Customer Reviews

Hangover Music, Vol. 6

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Er, hello? Anybody home? The name of this record is 'HANGOVER MUSIC'. Not 'Music To Go Crazy And Break Stuff To' or 'Monster Riffs From Hell'. Jesus, how ignorant can people be? Did all you people complaining about this album not read any press or bother to go over to his website before this was released? Or when you were handing over your cash did you not even stop to think what an album entitled 'HANGOVER MUSIC' might contain? Er, how about music that you'd like to play when you're hungover?.....

Anyway... Quite simply I think this album is fantastic and as much as I love Zakk's previous work I think he has written something incredibley special here. I just can't over the huge leap Zakk has made with this album. His songwriting, lyrics, vocals and solos have all improved with this release and I for one have an even greater respect for the man.

Everything is here. Although there are a lot of acoustic guitars and pianos there are still lots of electric riffs and out of this world solos. I cannot possibly see how ANYONE who likes Book of Shadows cannot fall in love with this album. I appreciate that everyone hears music differently but, to my ears at least, this album is something very special indeed. It's certainly darker than BoS but I see this as a wonderful thing!

I love the fact that he isn't singing "oh mama" in every song and that he's dealing with a lot of dark stuff. Also, seemingly out of nowhere his solos have suddenly gained something which they've sometimes lacked in the past; feeling. There's even a section during the 'Layne' song that sounds a bit 'trippy'.

I've always had a tremendous respect for him as a guitarist and riff writer but now I can say that I also have the same amount of respect for him as a songwriter. I'm not saying that he hasn't written good songs in the past (which he has) but what I'm trying to say is that he's never written a single collection of songs as good as this. Steppin Stone, Damage is Done, Crazy or High, House of Doom, Fear etc etc. They're ALL amazing.

Next time someone tells you Zakk can't write good songs, give them this.

"Hangover Music", the sixth offering from Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society, shows the guitar hero getting back to the basics which made his solo album's "Pride & Glory" and "Book of Shadows" so great. Just about every song featured here is purposely slow tuned and loaded with soul, from the opening "Crazy or High", "Queen of Sorrow", "House of Doom", "Damage is Done", and the touching "Layne" which is a fitting tribute to late Alice in Chains frontman Layne Staley, and a much more heartfelt tribute than a song of the same title done by the supremely overrated Staind. Zakk's guitar talents are as amazing as ever, and his voice sounds better than it ever has. The only problem with "Hangover Music" is that people expecting the same kind of BLS brand music from earlier albums like "Blessed Hellride", "1919 Eternal", "Stronger Than Death", and "Sonic Brew" will be in for a bit of a surprise when they hear this whole album, but longtime fans of Zakk will appreciate the musicianship and diversity found here. All in all, this is yet another solid album from Zakk, and I anxiously await any new material to come from him.

With "Hangover Music Vol. 6" Zakk Wylde mixes the acoustic elements from his excellent solo album "Book of Shadows" with the more aggresive rock of the rest of Black Label Society's catalogue. The end result is a very doomy, boozy, southern rock collection of songs that are among the best Zakk's ever written. Nowhere else is the doom/stoner rock feel more prevalent than in the excellent track "House of Doom", a very catchy number with great riffs and some very good vocal work. Now Zakk Wylde is not exactly a standout singer, but he does interpret the songs with a lot of feeling.
As I said, there's a lot of acoustic work in some songs but also a lot of heavy handed riffing that should please most metalheads. And of course Zakk's signature guitar soloing really elevates the songs to a whole new level. He never resorts to just fiddling about the fretboard (like some other guitar "heroes"), but makes each solo a part of the song, the way it should be. An interesting track is the cover "Whiter Shade of Pale" which is a piano only ballad, its OK, but I found Zakk's vocals somewhat lacking and not fitting the mood of the song.
In closing, one of Black Label Society's best so far, no doubt!

Ok, a couple of real jackasses have reviewed this album and given it bad reviews simply on the basis of it not being their style. This is a fairly mellow album, but mellow for Zakk isn't the same as mellow for say Sting. So if say Led Zepplin makes your ears hurt, then put this back on the shelf and save your money. On the other hand, if heaviness is your only criterea, then this is not the album for you either. Frankly, I would have prefered more balls out metal album like Blessed Hellride or Stronger Than Death, but Zakk's got more than one kind of music in him and this is a little metal, a little hard rock, and a little country flavor, some accoustic, some piano, its kind of ecclectic. The one thing that stood out the most to me is that Zakk has taken the soloing up yet another notch, there's more speed, more variety, more all around creativity. In some tracks the riffing seems a little uninspired, in others his usual intuitive ability to make simple but really cool riffs shines through. In some places I also do think he's taking the wannabe Ozzy vox a little too far (especially on Houe of Doom). Its not all what I would have asked for, but its really very good from start to finish, very enjoyable and I've got to respect his talent on this album yet again. There is also a remarkable lack of filler for a guy who's so damn prolific. Considering the fact he has released a new studio album EACH of the previous 2 years, I think he did a hell of a job on each of the fifteen tracks here. Lastly, whatever you do, don't listen to that guy who says this is all a mess and complains Zakk only uses penatonic scales, and that its a bunch of macho crap. That last comment especially makes me think he didn't even actually listen to this album, and just doesn't like Zakk on the basis of his being a guy with great chops who isn't a guitar nerd like Malmsteen.

