Customer Reviews

Probot

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(18)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I honestly don't understand some of the one-star reviews below. There seems to be a lot of Dave Grohl bashing, but it's pretty clear that he's one of the most talented musicians in rock music today. From his hardcore punk days in the 1980s, to the legendary Nirvana, the Foo Fighters (probably the best alternative/modern rock band ever), and stints with QOTSA and Killing Joke, you can't go wrong with a Dave Grohl project. During all this time, he still found inspiration to come up with these 12 odes to the underground 80's metal scene that he loved so much.

Many people complain about this being a vanity project. Does the cover say "Dave Grohl's Probot"? Nope. Did it come packaged with a Foo Fighters album? Did anyone FORCE you to buy this? No. Then shut up. I don't look at this at a vanity project so much as Dave just rocking out. If anything, he's helping to keep artists like Tom G. Warrior, Cronos, and King Diamond relevant and helping them find new, younger fanbases. I bet Probot is responsible for moving more than a few Venom, Celtic Frost, and Mercyful Fate records. Plus, Grohl insisted on this record being released on an independent label (the superb Southern Lord Records) rather than a major label. Also, he got Away (from Voivod) to do the cover artwork. Okay, it might be a bit vain, but it's so freakin' cool that you can't complain.

So, on these twelve tracks, Dave calls on the skills of some of the best to lend some vocal support: Cronos, Max Cavalera, Lemmy, Mike Dean, Kurt Brecht, Lee Dorrian, Wino, Tom G. Warrior, Snake, Eric Wagner, King Diamond, and uhh...Jack Black. Each song sounds great and fairly unique, leading to my one minor complaint with this CD. The songs tend to sound like unreleased tracks from the singers' former bands. I've read that Grohl wrote half the songs, figured out who would fit with the song and sent them out, then wrote the rest with singers already in mind. That certainly explains "Red War." No one but Max would fit with the song's sound and structure. But that's a pretty minor complaint for a record that overall pretty much rules the school.

If you're even remotely into metal, you should probably pick this one up, then maybe find some records from Trouble, Mercyful Fate, Venom, Celtic Frost, DRI, Cathedral, Napalm Death, The Obsessed......

This sort of album is supposed to fail. Get a superstar and build a large revolving cast around him or her. Santana and Rob Thomas. Bleechhh. Herbie Hancock and Jessica Simpson. Speeww. Dave Grohl and King Diamond? Hmmmmmm . . .

Dave Grohl indulges the many metal sides to his soul and creates one hell of a rocking piece. Some people on this page complain that there aren't guitar solos galore and a bunch of triggered double-pedal work like there is on a Fear Factory album. Well, you'll notice that there is no cameo from that guy from Fear Factory here. A lot of these artists here are from the "one- bass-pedal-is-good-and-we-only-need-a-ten-second-guitar-solo" school of eighties metal. Cronos from Venom gets things going in true doom style at the beginning of the album and things hardly let up from there. Max Cavalera bellows his way through "Red War," which by the way has double bass-pedal. There are some pretty sweet time changes on this one. The only song I don't really like much here is Lemmy's "Shake Your Blood." I know Lemmy personifies all things metal and I love his other work as much as anyone else, but this song sounds like a toss-off. He could have been more metal here, for sure.

Things really range all over the metal map, which could be bad. But it's not. It's fun and extremely impressive. Like the best of metal artists, Grohl doesn't have to stick in one niche category (e.g. thrash, doom, metalcore, extreme, blah blah blah). Metal is music, making it capable of infinite permutations. D.R.I., C.O.C., Cathedral, Voivod. He rocks on all of their styles and does it convincingly. He almost goes over into hair territory with Trouble's Eric Wagner on "My Tortured Soul." Grohl makes this fun, making you raise your devil fingers to a major chord progression and melody, of all things. You could never do THIS to Warrant. Maybe you could have if Grohl was Warrant's drummer (I know, that's blasphemy . . . it's a joke, strike it from the record).

