Customer Reviews

Mafia [Explicit]

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

Another great CD from BLS. Zakk Wylde pushes his voice further than he has to date on this offering. When he jumps up an octave from his southern rock growl, he sounds like a mix between Ozzy and Axl Rose (Don't let that scare you away though.) Zakk sure is prolific, a great CD a year is a heck of an average!

Think of Zakk Wylde as a great pastry chef. An extremely gifted and experienced artist who doesn't take his craft lightly (and, after trying just one sampling of his cooking, you realize that you shouldn't take it lightly, either.)

Zakk does what all greats do: draws inspiration from past greats. After just one sampling of his work, the customer should be able to tell that Zakk draws influence (especially vocally) from Ozzy Osbourne and the late Layne Staley of Alice in Chains fame. In fact, one of the things that may be holding Black Label Society back is that Zakk might draw too heavily from his pot of influences. His riffs have always been reminiscent of Black Sabbath (since, in case you didn't know, he also does the shredding for Ozzy Osbourne's band), but when he starts sounding like Ozzy behind the mic, things start to sound eerily similar.

Zakk may not be famous for mastering every genre of his art form, but he is world-renowned for one recipe: Southern-tinged, alcohol laden metal that's as heavy as a seven-layer torte. What does such a recipe call for? For starters, you need the best guitarist in the business who can lay down some monstrous solos and churn out many doom-y, sludgy riffs. Once you have that, you'll need some lyrics like: "Crawl through the things that eat your flesh." Put these lyrics down, then lather them, thickly, with a deep, gruff, alchohol soaked voice. To make sure you did this right, check to see that there are only one or two rays of visible light shining through to the bottom of your product. Finally, garnish it with some catchy, store-bought drumming and enjoy.

The final product should be a heavy, semi-sweet dessert that not everyone will enjoy equally. Aside from a few moments that are super sweet (i.e. the guitar solos), there should be no surprises while enjoying your dessert. It should go down easy and not leave much of an aftertaste.

Zakk has formed a following of fans, and all of his past creations have been popular amongst them. So when it came time for Zakk to write up the recipe/menu of his new album, it was only natural that he go back to where he started and sculpt the kind of he music he knows best. Thus, "Mafia" offers more of the same. To prove his guitar chops are as big as his biceps, he uses his Gynsu knife guitar to carve out thick, buzzsaw riffs that are as crunchy as croutons, and precise, juicy solos that sizzle like the finest sirloin.

Highlights include:

"Fire It Up" does just that. It begins sounding sort of like a Kid Rock song, with slow wah-wah guitars and a simple but catchy drum beat. The song eventually becomes crunchy, and includes a nice and long acrobatic guitar solo, which might be my favorite on the album. I'd swear part of it was written by Zakk's best friend, the equally as talented Dimebag Darrell, if he were still alive.
"Suicide Messiah" ties a high(er) pitched voice with fast chugging riffs.
"Forever Down" has a piano intro (!), but all is forgiven when the fiery guitar punch makes an entrance. This song is topped of a by a wild up and down solo.
"In this River" is a Dimebag Darrell tribute. I wondered if there was going to be a song like this on "Mafia," and sure enough. It doesn't rock in typical Dimebag fashion, however. Rather, "In this River" is a power ballad with piano and clean singing. Zakk doesn't have the best voice, but this song sounds good otherwise. Plus, you've got to give him props for making a lovely little tribute.
Zakk returns to form for the very next track, "You Must be Blind," which has dizzying heavy riffs.
"Death March" is catchy enough to be the next single. It has a stop-start beat and another good (albeit short) ascending solo.

Since Dimebag Darrell has passed away, Van Halen hasn't made a new album in 10 years, and Tom Morello is playing softer, almost alternative rock, Zakk Wylde stands as the clear choice for cream of the crop in modern metal. The bottom line is Zakk Wylde has the talent and potential to be making some of the world's most exquisite and complicated music. But his vocal ability (which, as previously mentioned, he borrows heavily from his influences), lyrics, and all around songwriting skills hold him back.

In short, Zakk Wylde is Wolfgang Puck working at a McDonald's. "Mafia" is a Big Mac. But there's nothing wrong with a Big Mac. You go to McDonald's if you're hungry, and if you want a solid, no surprises, easy-to-down meal that leaves little to no aftertaste. If that's what you're expecting when you go there, you don't walk away disappointed. And sometimes that's all you could ask for in a meal.

I've got to go now, I'm making myself hungry...

I must begin this review by saying that I wasn't always a fan of Zakk's. In fact, before I heard "No Rest For The Wicked," I talked a lot of sh-t about Mr. Wylde, saying he was nothing but a Randy Rhoads clone and so forth. Boy was I ever wrong after hearing, "No Rest For The Wicked"! Then a friend of mine let me borrow his singer/songwriter-based solo album "Book of Shadows," which is one of the most melodically pleasing singer-songwriter albums of the past 10 years with well crafted songs that still rock hard. After proving his songwriting skills beyond his work with Ozzy, Zakk became a very poignant influence in my life as a musician and guitarist. Nobody rips that pentatonic scale as fast as he does, on electric and acoustic guitar. And to think, he was only 19 years old when he started playing with Ozzy! I am proud to be a Black Label Disciple beyond forever...

Now, in regards to Mafia! This album is a very good offering from the BLS, something different, much life Hangover Music Vol. IV. Zakk never disappoints and always delivers, and does whatever he wants musically, on his own terms. Though on a musical level, this album is not as heavy or perhaps as consistent as "The Blessed Hellride" or "1919 Eternal," it is a good album, very reminiscent of early Black Sabbath albums. The nice mix of dark, minor-keyed piano work and acoustic guitar with the bombastic and ultra heavy electric guitar riffs showcases Zakk's amazing talent as a musician and frontman. Zakk remains one of the last premiere commercial/mainstream rock guitar heroes of the 21st century, and listening to Mafia, the innocent listener will understand why. It also sounds like Zakk has been practicing some new scales and incorporating them into their repertoire (Listen to the fast-run he does at the end of the solo for "Fire it Up"), breaking away from his typical pentatonic-based soloing style. Nobody weilds a Les Paul with so much finesse and style like Mr. Wylde. Zakk continues to carry the torch for hard rock/metal guitar, and has earned a wealth of respect inexplicable by my words. Thanks for the music Zakk, keeping the shredderific-guitar solo alive and well, and giving us hardcore BLS fans something new, different and interesting to listen to once again!

Zakk Wylde and the boys of Black Label Society have returned with another dose of their brand of Alcohol Fueled guitar brutality. This debut release on their new label Artemis Records is entitled "Mafia" and the piece is pretty much what all fans have come to expect of Zakk and Company. Starting off with "Fire It Up" the band has an almost Trouble-like quality to it as it plods along as if this was a Doom outfit. I liked this one a lot as Zakk's guitarwork is ever the pleasing thing to listen to. "Suicide Messiah" really has a Black Sabbath feel and drive to it and this could be the influence of all the years working with Ozzy Osbourne. I truly feel these years also had a profound impact on the development of Zakk as a singer. There are so many instances in his vocals where he sounds like a rougher Ozzy and this is actually pretty good since it always works in the context of BLS music.

Showing his softer side is the track "In This River" which is loaded with soft piano and harmony vocals. There is still time for a ripping guitar solo in the tune but I think the inclusion of this track shows how talented Zakk actually is. He is capable of doing something that could easily fall into a Southern Rock bands repertoire as well as deliver mayhem with his axe in Ozzy and BLS. Joining Zakk for the recording of this CD is James LoMenzo (who was also a member of Pride & Glory with him several years ago as well as a member of White Lion before that). Craig Nunenmacher handles the kit is very solid on the drums. Overall this was a very clean and precise production where none of the instruments overpower each other. Zakk being the leader is not overblown on the other musicians and I liked noticing that. This is definitely a CD that existing fans can get into and the newer fans as well. Zakk did not put out a CD that went over everyones head which some bands do after several releases. This is pure heavy metal in and out and very easy to find yourself headbanging to its contents. There are so many Sabbath influxes on it that it might even appeal to those hungering for riffs along those lines as well.

The booklet is loaded with liner notes and lyrics and also includes a dedication to "Dimebag"Darrell Abbott who Metal lost in December of 2004. "Dime" and Zakk were Best Friends and it was nice to see him referenced in Memorium.