Yeah I know this album is mostly accoustic stuff, but I like it so what. This album shows both depth and emotion, but it still has it's heavy parts to please alot of metalheads like myself. Zakk Wylde's eye popping guitar solos on here will make you grin in delight. "House of Doom" was the first song I heard off this album, and it's my favorite song on here as well. Crazy or High, Damage is Done, Queen of Sorrow, Steppin Stone, Layne, and She Deserves a Free Ride (Val's Song) are other good songs I like on here. Overall this is just a good cd to listen to while having a cold beer on a nice warm sunny day. Buy it now! ALL HAIL ZAKK WYLDE, ALL HAIL BLACK LABEL SOCIETY!
themetalbeast's ratings:
1. Crazy or High: 5/5
2. Queen of Sorrow: 5/5
3. Steppin Stone: 5/5
4. Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: 4/5
5. Takillya(Estyabon): 4/5
6. Won't Find It Here: 5/5
7. She Deserves a Free Ride(Val's Song): 5/5
8. House of Doom: 5/5 (Favorite song)
9. Damage is Done: 5/5
10. Layne: 5/5
11. Woman Don't Cry: 4/5
12. No Other: 5/5
13. Whiter Shade of Pale: 5/5
14. Once More: 5/5
15. Fear: 5/5

I have downloaded all of Black Label Society's albums, and even Book of Shadows and Pride & Glory, but this was the first album i bought in stores. I am a die hard Zakk Wylde fanatic, so, naturally, i love this CD. It combines Zakk's heavy riffs, with his soft melodies like the ones from Book of Shadows, and of course, his ripping solos. I believe that Zakk Wylde is easily one of the top 3 guitarists of all time. If you are a first time Black Label listener, however, I would not reccomend this CD. In order to fully appreciate Black Label Society, you need to start off with Sonic Brew, or Stronger Than Death. Some good songs on those CD's are: Bored To Tears, Lowdown, Beneath the Tree, 13 Years of Grief, and Love Reign Down.

Seriously people, how can anyone not like it? *gasp* Oh no, it isn't hard metal, BLS is ruined. I mean come on people. I love BLS, but I have to admit, I get kind of sick after listening to all the heavy metal for long periods of time. So what, it's slow acoustic rock, it's good. Honestly listen to the CD before you criticize it just because it's not die-hard metal. I think it's better than Book of Shadows. I personally like Zakk's acoustic stuff more than his metal stuff, it sounds so much cooler. Honestly how can you diss this stuff? It's good that they went and made a nice slow acoustic rock album.

Everyone who likes Zakk Wylde, or anyone who hasn't even heard of him should get this album. It's amazing. The acousticness is awesome. You can't go wrong with it.

I stumbled upon Book of Shadows(BOS) when it first came out and bought it on a whim. It became a CD that really spoke to me and alot of other fans. Initially, I liked a couple of songs but over time each song became a treasure of soul and emotion. I listened to it consistently over the next 3 years and have since made my own Zakk Wylde CD from all of his Acoustic work(Pride & Glory, BOS, BLS) that stays in my CD player. I have highly anticipated every Zakk/BLS release since. Longtime fans have been calling for another Acoustic album since that time. To me Zakk has answered the call and has given another brilliant piece of work for all of us to enjoy. I personally love the mix of Acoustic/Electric guitar and piano. The way Zakk can control his voice from high to low or from soft spoken to a wail. Yes, from some of the reviews you can tell this is a major departure from Black Label Society's(BLS) recent work. It was promoted on his record label website as, "an album that will turn all preconceptions of Zakk Wylde and BLS firmly on their head". That is true but only if you have not been exposed to BOS. Let me say this all of the BLS albums are awesome as well! Sonic Brew and Stronger than Death are my favorites. Again, I have also compiled my own best of BLS CD. Take the negative comments with a grain of salt. Alot of fans will begin to complain at some point if an Artist continues to put out the same type of CD everytime and does not diversify. I would suggest picking up Book of Shadows as well under the name of Zakk Wylde not BLS to know where the origins of Hangover Music came from. My thanks to Zakk for another masterpiece I will be listening to for years to come. JD (SDMF Va Chapter)

I have been a BLS fan for four years now. BLS is a musically talented band, they dont need all the "hardcore" riffs, to prove something. A band that can switch styles of music, and play differant things than the same old thing, is a great band! Sure all other BLS albums are heavy, but this is a more serious, more deeper lyrics, more musically better album. This is by far one of my favorite cd's. I especially love "House of Doom" and "Whiter shade of pale". THIS IS A MUST BUY FOR EVERY PERSON WHO APPRECIATES MUSIC!

If you have never heard Book Of Shadows by Zakk Wylde, then you may be suprised by this album. The two albums are similiar in that they contain a lot more acoustic guitar, and although I'm not saying that past releases have not contained emotion, HM VI contains more.

For example, take 'She Deserves a free ride' and the ballad 'Fear'. The piano on this album is superb, haunting at one point and almost relaxing at another. However, there is just enough of past 'metal' BLS in this album - 'Crazy or High' and 'House Of Doom'. Personal favourites are 'Damage is Done', 'Layne' and 'Queen Of Sorrow'. There is something more in the solo's - they come in at just the right time and as usual are perfectly executed - check out 'Stepping Stone' for an example. The musicianship has got even better on this album, with the dodgy drums on 1919 Eternal Gone, and the bass that was pushed to the background in The Blessed Hellride is up there with Zakk's playing.

This album is deep, moving piece that is the perfect successor to the blistering Blessed Hellride. Can't wait for the new Mafia CD to be released.