The album ends with the piece de resistance: King Diamond's "Sweet Dreams." I personally don't think that the King ever sounded any better than this. It must have something to do with Grohl's comparative restraint on the instruments. He knows how to lay down an appropriately creepy doom guitar pattern while not overpowering it with a bunch of notes. Basically, he highlights the singer on these tracks while proving way more than competent at providing the backup. This really works well with that depraved sicko King Diamond indulging his absurdly strained falsetto, "I'm crawling out of my skin,/ you've got to let me in/ to your sweet, sweet, sweet dreams."

The only thing that is missing on this album is a few more guitar solos. This is the only area where Grohl falls short musically and it shows. While I am not from the school that says every song needs a two minute solo, I could use more than a couple of good solos here. Grohl calls in the splendiferous Kim Thayil to ice Lee Dorrian's "Ice Cold Man" with some highly-processed glissandos and trills and this works wonderfully. Wino sings "The Emerald Law" while shredding his guitar within an inch of life by the middle of the song: jackpot! The rest of the album has a dearth of solos. Just a couple more would have taken this album up to near a five. The Voivod or Sepultura songs would have especially benefited from this.

The excellent production and spirited performances on this album make it far more than a period piece. This is a bunch of metal believers putting their worst/best face forward in order to put the ugliness back into rock where it belongs. Dave Grohl is merely a splendidly talented vehicle for this mission. Buy this album, but only if you want to rock in eleven different sickly sweet ways.

With these reviews, there seem to be two camps: Metalheads who are following the Underground Masters, and Dave Grohl fans. People from both sides say this is a good/bad album.
Not to sound elitist or anything, but I'd say I'm in a very good position to review this CD. Growing up, I was into alternative rock such as Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains, Faith No More, you get this jist. Anyways, since my Pre-Teen days, I've branched out into a lot of different generas, but still keeping my alternative roots. Today, my main genera is Metal. The reason why, the simple fact that Metal is producing most of the great albums of the decade (such as Mastodon's Leviathan, Satyricon's Volcano, Pig Destroyer's Terrifyer, Cathedral's Endtyme, Amon Amarth's Versus the World, and Anthrax's We've Come For You All). So to all who say that this is a compilation of musicians from a washed up genera: Bully to you! Metal didn't "die" in the 90's, it went into the underground. Just like the talent from Rock is now coming from more obscure directions, while Metal is proliferating in the 00's.

Now, as to the CD:
Dave did a great thing here: Showing the musical fruits of Metal. For this reason, Probot is the best record to show a new fan the vast diversity within the genera.

