", "Mama", and "One Rainy Day" ("Bleeding Me" is a bit borderline too) sound almost like nothing they've put out on a major record before. Listen to their previous three albums and the sound is very very different. It's gentler. As I said in the review, they no longer just bash you in the head with loud instruments and grunting vocals. I'm not exactly in favor of the softer sound, but it's definitely different. To deny the difference and say it sounds exactlylike their old work is insane. I was listening to their previous three albums for a good month in anticipation of their 4th. Considering I'm not a die hard fan, like some people, and I was taken back by the change in sound, it's pretty clear they've mixed it up a bit. Add to that the fact that Sully is not doing all the writing anymore, and it's pretty obvious it's going to sound different.

[Ayepecks]

Well of course the band is going to say it's different. Do you honestly think they're going to say, "Hey, buy our new album it sounds exactly like the previous two!" No band does that. If there's an overused quote in the music industry, it's something along the lines of "Our new record is more mature than anything we've ever done." It doesn't matter how the band wants to say it, they're essentially saying the exact same thing.

If you're not a "die hard fan, like some people" then why were you "listening to their previous three albums for a good month in anticipation of their 4th"? Since when does someone who's not a pretty big fan of a band do that? You may not be their #1 fan, but to me that says you're at least a big fan of their music.

I'm listening to all these songs you've mentioned, and the only ones that are really much "softer" to me are "Hollow" (hello, it's acoustic, why wouldn't it be softer? They should have put it on their acoustic album, maybe then it would've had one decent song) and "Mama." This album follows the exact same pattern they've been doing for the past few records. Just wondering, but did you notice each album has a "Voodoo" song? "Serenity" and "Voodoo Too" aren't obvious enough to you?

If anything, the album simply harkons back to their self-titled album. "Faceless" was a little bit different because they intentionally tried to make it heavier. This album sounds about the same as their self-titled, however. The album sounds like a lot of their earlier singles -- "Greed," "Straight Out Of Line," "Sick Of Life," etc. None of those songs were extremely heavy, and none of the songs on this are extremely heavy. Perhaps they're a bit softer, but not by much at all. Heck, I don't think most of the songs are any softer at all besides the two afore-mentioned songs.

[Marduk]

Wow the mod insulting someone else, thats pretty gross, and over GODSMACK none the less.

It's an alright CD but it indeed does sound like everything else Godsmack has done. Bad thing? Good thing? I think its somewhere in the middle, I haven't heard alot of their CDs but at least you know what to expect.

[Veedems Veteran]

Wow the mod insulting someone else, thats pretty gross, and over GODSMACK none the less.

It's an alright CD but it indeed does sound like everything else Godsmack has done. Bad thing? Good thing? I think its somewhere in the middle, I haven't heard alot of their CDs but at least you know what to expect.

I never nkew saying someone was deaf was an insult. Then again, I know how much you love staff :rolleyes: