Godsmack, ‘1000hp’ – Album Review

After a bit of a layoff, Godsmack are back and showing a rejuvenated fury as they deliver the goods on their '1000hp' album. The band knows what they do well, and longtime fans of the group will likely dig right into the heaviness that Sully Erna and his crew provide.

Right out of the gate, Godsmack pay tribute to the journey that they've undergone in the autobiographical title track. The aggressive rocker is built on the driving guitar work of Tony Rombola and is likely to whip concertgoers into a frenzy when Erna belts, "Turn that s--t up louder." And "loud" is exactly where you'll want your volume when rocking the '1000hp' disc as it is filled with in-your-face tracks.

Erna and his bandmates also look at the bigger picture of life, addressing mortality on the riff-heavy 'What's Next?' followed by an epic narrative on a generation lost to technology's advances on 'Generation Day.' The former features some impressive guitar work from Rombola, a burrowing bass line from Robbie Merrill and Erna's late call-and-response vocals, while the latter is one of the more impressive cuts on the disc. 'Generation Day' takes listeners on a journey through parts aggressive, bluesy, ethereal and back to scorching again with Rombola's mid-song guitar solo.

The disc takes its first detour from the heavy with the track 'Something Different.' The title is representative of the overall vibe as the track pertains the rest of the disc, with the band serving up a catchier and more melodic sound. Yes, there is some guitar heaviness, but drummer Shannon Larkin provides a foot-tapping beat and the addition of strings make the track … well … something different.

'Locked & Loaded' is a track full of Sully swagger, as the rocker wards off all naysayers with an abrasive bring-it-on vibe and an end-of-song chuckle at those who try to step up to challenge him. That being said, it is one of the album's stronger tracks -- a rocker that's sure to capture the ears of listeners.

The group also scores a late album victory with 'Nothing Comes Easy,' one of the odder tracks on the disc. It opens with some ominous sounding licks as the guitars fade in, but also features some serious distortion-filled rocking late. Meanwhile, 'Turning to Stone' concludes the journey with a more rhythmically-based change of pace, ending the disc on a high note.

All in all, Godsmack's '1000hp' succeeds in bringing the hard in heavy doses with just the perfect smattering of melody in just the right places. There's little doubt that with '1000hp' Godsmack have re-establishing their place in the world of hard rock.

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