Godsmack recorded its self-titled debut for $1,500 and served up a triple-platinum helping of meaty, cleverly written, pure metal -- led by one of 2000's best singles, the tribal
"Voodoo." Unfortunately, the group's sophomore effort,
Awake, doesn't live up to its predecessor. The first three songs --
"Sick of Life," "Awake," and
"Greed" -- blend together unanimously into a swirl of
Tony Rombola's jackhammer guitar riffs. It's the deeper cuts that are the standout tracks. The dirgy, slow groove in
"Mistakes" is hook laden. One common thread between
Godsmack and
Awake is lead singer
Sully Erna's angst-ridden lyrics. "Oh God, I'm makin' the same mistakes," he cries in
"Mistakes," as
Rombola's guitars encircle him. Drummer
Tommy Stewart, on
"Trippin'," aptly pronounces
Erna's anger in "Face down/I walk away/Every time I think I do the right thing/You turn your back on me." The album opens with the pronouncement, "I'm gonna do it again." Probably not. ~ Christina Fuoco
