Godsmack – 1000hp Review

Scientists agree that post-9/11 alternative rock is unquestionably the lowest point in both American culture and human history. Out of that entire era, one band stands tall above the shit heap of tribal tats, soul patches, and whining. That band is Godsmack. Yes, there are bands that are even less talented, and some that are more insulting to music lovers. But Godsmack has just the right combination of blatant unoriginality and shallow suburban angst, unrivaled in their ability to annoy me while enthralling the rest of middle-class ‘Murricah.

They seem to have left out the part about tracing their logo out of an Alice In Chains album. But more importantly, this makes no linear sense. So no one was coming to see their band…but then everyone just showed up at once? Also, if I ever hear someone say “back to 1995” like it’s a good thing, I’m going to smash them in the face with a copy of Load.

“Something Different” is a pretty typical mid-tempo alt rock tune, except it has a violin solo because, y’know, these guys are sensitive. “What’s Next” is a stab at legitimate metal, with an entry-level Lamb Of God riff and double kick drums. The results are surprisingly non-terrible, but the band is clearly a bit out of their comfort zone. “Generation Day” is the very definition of “generic” musically, but contains vocalist Sully Erna’s best performance of the album. When he stops trying to be Layne Staley and/or sound tough, he’s actually not half-bad.

“Locked & Loaded” is hysterically over the top, with Erna telling an unnamed nemesis that “all (he) does is talk shit”, that he will “break your face,” and of course “you’re dead.” The next track, “Living In The Grey,” continues the trash talk somewhat, with Sully describing his enemy as “cold, stubborn, and so vain,” and whose “head’s a one-way street.” Godsmack seems to have a lot of songs like this, and the constant “you talkin’ to me?” posturing makes me wonder if Erna would benefit from talk therapy, or perhaps yoga. These songs make me envision a small dog barking at the asshole of a much larger dog.

“I Don’t Belong” does boast some tasty rhythms courtesy of longtime drummer Shannon Larkin (ex-Wrathchild America). Larkin has always been a fantastic drummer, and while Godsmack undoubtedly pays the bills, it’s a fucking shame that his talent is not being put to better use elsewhere. But back to “I Don’t Belong.” Lyrically, this is the tale of a wealthy caucasian guy in a band that sells millions of records, singing about how he “doesn’t fit in.” I believe this is called “irony,” or perhaps “complete lack of self-awareness.”