Review GODSMACK ‘Lighting Up the Sky’

When Godsmack was founded in 1995 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, it was not foreseeable that such a success story would unfold. But already with the release of the self-titled debut album it became quite clear that Godsmack hit the nerve of the time. The album jumped up the U.S. charts to #22 and has since gone platinum and gold.

The debut album was no flash in the pan. The quartet followed up with ‘Awake’ in 1998 and increased popularity and success. This development continues to this day and one can look forward with excitement to the newest album ‘Lighting Up the Sky’.

With eleven songs and almost 50 minutes playing time the fans get exactly what they are looking for; a lot of good music.

It starts with ‘You and I`. After the droning intro is over and Erna’s guitar takes the lead, the song gains power. In addition, there are well done vocal lines, but one has the impression that the band does not yet put everything into the scale. A relatively steady basic arrangement gives the song little ups and downs and whoever is in the ‘You and I’ relationship will not experience the big fireworks.

More peppy, however, comes ‘Red White and Blue’ out of the starting blocks and the same goes for ‘Surrender’. Godsmack pick up speed and show with the two mentioned tracks that they can combine hardness and catchiness pretty well. These songs will be well received by friends of heavier sounds as well as a broader audience.

‘What About Me’ is a bit more rocking too while ‘Truth’ is the album’s tear-jerking ballad. ‘Hell’s Not Dead’ brings back the power of the rock’n’roll even if Godsmack again don’t release the musical handbrake completely. Unhindered action, however, is what ‘Soul on Fire’ represents. The four-piece picks up the pace and fires off good guitar blasts. This song animates to sing along, which is also valid for the following ‘Let’s Go!’. The one or other time I had to think about how far bands like Godsmack and Volbeat have come closer soundwise, whereby the former go to work with a bit more passion.

A powerful power ballad is what fans get served with ‘Growing Old’, before the catchy title track ends the album.

It is not certain if ‘Lighting Up the Sky’ will be the last studio album. Bandleader Sully Erna left it open. Often enough we have heard this from bands in the past, only to be headlined again with a reunion. How this will play out with Godsmack, only time will tell. In the meantime, however, one can listen to the band’s latest effort, which doesn’t get tiresome even on repeated playthroughs.