Zak is a guitar god. BLS has been kicking @$$ from the get-go. Oh and look, the braindead reviewer (bunny logan) didnt approve of it. Hey everybody wanna know if an album is any good? Look to see if bunny logan reviewed it. If bunny says the album is no good, then run out and get it. Because bunny thinks ZAK sucks but sings praises about hanson and puff daddy. Maybe Im just getting cynical as I age but I feel that if you dig stuff like UMM - BOP then you dont have any reason wasting all our time with your senseless opinions.Anybody with any real sense knows that you can pick up a BLS cd, and it will be great. They are just that freakin awesome. It aint TRL material, but then what really good music is ever on TRL? If it was, then people like bunny logan,doofus reviewer extrodanaire, wouldnt know how to handle it. Stick to your hanson and your backseat boys. This album does seriously rock and it is worth the coins. But then anyone that has heard BLS already knows that. The metal historian hath spoken.

I can conclude one of two things from this album. 1. Zakk Wylde needs to take a longer break between writing his albums or 2. His Creative well has run dry. This album really isn't very good at all. I tried to give it a chance but I'm just annoyed that Zakk Wylde would release an album full of songs that I feel were targeted for the radio. If you were to take all the filler songs of his past 3 releases, tie in a catchy chorus, and put it onto one album this is what you would have. Uninspiring, unoriginal and mediocre song writing, sadly I feel I could have done a better job at writing the riffs and lyrics on this album. Anyone who thinks Zakk Wylde is the savior of metal worships anything he touches and thus praise this album, but I really just can't do it. If your just discovering BLS pick up 1919 Eternal, and Stronger Than Death and progress from there.

Being my favorite band, I hold Zack and Black Label to high standards. In the new album "Mafia" he found new ways of taking it up a notch, like in "Fire it Up". Zack uses his voice slightly different, guitar and drum riffs are a little more simple. Upon first listening to the album, I didn't know what to think. But after two minutes I decided....this is one Kick Ass album!! Then I saw them live in Tulsa OK doing a small Mafia tour and that took it to a whole new level for me!

Ok, on this CD I like the guitars, but what the hell happened to the vocals? It's like Zakk Wylde constantly sang under a voice distorter. They have none of the power that they had in his previous albums.

I grew up with the likes of music from Venom, metallica, Slayer and hair metal and I will be honest, When I heard songs from Zakk's first few albums, I had to pass them up. then out comes this song "Counterfeit God" from his album "Stronger than Death" and I thought that this was awsome. Just about as good as Metallica's "Seek and Destroy" so, I went out and purchased this Cd. Then I bought the next few that came out and I thought that they were ok, but never really received that much play in my cd player. Then Zakk comes out with Blessed Hellride and Hangover Music and I thought they were very good. Even Hangover Music is by far my favorite album. Until now.

I bought Mafia when I saw it on sale and its been in my car ever since I bought it, over three weeks ago. All the songs are great and I think that even Zakk's singing has gotten so much better. Thanks to Ozzy, you can definatly hear Ozzy's influance in his voice. If you like in your face Biker Hard Rock music, then buy this CD, if you are just a poser and really are a band wagon fan, then go find some of those crappy groups like Kings of Leon, the Strokes, or even the Vines. Because you really dont have any music Taste.

I'm not going to go in to the techincal analysis of Zakk's work on this album. I'll save that for another reviewer. Suffice it to say Zakk has raised his own bar lyrically, productionally, musically as well as his maturity as noted in the hidden 15th track where he touches a nerve in all of us who have got some experience of life under the ole belt as well as setting the neck of his guitar on fire in that tune. With a riff like Funeral Bell I thought Zakk had nailed one of the ultimate hooks. Then comes You Must Be Blind. I'm beginning to think Zack just might bring back to the forefront true Rock and Roll single handedly. Ok perhaps that's a bit of an overstatement. But, not by much. The guts and nuts he puts in his music reminds me of the true rock and blues masters of today and yesterday. Zakk... every cd you put out is a step beyond. You are leaving a trail of some of the best rock on the planet. Keep it up. And to you youngsters out there on MTV with your "numetal whining, woe is me" and/or "I'm a tough guy with my guitar pathetic attempt at music lets all sound the same crap", you would do well to study Zakk and learn what it takes to be actually good at Rock and Roll. Do your thing Zakk, just keep doing your thing.