The unimaginatively titled, Heavy Metal Music, marks the full-length debut from former Metallica bassist, Jason Newsted, and it’s refreshing to find the veteran musician venturing into solo territory after long being the dark horse and least ego-driven member of the Metallica juggernaut. Aside from his most notable role with Metallica following the death of illustrious bass player Cliff Burton, Newsted has plied his trade with underrated thrashers Flotsam & Jetsam (pre-Metallica) and Voivod (post-Metallica), as well as spearheading the short-lived Echobrain project. Earlier this year he released his debut EP, Metal, with two other cohorts before knuckling down to record this hefty 57-minute album.
Newsted has fleshed out the trio into a four-piece with the addition of former Staind guitarist, Mike Mushok. Otherwise it’s business as usual for Newsted and co as they channel old-school metal spirits to conjure an album of meat and potatoes, riff-driven metal. It’s all pretty simple stuff, effective on a basic level, but hardly anything more than a knockabout metal album, with enough catchy elements and rugged grooves to garner some no-frills enjoyment. With its simple motto and straightforward stomp, the fact that many songs stretch beyond the five minute mark proves detrimental to the album. They could have hacked away the fatty offcuts significantly and culled this down to a lean 40-minute playing time. As a result the album drags in places and generally overstays its welcome, despite being littered with solid riffs, plenty of attitude and a refreshingly unpretentious old-school metal vibe.
The rough metal template is offset by robust modern production that delivers a clean and balanced sound. Newsted borrows heavily from the works of Motorhead, both musically and in his vocal delivery, while traces of Black Sabbath and the rock-based crunch of Metallica’s Black album infiltrate the album’s steady gait. The musicianship is largely no-frills but there’s enough variety in tempo and the riff department to keep the material soldiering on without becoming too predictable or monotonous. The guitar solos make an understated impact, jack-knifing through the album with a strong 80’s thrash influence amidst the catchy grooves and hooky choruses that lift the album marginally above the mediocre. Newsted’s vocals are rough and decipherable, featuring some catchy phrasing, straightforward (and occasionally hokey) lyrics, and shades of former bandmate James Hetfield and Lemmy from Motorhead.
Opening tune ‘Heroic Dose’ trudges forward with a catchy, ironclad main riff and hearty stomp. The tidy guitar solo, robust rhythms and addictive hook consolidate the song’s quality. ‘Soldierhead’ has a brisker gallop and aggressive tone accompanied by a couple of standout riffs, blazing solo and energetic drumming. ‘Long Time Dead’ combines a lively, hard-edged delivery and speedier tempos, featuring a killer break into some Sabbath-esque bluesy riffing. While the mid-tempo stomp and hooky songwriting on ‘Above All’ confirms the point that keeping the songs around the four minute mark would have made for a tighter, more concise album.
Solid, though uneven tunes, such as ‘King of the Underdogs’, ‘Nocturnus’, and ‘…As the Crow Flies’ are all guilty of overstaying their welcome, while the second half of the album bloats under its own weight. Yet despite the inconsistencies there’s nothing downright terrible on offer here, just a lack of really compelling material.
Heavy Metal Music is hardly a game changer, or essential release, particularly with the abundance of quality metal releases that have already dropped this year. Nevertheless, those with a soft spot for the resilient Newsted and a craving for a no-frills, rough and crunchy metal album will probably dig this.
6.5/10
Reviewer: Luke Saunders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZJzp8QuByU