I am generally pretty trusting of Jen and her sources, but I had to double check to make sure I saw that right. Metallica. At Bonnaroo. I still associate the ‘Roo quite a bit with its jam band roots and it’s location in Tennessee, it’s kind of hard to fathom. For those of you who didn’t see that Behind the Music (I watched a lot of Vh1 in the late ’90’s), Metallica have allegedly calmed down and stopped drinking & breaking stuff all the time, but they will still, I assume, be playing Metallica songs. There have been pretty heavy acts gracing the Bonnaroo stages in the past, Pearl Jam this year, Tool last year for example, but there’s something about them that still “fits” y’know? PJ are politically active, Tool are notorious stoners. Metallica’s bound to harsh someone’s mellow, but if metal’s your thing, this is the ‘Roo for you, as indie kids’ favourite makers of modern metal, Mastodon, will also be killin’ buzz at this year’s festival.

For those unfamiliar with either band, I’ve included some examples of what will be sharing stages with Ozomatli, Béla Fleck, and freaking Iron & Wine. I don’t think I need to remind you how far beyond mellow Iron & Wine are. Playing the same festival as Metallica & Mastodon.

Also, interesting is that Lez Zeppelin will be playing, and possibly confusing people into thinking that Led Zeppelin will be playing, but Zep frontman Robert Plant will be there performing with Alison Krauss.

Bonnaroo Official Site | Metallica Official | Metallica Myspace | Mastodon Official | Mastodon MySpace

 Metallica - Master of Puppets [8:31m]: Play in Popup | Download
 Mastodon - Blood and Thunder [3:48m]: Play in Popup | Download (2948)

So, Godsmack put out a greatest hits comp, Good Times, Bad Times…Ten Years of Godsmack, today, one more in a line of bands (Creed, Blink 182, Korn) that I feel have done this prematurely. Richie had an advanced copy on his desk and, because I occasionally feel the need to revisit my metal years, I listened to it yesterday. I can proudly say that I only recognized the singles from the first album, but I am also ashamed that i recognized Godsmack singles at all. They were one of the bands that came along right before I stopped paying attention to that particular genre because the new bands were no longer interesting to me, but I really liked “Voodoo” and thought it was funny how anti-social that first album was (the chorus of “Whatever” instructing the listener to go away, “Keep Away” being similarly themed). After that first album, though, it seems like Godsmack just stopped trying to be interesting, seeing how other uninteresting mainstream rock bands (Creed, Fuel, 3 Doors Down) were increasingly popular. Listening to the collection, my views haven’t changed, really. The last half of the album (from “Awake” to “The Enemy”) just kind of blurs together, except for “Running Blind” from their acoustic The Other Side EP. Even that one sounds a little cliche because Staind made acoustic numbers the mainstream hard rock standard. They’re cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times, Bad Times” is pretty decent, if a little middle of the road, but if you just want something loud to listen to, you could do a lot worse.
One final note: The title of the disc indicates “Ten Years of Godsmack,” which didn’t sit quite right with me initially because I distinctly remember Godsmack coming relatively late in the game for me, which would place the first album around ‘99. Sure enough, the back of the case says when each single was release and “Whatever” hit the airwaves in February of 1999. The newest single, “The Enemy,” was released February of ‘07, which smells a lot more like eight years to me. If you’re going to be slightly misleading like that, you could at least do a better job of it by not discrediting your album’s title on its packaging. Judging by the writing style in the liner notes, though, somebody doesn’t quite expect the average Godsmack fan to notice.

Godsmack // MySpace // Buy Good Time Bad Times 

 Godsmack- Good Times, Bad Times [2:56m]: Play in Popup | Download

My friend Dave and I have a long running, half-formed list of songs that are absolutely inappropriate for use on a mixtape directed at any kind of romantic interest.  I mention this because I was in the mood for Tool today, and one of my favourite Tool songs is one of the least appropriate for a girlfriend's mix.  I suppose that as far as Tool goes, "Prison Sex" is equally offensive, but I really thinkg "Stinkfist" is the better song.  Also on the list: "Lips of an Angel" by Hinder [in addition to being a crappy song, it's about CHEATING ON THE GIRL YOU'RE WITH!!  And pretty obvious about it, too, seriously], "The Bad Touch" by Bloodhound Gang, "Flower" by Liz Phair [which is more of one for the ladies to use inapporpriately], etc.  I like the category and I'll try to maybe keep this a regular service.  For now, enjoy Tool!

Tool - Stinkfist (MP3)

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/Tool%20-%20Stinkfist.mp3]

Tool Official Website // Buy Aenima 

Here's a crazy 6 degrees of separation for you, and you may enjoy it. 

I have a good friend, who has a good friend, who plays guitar in a band called Paths of Possession. Okay, so theres not 6 degrees. Like two.

For all you metal enthusiasts out there, I decided to do a post on the band, as metal is a genre of music I have little or no experience reviewing and listening to, really.

I had decided to do a review a few months ago, intending on having it done within a week. I realized I didn't have the balls to do a review on a band or genre I was completely unfamiliar with. That was my goal, to broaden my spectrum here at LTM, but I suppose the radical difference between death metal and other music we've reviewed here made me feel like a bit of n00b. Here goes.

Paths of Possession is, according to Wikipedia (I referenced the wiki because I have no idea what kind of metal the band makes, me being a complete novice) a solid mix of traditional heavy metal with influences of Swedish melodic death metal. Anybody who knows metal well enough should be familiar with the lead singer, George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher, who used to lead the band Cannibal Corpse.

To be honest, when I first listened to the album a couple of times, I didn't like it. I didn't understand why someone would voluntarily listen to music that makes you feel like you're falling down a pit of hell, and you never hit bottom. It's like a the action-movie fall into a volcano, with no grisly end. All I could think about was calling Randy and asking him why he was so pissed off, and that I'd give him a hug if he needed one.

I remembered a trip to the beach I took the other day, with my good friend who introduced me to Jay. A song by Metallica came on the radio, and she turned it up, sang along with every word, and when the song ended, she turned to me and said, "See, Jen, that is the kind of music that relaxes me, and makes me feel better." I suppose I've come to understand, and appreciate metal music, but I don't think I'll ever listen to it with the intent of it relaxing me. This isn't to say the album isn't good, but rather that I know that everyone makes their own kind of music, through their lives, and although this isn't it for me, it certainly works for many other people. And to those many other people, I think you'll like this album. A lot. 

 For Jay and Veronika 

Related Links:

Paths of Possession Official Website // MySpace // Buy Promises In Blood

Metal Blade Records 

The helpful Wiki Entry

Related Audio:

Bring Me the Head of Christ

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/10%20Bring%20Me%20The%20Head%20Of%20Christ.mp3]

Darklands (MP3)

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/01%20Darklands.mp3]

Bleed the Meek (MP3)

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/03%20Bleed%20The%20Meek.mp3]

UPCOMING U.S. TOUR