Album-a-Day #43: Faceless

Jim O · May 8th, 2004, 11:48 AM

Album-a-Day #43: Faceless

Artist: Godsmack
Website: http://www.godsmack.com
Album: Faceless
Year Released: 2003
No. of Discs: 1
No. of Tracks: 12

01. Straight Out Of Line
02. Faceless
03. Changes
04. Make Me Believe
05. I Stand Alone
06. Re-Align
07. I F****** Hate You
08. Releasing The Deamons
09. Dead And Broken
10. I Am
11. The Awakening
12. Serenity

Damn, I love this band. I don't know what it is specifically. Maybe it is Sully Erna's vocal style. The drums. The backing vocal style. Maybe all of the above.

Godsmack is very drum driven. It is evident on many previous Godsmack songs such as "Voodoo", and "Awake." The US Navy actually took note and uses "Awake" in their commercials. However on this album, they experiment with congas on "The Awakening" and in "Serenity."

Another reason that I like Godsmack is that their frontman, Sully Erna, plays a good guitar and even better drum segments on their albums and during their live shows. Not many people can play and sing and those that can get my respect.

My favorite tracks are "Straight Out Of Line", "Re-Align", "Make Me Believe", "Faceless", and "The Awakening."

Godsmack is a powerful band (see track 7), however they can also slow it down and have just as much impact. I have seen them about seven times (three in 2004) and they have a great live show. I would recommend it to anyone whether they are headlining or supporting. It is funny to hear Sully address the crowd. He has a major Boston accent. "Come on Phoenix! Let's get Fahckin Retahded!"

I think that Godsmack is very underrated.

KingLouieLouie · May 10th, 2004, 03:15 PM

I agree about Godsmack being very underrated... I'm glad though like many of their counterparts that they didn't "sell-out" to gain more commercial success... They got overshadowed initially by Creed and Days Of The New and then eventually Puddle of Mudd and Nickelback captured more recognition and airplay. Only one of the few bands to remain true to their original sound and I hope they continue to do so...

I must admit that I haven't checked out this album before, but plan on soon since they're also among my faves.... I'll never forget the first time I heard
"Whatever" (during the summer of '98) and "Voodoo" a few months later....It was shocking to know that this was the same band on both tracks..... If there's any band that is heavily influenced by Alice-in-Chains, they're the best out of all of those...

Then, I didnt think there was anyway for them to follow-up "Godsmack", but "Awake" was/is awesome..... Another solid band you selected....

AZ Shocker · June 13th, 2005, 11:59 PM

Great great band. Always liked what I heard from them on the radio. Last year a buddy surprises me and we go to the Metallica/Godsmack show! Right on! They were awesome, and the Phoenix crowd really got into them.

Just this past weekend I finally bought their dvd "Changes". Wow...I love it. Killer riffs, and Shannon Larkin is my new hero. That drum solo is sick!