1. Centuries of Sin- A great opener. A little more in Venom's recent style than their old-school kind. Still a great track though, and Cronos sounds more menacing than ever! Lyrics are fairly cheesy though.
2. Red War- I love Sepultura, but don't like Soulfly. This is why I was a bit offset about this song, it was in the Soulfly format. Despite this, it is a great song for what it is, and I enjoyed the heaviness of it.
3. Shake Your Blood- One thing I found hilarious about some of the "Rockers" here bashing the album, is that a good deal of them have never heard of Lemmy. I'll tell you this right now, if you think you know anything about the history of Rock N' Roll, but don't know Lemmy, you're a joke, period. The riffs on this song are cool, but they don't quite sound as Motorheadish as I would expect. More chuncky, less speed. It is as fun as hell though!
4. Acess bablyon- Some people say it's too short, but hey! That's what C.O.C.'s first two albums were like! The vocalist sounds very energetic (I do not have the C.O.C. album that he's on though), and it even out-thrashes the opening track.
5. Silent Spring- 2nd best lyrics on the whole album, right behind Snake's track. DRI's lead singer delivers with intensity, and like Shake Your Blood, is chunkier rather than speedy, unlike what I'd expect. I REALLY need to get a DRI album.
6. Ice Cold Man- Unlike pretty much everybody else's opinion, this is my favorite song. Cathedral's style is hard to digest, even for most Metalheads! I didn't like it at all the first three times I heard it, but then I realized the perfectly haunting atmopshere that envelopes you slowly from the beginning. Probably the Heaviest (Note: Heaviness does not = speed or aggression) track on the whole album.
7. The Emrald Law- A very epic sounding track. For all you Rock fans, I highly suggest you get a St. Vitus album. Despite them never being popular, they have a sound that many people of different tastes would probably like (same with the band Trouble, track 9). I'd have to say though. Wino's vocals sound a bit odd on the refrain, but overall the riffs are majestic, and the song has fantastic tempo changes.
8. Big Sky- Tom. G. Warrior. What else can you say? This man is a true musician in every sense of the word. I don't know if he's been doing anything important recently, but his work with Celtic Frost is monumental! There are no symphonic parts on this track, but it uses riffs to create an atmopshere reminecent of a dark and desolate place.
9. Dictatorsarus- As I said before, best lyrics off the album, it's just so fun! Snake's voice doesn't sound as odd as it usually does (I haven't bothered to check out their recent stuff though, and I probably never will), and like others have said, it is much like an early Voivod song. It is sci-fi themed, not in a silly manner though, but in a creative way.
10. My Tortured Soul- A very somber track from the vocalist of Trouble. Good lyrics, but the song isn't very heavy at all (which isn't a fault, of course). You have to just smile when you hear the heartfelt deliverance of the refrain.
11. Sweet Dreams- No my favorite, but still cool. Like Ice Cold Man, I had to get used to it. It is more of a power ballard, with the gothicy vocals of King Diamond pushing through the sludgy riffs. The lyrics are cheesy, as are any Mercyful Fate or King Diamond lyrics are (but that's what makes them so fun at the same time!)
12. A HILARIOUS track. What can ya say?

If you like any of the samples from this album (or the individual artists' other work), I whole-heartedly recommend you buy this album. The songs are very representative of the individual bands of all the different artists that appear on this album. (With the exception of Voivod, whose track on the Probot album sounds like their later work, though still enjoyable.)
This is the best Various Artists album I've ever heard. I have albums from every artist on this record. And, I think this muthah' rocks it up something fierce...
If you like old-school power, speed, doom, and punk metal, then don't listen to a single word against this rocking epic album.
There is great continuity on this album, its a bitchin peice of work, not a "collection", at all.

THIS IS NO 'METAL-GIMMICK' THIS IS THE REAL-DEAL-HOLYFIELD. LISTEN TO CRONOS' TRACK. HOW CAN YOU ARGUE WITH CRONOS AND TOM WARRIOR AND WINO???? I HOPE THERE ARE SEQUELS. I HOPE THEY GO ON TOUR, SOMEHOW.

One caveat, most of the instruments on the album are played by Dave Grohl's personal team. They are very good, and carry the spirit of the bands that they are trying to emulate.

For all the moronic people that have questioned Dave Grohl's greatness over the years, I hope you choke on Probot.

Flat out, this is a great metal album. There isnt a trace of "nu-metal" crap on any of the 11 tracks. Before even putting on the CD, just read the lineup of vocalists. Legends like King Diamond, Cronos, Max Cavalera, and Wino dont just lend themselves out to compilations. They agreed to be a part of this project for a damn good reason: the music is POWERFUL! This is what metal used to be. I could try and explain more, but my words wouldn't do justice.

If you enjoy old-school metal/hardcore, Probot will not let you down. Buy it now.

Little Seattle Man: An overabundance of 5 star reviews doesn't equate with a lack of honesty. Ronnie James Dio declared that the double-horns only be used when you want to go 'over the edge'...but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be used when the situation calls for it. The reason everyone's giving Probot 5 stars is because it deserves it. Duh. 'Oh it's buttrock', 'Oh it's before my time', 'Oh it's not something for everyone'. Take your bat and ball and go home then. Just don't write a crappy review that's only based on your own ignorance, and don't throw out a bunch of mediocre excuses and expect your 3 stars to stand. Unlike buttrock (of which there's none on this album) metal is NOT 'slowly fading out'. You'll forgive us if we don't sound metal's death knell based solely on your own lack of interest.

Years of speculation and ridicule have amassed since Dave Grohl of Nirvana and The Foo Fighters first announced his metal side project Probot. I have read countless queries about this album from people who were curious, excited or both to people who immediately denounced Dave Grohl's effort simply because he is in the Foo Fighters. The metal community has been kind of all over the place on Probot but if nothing else, it has kept the buzz alive. One has to have at least noticed the completely impressive lineup of contributors, though some of the guest musicians leave something to be desired. Anyway you sliced it, Probot was demanding of attention, one way or the other.

My hat goes off to Dave Grohl: he truly shocked the world with some of his picks for this project and though many of his Foo fans have no clue who King Diamond, Tom G. Warrior or Wino is, there are some of us veteran metal fans who grew up listening to Celtic Frost and Voivod out here. In retrospect, it was a pretty bold move for Mr. Grohl to avoid either picking more popular vocalists or lining up tracks for vocalists from today's more noticable and much less talented nu-metal crowd. Bravo. Now, onto the songs.

I'm gonna be honest, there are some holes here and there but overall, Probot delivers to those who waited and will surprise the naysayers. Track by track, this album is as follows:

Cronos of Venom opens up this album in superb fashion. "Centuries Of Sin" was tailor made for the Venom cackler and it's as brutish as it is classic sounding.

Max Cavalera of Soulfly is probably the most recognizable for the young crowd and despite my distaste for his music these days, "Red War" is a respectable track.

Lemmy (if you need to ask "from what band", you pose). That's all that needs to be said.

Mike Dean of the almighty COC steps back into his past in "Access Babylon". Though it's a good punk rock track, it kind of falls short of some of the stronger material.

Kurt Brecht from D.R.I. turns in one of my favorite songs on this album. It bears enough resemblance to D.R.I. while sounding very akin to the songs before it.

Lee Dorian of Cathedral belts out another doom monster in "Ice Cold Man" and makes me think that another Cathedral purchase is soon to be in order.

Wino of The Hidden Hand/The Obsessed/Spirit Caravan pulls off another masterpiece, only this time people outside his loyal following might actually get to experience his mastery. Go buy anything with his name on it now.

Tom G. Warrior of Celtic Frost was my biggest hope for Probot and turned out to be the weakest link in the bunch. This gets the unholy honors of being worst track of the lot.

Snake of the newly revived Voivod burns through "Dictatosaurus" and hands in another song that fights for the frontrunner status on this album.

Eric Wagner of Trouble turns in one of the other few songs that I'm not completely sold on at this point. While it's nowhere near the atrocity of the Tom G. Warrior offering, I don't have a history with Trouble so it may take a few listens to grow on me.

Another legend in King Diamond gives you chills and bad dreams with his track "Sweet Dreams". Everytime I hear this man's vocals, I harken back to seeing "Welcome Home" on Headbangers Ball for the first time.

Dear Dave Grohl,
You have more than proved to the world that Probot could live up to its hype. Though I like the Foo Fighters, please consider doing music like this from now on as the Foo Fighters seem to be running on empty. Your contribution to heavy music is most welcome in this day and age. Thank you for showing the world at large what artists they have been missing out on all of these years.

Okay...this is why Dave Grohl is one of the most talented people on earth:

-Grohl drums like a powerman in one of the most popular alternative hard rock bands of all time (Nirvana).

-Nirvana's lead singer (Cobain) commits suicide (or is murdered, depending on what you believe), and Grohl composes himself enough to form one of the most popular alternative pop/rock bands of all time (Foo Fighters) the very next year.

-Grohl releases the Foo's first album, on which he writes songs, plays guitar, bass, and drums, and sings.

-Foo makes it big and Grohl releases three more albums, now with band members, so he just writes songs, plays guitar, and sings.

