Tracklist:
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1.
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"Fields of Unforgiveness"
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3:12
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2.
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3:22
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3.
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"Believe"
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3:44
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4.
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"Angel of Mercy"
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4:14
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5.
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"Heart of Darkness"
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3:39
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6.
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"Beyond the Down"
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2:54
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7.
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"Scars"
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4:13
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8.
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"Damn the Flood"
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3:18
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9.
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"I've Gone Away"
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3:51
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10.
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"Empty Promises"
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5:16
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11.
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"Shades of Gray"
Bonus tracks 12. Dark Side of the Sun 13. Nomad
I have to confess that I was eager for this
album to come out. I saw Zakk Wylde on THAT METAL SHOW yakking it up, smugly
telling jokes and reminiscing of unwashed post concert bar visits. I sat in
front of my TV, scratching my head. I wondered how the man who perpetrated
UNBLACKENED upon loyal fans could be so smarmy. So, when this album dropped,
I wanted to hear it. I wanted the reason Zakk was so jovial to be that he had
returned to his metal ways and had given us something to repay the debt
created by UNBLACKENED’s sins.
As I downloaded the album, another thought
crossed my mind:”What if that bastard was shmucking it up because he’s
released another joke of an album?” Anxiety began to cause me to drum my
fingers excessively on the table. The album finished downloading and I hit
play…
“Fields of Unforgiveness” picks up where ORDER
OF THE BLACK left off. Chrunching guitars, squealing [inch harmonics, fear
inducing bass lines and wall shattering drums pushed aside my fears and
rewarded me with what I had craved. Zakk’s whiskey drenched vocals were icing
on the cake.
“My Time of Dying” continues the assault. It’s
possibly the strongest track on the album. The bass line weaves it’s way
through the song like a viper, preparing the victim the strike to the jugular.
“Believe” has dirty groove that reminds me of
late 1980′s LA metal. It has me thinking Zakk was listening to some Izzy
Stradlin. This is a good thing. I could see myself shooting pool in a sleazy
dive, listening to this song.
The album presents three ballads (four, if you
have the extended album with bonus tracks). They are all good songs, well
written and strongly performed. They all are drenched with the fumes of
classic Southern rock. Allman Brothers, Elvin Bishop, the soul grooves of the
Muscle Shoals performers…all make their influence felt in these songs. These
are the songs to make your girlfriend appreciate your taste in music and
improve your chances of getting laid. They also create the musical nest for
some of Zakk’s best solos in years. This makes for a nice combination:
songsyou can air guitar to and bone your girlfriend to (yes, I know it’s a
dangling participle).
The regular album has eleven tracks; the bonus
edition offers two more tracks. Nine bone crushing tunes cushioned by four
smooth gulps of fire water. I listened to the last notes of “Nomad” (the
bonus album’s closer) fade and noticed my anxiety was gone. Then, I smiled.
That stinky, smarmy bastard had pulled me back into the fold of the faithful
and had repaid me for UNBLACKENED’s abominations
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