You know, this is going to be the shortest review I've ever written.
Hands down, most disappointing metal album of 2007.
If you were wondering what the hell Vinnie Paul has been up to since Damageplan, he did Rebel Meets Rebel, a country-metal album with David Allan Cole which is... OK. But since they could never tour since the Dimebag played guitars on there, that was a one-time project anyway. So instead of resurrecting Damageplan, we are given HELLYEAH, a hard-drinking, down-and-dirty, southern-fried hard rock record.
The result is anything but a HELLYEAH.
It's almost blasphemous to say anything bad about Vinnie or his new bands, but screw it, this album was a stinker! Honest to god, how can a talented group of musicians release something like this? The songs are half-baked, resorting to tried-and-true techniques more commonly used by poser hard rock bands than someone with the background of Vinnie Paul.
Don't expect a challenging and though-provoking listen, and don't expect to get an album to just simply party to. The result is a non-noteworthy sound and a mix of mediocrity and the insane amount of talent these guys have.
On the flip-side, though, I can see where they're coming from. It's great to sit back sometimes and just release an album where you actually had some fun. Look at S.O.D.'s "Speak English or Die", for example. Three days in a studio and we got one of the greatest albums of all time! Or Devin Townsend's Punky Bruster project, which was written and recorded in a week, resulting in one of my favorite albums of all time and the most under-rated punk/metal album ever.
So as badly as I am trashing this album, I'm giving it a bit of a break as well. In essence, it's like Pavarotti releasing an album of hair metal covers; it's an incredibly talented artist having some fun.
When all is said and done, this is a 5 out of 10, with one massive *!
*If you guys make another album, PLEASE make it more interesting!
1 comment:
You're right. These guys are just INSANELY talented. They could make brilliant music.
Just...not now.
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