-Grohl then decides to go even further. In his basement studio, he writes a bunch of heavy metal riffs...playing all the instruments himself. He then FedExes the tapes off to various heavy metal singers, who put lyrics and vocals on the tracks, and send the tapes back to Grohl. This experiment becomes the album "PROBOT".

Dave Grohl is incredible.
This album rocks harder than anything I ever expected from him. Just as good as the Foo's "The Colour and The Shape" and better than Nirvana's "Nevermind".

This album delivers what it promises: genuine heavy #!@%*!&ing metal. Stop thinking it's a gimmick and listen to it for the music, which is amazing.

while i certainly haven't followed much of dave grohl's career following the demise of nirvana, this project caught my attention simply because it was such a great idea. getting together many of his favorite metal/hardcore musical icons from the past (and some from the present), dave basically recorded a bunch of instrumental metal tracks and sent each of them to the singer that he had in mind. since i am only really familiar with about a third of the singers, i am not going to claim to know how well suited each song was for every single singer, but i can easily vouch for the quality and the variety of all the songs. its really quite rare these days to find an album where there isn't a lot of excessive filler clumped into an album, but i really struggled to locate a single track that could have been considered weak. i don't even listen to that much metal these days, but i really enjoyed the variation and simple enthusiasm and honest input that all the singers put into their respective tracks.

a lot of the actual instrumentation, such as the guitars and drums, were obviously dave's original tracks, but each song seems to have its very own sound that is especially suited for the singer at hand. kurt brecht's "silent spring" is ESPECIALLY well suited and very reminiscient of mid era DRI, while lemmy's "shake you blood" is pretty much a facsimile of later era motorhead, yet it still sounds quite fresh. the same can be said of the king diamond track, which is pretty much dead on as an earnest twin to the mercyful fate/king diamond sound.

i am not familiar enough to comment on many of the other older more underground metal figures, but i can simply say that there is a great mesh of different metal styles throughout the entire album and it definately keeps the whole thing very interesting. it also never steers into cliched, metal over-indulgence ( i.e. no 5 minute drum and guitar solos) and repetitive riffing to no avail. the entire album showcases many different styles of metal and hardcore by basically being an honest tribute to all the different eras of metal from which the singers all respectively came from. it should be noted that dave still has the great metal chops that many thought he had abandoned back in his SCREAM days before he joined nirvana. the unrelentless pounding on "red war" could easily make igor cavalera proud.

this album also serves as a who's who of underground metal and it will undoubtedly introduce many younger listeners to bands that they would have otherwise not have been exposed to. i know i am much more inclined now to seek out several of the recordings that dave mentions so passionately in the liner notes.

my only complaint: i wish it were longer! it also would have been interesting to hear more from the singers as well, but i am just picking straws. overall, this is a great album for fans of metal, both old and new. i only hope that dave can pull off a 'return of probot' album in the future.

Dave Grohl has always been open about his love for metal even when he was the drummer for the genre-changing Nirvana. So finally, after a year of seeking out contributors, he put together an 80's thrash metal/straight up metal album with some of the most notorious singers in the business. Some of the musicians he collaborated with on this album are Max Cavalera (Soulfly/Sepultra), Lemmy (Motorhead), Mike Dean (C.O.C.), King Diamond and Kurt Brecht (D.R.I.). This wasn't a self-serving affair either. Dave and his counterparts put forth an astounding amount of energy and creativity into this epic tribute styled album. What you loved about metal in those days is essentially what this disc is about. It harkens back to a simplified but kick ass time in music when every band had their own distinctive sound. Some of the more resounding tracks on the record are "Red War" with Max Cavalera, "Access Babylon" with Mike Dean and the full on, super fervent "Shake Your Blood" with the metal icon known as Lemmy. Make no bones about it, this CD respectfully represents the metal genre with a real sense of loyalty and appreciation. There are no age restrictions for this piece of work either. Any and all metal afficiandos will love this CD.