BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - Mafia

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
Mafia
Artemis Records
8/10




There can be no dispute that Zakk Wylde has finally shed the aura of being Ozzy Osbourne’s sidekick. Wylde has developed into a highly talented songwriter, having cut his teeth as a young buck with Osbourne, then maturing into a skilled crafter of songs with his own outfit Black Label Society.

With “Mafia”, BLS has come into their own as one of metal’s powerhouse acts. They seem more like a band now than a side project and Wylde has near perfected an overall sound that is undoubtedly original. Many critics have balked at the tone of Wylde’s vocals, but the frontman has developed a style that is instantly recognizable and non-imitating, his range being deceptively large as he moves between low ominous bellows and suitably powerful screams. In many ways, the band’s sound is an extension of the guitarist’s personality, gritty and rough, even as the band settles into a lurching groove on the record’s opening cut “Fire It Up.”

A memorable hook lays deep within the chorus of “What’s In You”, a dark track that summons a purely insidious vibe. The band shows their ability to crossover between audiences with the pounding single, “Suicide Messiah”, straddling the line between traditional metal and beefed-up hard rock. Wylde’s vocals have been further honed, bearing the edge of a deadly weapon and his solid performance on this track stands as evidence of this fact.

Although Wylde is an amazing lead player, he is tasteful in placing shredding barrages, wisely allowing the muscular riffing to define the band’s songs. The seasoned axe slinger does manage to throw in his share of deadly, blistering leads however, most notably the duo of scorchers that grace “Suicide Messiah” and the surreal shredding which is incorporated into “You Must Be Blind.” The grizzly star gives attention to the album’s dynamics with the inclusion of the somber “In This River”, a track that could garner the band their largest commercial success.

Meanwhile, “Dr. Octavia” breaks up the album with a fluently ripping guitar interlude before launching back into the alcohol-fueled brewtality of “Say What You Will” a song that is reminiscent of a cross between Alice In Chains and Sabbath that hits hard and takes no prisoners. Embraced by legions of SDMF’s worldwide, Black Label Society stands as a group that is capable of appealing to many different types of music fans, from 40 year old bikers to 14 year old metal upstarts.

“Mafia” is further proof that BLS has no intention of resting on their laurels, a thick-as-concrete effort that is the band’s finest effort on the whole to date.


ERIN FOX © 2005 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY - Kings Of Damnation

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
Kings Of Damnation
Spitfire Records
8/10




Ozzy Osbourne sideman Zakk Wylde enjoys the distinction of being the only guitarist that has parlayed his association with the metal madman into a bona fide career of his own.

On this comprehensive retrospective, the guitar wizard’s legacy becomes even more evident, assembling the highlight’s of Wylde’s livelihood into a single package and shedding light on the fact that Wylde has created some of the most compelling moments in rock to be witnessed in the past ten years.

Wylde’s rise to solo glory has been slow, yet steady and the past year has seen the guitarist’s career rise to a fever pitch with the release of his well-received “Mafia” album, making it the perfect occasion for fans both old and new to reflect on the achievements of the highly proficient songwriter.

Including no less than nineteen tracks of some of the most highly poignant guitar handling that Wylde has to offer, fans of the grizzly rocker will find the more southern-rock oriented material from his solo debut, Pride And Glory, in the memorable, swampy “Losing Your Mind” and restless “Horse Called War, as well as tracks from Wylde’s “Book Of Shadows” release which reveal even more of a southern flavor than his more metal-sounding BLS work.

Continuing on through solid cuts such as “Stronger Than Death”, “Speedball” and “Demise Of Sanity”, it’s almost difficult to imagine the massive body of fantastic work that Wylde has amassed in such a short period of time.

With his breakout album “The Blessed Hellride” being very well-represented here with three powerful tracks, including fan favorite “Stillborn” and that album’s ripping title song, the primary appeal resides in the sheer honesty and fortitude of this man’s potent songwriting.

There can be no denying that the richly textured “House Of Doom” is among Wylde’s most tuneful tracks and is a standout amongst an album of decidedly well written music. BLS certainly goes down well with a tall cold one or two and those loyal fans that have grown to the proportion of legion will revel in the two all new cuts here, especially Wylde’s anthem to the faithful “SDMF”, which just sums up his lifestyle credo with poignant flair.

It’s hard to go wrong with such a solid collection and looking back through the years; the music of Wylde appears more vital and relevant than ever. With a hearty metal war cry and a flask raised toward the sky, this is the most intoxicating shot of alcohol-fueled brewtality to date, so throw back your metal mane and knock this fucker down.


ERIN FOX © 2006 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED