MelodicRock.com Reviews


BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
1919 * ETERNAL
Spitfire Records SPT-15176-2
Produced by: Zakk Wylde
Released: OUT NOW / Website
Closest Relative: Ozzy
GENRE: Melodic Metal
OVERALL: 80%

  1. Bleed For Me
  2. Lords Of Destruction
  3. Demise Of Sanity
  4. Life, Birth, Blood, Doom
  5. Bridge To Cross
  6. Battering Ram
  7. Speedball
  8. Graveyard Disciples
  9. Lost Heaven
  10. Refuse To Bow Down
  11. Mass Murder machine
  12. Berserkers
  13. America The Beautiful

I was an old fan of Zakk and his work with Ozzy and even with Pride And Glory.
But his last couple of studio albums and the last Ozzy studio release have lost me.
It seemed he was more concerned with tuning down, sounding as heavy as humanly possible and making his sound more in line with the nu-metal cause.
This album therefore held no appeal whatsoever, but I am happy to report that in my eyes, Zakk redeems himself somewhat on this release.
1919 Eternal is in part a return to his more melodic ways, with lots of his trademark harmonics recognizable throughout the record.
The album is also a little softer then the last couple....by softer, I mean it's still hard enough to kill most fluffy animals, but there are much stronger signs of melody.
Funnily enough, the production on this album isn't as good as the last two - it's rougher and rawer and not quite as sonically intense.
But I'll take that in the place of better songs any day.
BOTTOM LINE: Zakk still can't sing for shit and really should hire a vocalist, but there's less screaming, less tortured wailing and more emphasis on maintaining a tune and playing those frenzied riffs!
All in all, one of his better solo albums and a step in the right direction (for these ears anyway...)
PRODUCTION: 70% SONGS: 85% VIBE: 80%ATTITUDE: 85%
ESSENTIAL FOR: All Zakk Wylde fans and some old Ozzy fans.
DISCOGRAPHY:Pride & Glory . Sonic Brew . Book of Shadows . Stronger than Death . Live . 1919*Eternal



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