So up,next I wanted a band that was heavily guitar driven and I thought what better band than Black Label Society? Now I would hope if you are reading this you’d at least know who they are. Let’s take a look……
Sonic Brew- the first album kinda loses me after the first song. I don’t know maybe Zakk and the rest of the band were trying to find their sound. It just seems like it’s kind of slow for a debut album from one of Ozzy’s guitarists solo projects. Either way, this album is not without it’s moments and all in all, it’s a decent album. It just leaves you wanting more. I give it 6/10
Standouts: Bored to Tears, Low Down, The Beginning…..At Last
Stronger Than Death- the vocals on here are produced weird. Not sure how to describe it but it’s definitely different. Unlike the last album which had a good chunk of slower and acoustic songs, this one seems to have less acoustic and piano songs on it. I definitely think this one is a step up from Sonic and I give it 8/10
Standouts: All For You, 13 Years of Grief, Superterrorizer
1919 Eternal- much like the last album, this one is a pretty good mix of fast and slow songs. This one I guess is dedicated to Zakk’s father who,passed away. Here is where I think they start to really find their stride. This album also features Rob Trujillo on the songs Demise of Sanity and Life, Birth, Blood, Doom Zakk up until now had been playing bass as well as guitar on all the albums and John JD DeServio had been the live bass player. Anyway, definitely one of those classic BLS albums. I give it 8/10
Standouts: Demise of Sanity, Battering Ram, Genocide Junkies
The Blessed Hellride- I feel like that when you ask any fan of this band, their favorite album is either this one or the last album. Personally I think both are great and I think that they could easily be listened to back to back. I feel like this one picks up where 1919 left off. The production on this is stellar and the songs definitely have that BLS sound of pinch harmonics and fast drumming but then slows down. I kind of like the pacing on this album a little better than the last one too and yes that is Ozzy Osbourne on the song Stillborn. I give it 8/10
Standouts: Destruction Overdrive, Doomsday Jesus, Funeral Bell
Hangover Music Vol. VI- well this one is probably the slowest album so far. I guess it’s more of a nod to Zakk’s previous solo project Book of Shadows. There is even a song called Layne which is dedicated to Layne Staley. As far as albums of this kind go, it’s not bad. I mean would I pick this one to play over other BLS albums? Probably not but this is still a very good album and it’s a slower album done the right way with just enough acoustic stuff and a hint of electric guitars. I give it 7/10
Standouts: Crazy or High, Layne, House of Doom
Mafia- ok so now we are back to straight up good old BLS again. This is probably the first album of theirs that I bought and I’d say it’s a great start. This one is probably my favorite album and original bass player JD DeServio has left and been replaced by James Lomenzo (Book of Shadows, Megadeth) and he does a great job. This is also the album that has that song In This River which is dedicated to Dimebag Darrell as well as the song Suicide Messiah being about Scott Weiland. Definitely their best album by far and I give it 10/10
Standouts: Fire It Up, Say What You Will, I Never Dreamed
Shot To Hell- I remember preordering it and putting it in the CD player in the car and just thinking that this album was just meh. I mean it’s got some good songs but I feel like this one seemed a little too rushed and could’ve waited. Original bassist John JD DeServio is back as James Lomenzo joined Megadeth. I think there are just too many ballads on here and there’s isn’t anything special here. I give it 5/10
Standouts: Devil’s Dime, Faith Is Blind, Give Yourself To Me
Order of the Black- now this is what the album after Mafia should’ve been. It’s got a lot of great songs on it and is my second favorite. This time original drummer Craig Nunemacher is out and has been replaced with Dark New Day drummer Will Hunt. I remember seeing them play songs off of this at Ozzfest 2010 and getting slammed around in the pit. By the time I got out of the pit, my white Anthrax shirt was now brown from all the dirt and my jeans were all torn up. That being said I give this album 10/10
Standouts: Parade of the Dead, Crazy Horse, Black Sunday
Catacombs of the Black Vatican- this one I hadn’t really heard much of. I guess when it came out in 2014, I was preoccupied with other albums. Listening to it now I can say that this one seems to have kind of a raw and gritty sound to it. It doesn’t sound nearly as polished as the last album however it does seem a little slower. I know that they had just done an all acoustic tour so maybe that might’ve had something to do with it. Either way, not a bad album and it’s better than some of their other albums. One thing to note about this is that live, this album cycle would be the last for original second guitar Nick Catanese who would be replaced by new guitarist Dario Lorina. Nick was kicked out of BLS for pleading guilty for sending dick picks to underage girls at a music school he was teaching at. He is now a registered sex offender and can no longer have access to computers with internet access. Anyway that’s a not so fun fact. I give this album 7/10
Standouts: Damn the Flood, I’ve Gone Away, My Dying Time
Grimmest Hits- the newest album sounds a lot like it picks where the last album leaves off only, this one seems slowed down a bit. I mean the songs on it are heavy but they are slow and heavy. I did notice that there aren’t as many pinch harmonics on here as usual. For their newest album, I found myself kind wanting it to be over. I don’t know the songs are just ok however, the guitar work on it is amazing. There are some really good riffs and even the slower songs on here have almost a Jimi Hendrix kind of vibe going on. I give this album 6/10
Standouts: All That Once Shined, Seasons of Falter, Bury Your Sorrow
Well I can say that after listening to these albums, it just reconfirms the fact that I much prefer the faster/guitar shred stuff by them. Not that the other stuff isn’t any good, I just prefer the fast stuff. Whether you are a fan of this band or not, you can not deny that Zakk Wylde is one of the greatest guitarists ever. I mean the dude can play his guitar behind his head. Anyway, I will say that the last couple of times I’ve seen Black Label Society live,he does this shred off with Dario Lorina for like 30 minutes which gets annoying after about 10 minutes. However, they do put on a killer live show and are definitely fun to see (except for the 30 minute guitar solo).
Final Grade: B-
Album Rankings:
- Mafia
- Order of the Black
- Stronger Than Death
- The Blessed Hellride
- 1919 Eternal
- Sonic Brew
- Catacombs of the Black Vatican
- Shot To Hell
- Hangover Music Vol. VI
- Grimmest Hits
Sinister Reviews 