Godsmack
The Oracle
Republic
May 4

By Kim Scroggins

Even though it’s been close to four years since their last album, Godsmack will always be one of those bands that I just keep coming back to. I’m not sure if it’s Sully Erna’s voice or the way that every song smacks you in the face with a sense of defiance; but their fifth full length album The Oracle is worthy of leaving any Godsmack fans satisfied.

The album is exactly what one could expect: opening with simple yet smooth guitar riffs, lacking lyrical complexity but still maintains melody in a catchy sort of way, and the two minute long guitar solos in the middle of every single track. But for some reason, it works well for them. It distinguishes their sound from all others.

One of the smartest things a heavy rock band like Godsmack can do is open an album with a “tell it how it is” kind of track and end with something instrumental that seems to last forever. The first track “Cryin’ Like a Bitch” was by far the best track off the list to start with; opening with: “Strut on by like the king/Telling everybody they know nothing/And long what you thought you were/Time aint on your side anymore.” It’s surely a single that almost everyone will catch onto.

The band breaks out of their shell with the more laid back “Love-Hate-Sex-Pain.” I’m still not quite sure if I like this one, since it’s not the traditional Godsmack sound, but I guess change is good, right? As the closure, they went with the 6:23 long instrumental (smart move) “The Oracle” which ends the album in just the right way.

At the end of the day, I am still a fan of the older stuff like “Straight Out of Line” and “Voodoo” but overall, The Oracle was an enjoyable listen that all respectable Godsmack fans should listen to at least once.   Whether you like it or not, it’ll have you “Cryin’ Like a Bitch” until their next release…in however many years that may be.