Godsmack - Is now all about Shannon Larkin!!!

June 20th 2015

Dessel, Graspop Festival, Belgium

***

They let the drums do the talking!!!

Graspop Festival

Godsmack *** (Main Stage 1) are on of the biggest Metal bands in America, but over here in Europe. Not so many people know this band so well, hence why they are so low down on the bill. But Godsmack really are a band that we should have paid more attention to, with one of the best drummers in the World Shannon Larkin (Godsmack / Amen / Ugly Kid Joe / Snot) and one of the best vocalists in Metal... Sully Erna.

Last year the band released their sixth studio album '1000HP', which was a record well worth the wait for. Even though it could be found in the UK, for as little as £5 in HMV... not long after it was released. This is a real shame because it was a great comeback to form, after the disappointing 'The Oracle'. I like the new album, but I think some of their troubles with selling it to the UK and Europe audiences was the terrible title for the record and the artwork that just seemed a little dated.

Other than this as I was saying before this is a great record, and you can tell that from the three outstanding singles they have already released from it. 'Something Different, What's Next' and the title track '1000HP', these on their own making it an essential purchase for any Metal fan in the World. They come onstage to the classic AC/DC Rock song 'For those about to Rock (We salute You)' and I think that is something they have come out today to do.

The shame is like Motorhead, the movement is slow and almost non existent. Well I say that, their is one member that is really going for it. That is Shannon Larkin, who spends every minute of their performance, behind the drum kit... kicking the living daylights out of it. Sully does come to life a little more, as the show goes on. You wonder why he could not have done this from the start of the bands set. Also he looks really at home when he is doing the long drum segment with Shannon half way through.

You can see that Sully really has a love for the drums, and you do wonder why he wasn't a drummer in a band rather than a singer because he is quite good. Saying that I am quite glad he is a singer, because I love his distinctive vocal style. You would know from the moment he opens his mouth that he sings in Godsmack, because of his tone. One of the best songs of the bands release before '1000HP', 'The Oracle' was the brilliant and cranking 'Cryin' like a B**ch' which is a very nice edition to the bands set.

And shows that maybe with time even 'The Oracle' album, would grow on a Godsmack fan that was not so keen on it in the first place. I often find the albums I don't like so much when I first hear them, are the ones I end up loving more in the end. So I will give 'The Oracle' another listen, listening to this track live I might just end up loving it. I do really enjoy the whole drum segment, but I would have rather had an extra couple of songs. It went on for far too long and I think really should have been for their own headline shows only. Not a festival appearance, when they only have limited time.

The drum segment included great tribal rhythms, showing Godsmack really are a Metal band with a difference. Other great moments in the bands set, where the brilliant 'Awake, Keep Away' and the haunting and hypnotic 'Voodoo' which took new life and sound really big in this festival enviroment. My personal favourite song in the bands set was their debut single 'Whatever', it just has such a killer riff to it and I always can't wait for it to be played.

Ending with the massive Metal song 'I Stand Alone' from the 'Scorpion King' movie that starred Dwayne Johnson (Aka The Rock), you wonder why this band have not really made it over here in the same way as they did in America. I do like the way they are stripped down and back to basics with their stage show, but I would like to see more theatrics.

But maybe Godsmack are just a get what you see kind of band, and they just want to let their music do the talking. And they do have some great songs, I recommend if you don't know Godsmack to purchase their self titled debut and the album 'Faceless' because they are the two best, well in my eyes they are. I look forward to seeing Godsmack do a headline show very soon.