Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Same old, same old ..., 19 Feb 2007
Don't get me wrong, Zakk Wylde has been a hero of mine since he first appeared on Ozzy's 'No Rest For The Wicked' album, through Pride & Glory, his solo 'Book of Shadows' and Black Label Society, but I really am starting to get a little bored of that same old riff and style.
Nothing really ever changes from one album to another with BLS. The songs all sound very similar and although the lightning quick lead breaks are great, again, it's just how quick can you play a pentatonic run. 'Blacked Out World', 'Give Yourself To Me' and 'Hell is High' have an identical format - intro, put the backing vocals for the chorus in, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, etc .... yawn!!
'Black Mass Reverends' and 'Concrete Jungle' are OK but nothing spectacular.
The only real stand out for me was 'Last Goodbye' only because it's something different from all the other albums.
No song on here is as heavy on here as the likes of 'All For You', 'Phoney Smiles ..' or anything from 'Sonic Brew', and the slower songs are boring and uneventful in comparison to anything on the 'Book of Shadows' album.
I really don't get why everyone seems to be raving this album - I really don't get it. If you want to see the two sides of Zakk Wylde, go get yourself 'The Book of Shadows' for the mellow stuff, and 'Sonic Brew' or 'Stronger Than Death' for the metal.
If you want to hear some truly inventive, mind blowingly fast guitar playing that doesn't get boring, check out John Petrucci of Dream Theater. If you love the heavy stuff, 'Train of Thought' is the album for you.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Shot to Hell (Mafia pt. II), 2 Mar 2007
There are few things that you can completely rely on in the music industry. One trend, however, seems to be more and more apparent: that Zakk Wylde's releases, although flawless in their execution, are becoming increasingly more predictable and mundane.
You can essentially think of Zakk Wylde's musical output as the letter 'X'... stay with me on this one - the line going from top left to bottom right represents Black Label Society quality since the first release of Sonic Brew back in 1998. The line going from bottom left to top right represents Black Label Society popularity. How he's managed this is beyond me.
Don't get me wrong, Zakk Wylde was a hero of mine. He was (and still is) the reason I learned to play guitar and without his music, I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now. That, I think, is why it pains me all the more to know that the next release will be even more predictable and watered down than this one. Don't buy this album - go and get Sonic Brew or, better still, go and find Pride & Glory or Book of Shadows. Now THOSE albums showcase Zakk's formidable skills as both a songwriter and performer and should be the albums that his legacy is judged by. Unfortunately, he's doing his credibility no favours with this release (although I'm sure his bank account is doing just fine). This man used to epitomise rock and metal and everything that it stood for. Maybe I've moved on and my musical taste has become a water-tight quality control... maybe I'm just not impressed by the same bland and unchallenging rubbish coming from a man who used to be great. I hope to God we don't get a Mafia part III after this one...
Come on Zakk, we all know you've got another amazing album in you. Try taking a couple of years out and coming up with something truly spectacular.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Album Of The Year!!!!!!!, 12 Sep 2006
I've been waiting for this album a long time and it doesn't dissapoint.From the first note of "Concrete Jungle" to the last note of "Lead Me To The Door" it's pure, undiluted quality.
This is 13 tracks of pure Rock / Metal to get the juices going.
You have the power houses like "Concrete Jungle", "Black Mass Reverends" and "Devil's Dime" as well as the lighter moments like "The Last Goodbye" and "Nothing's The Same".
This is Album Of The Year and I can't wait to see these guys tear these shores up again.
A must buy!!!
5 Out Of 5!!
BUY IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pete
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