Newsted, Heavy Metal Music (Chophouse Records)
We all know he played in Metallica and left. I think it was for the better, well looking at the bands output from is departure we all have to agree they were done.
Jason has went on to play with other bands and guesting on albums and even playing with Metallica. But this is HIS first real big product from him that time.
Take it all back to 1986 and you have where this album fits in well. If you have ever heard Jason play in Flotsam and Jetsam you have a great idea of what is going on here. But it seems to sound slower or as I prefer a more modern take on it all.
Self produced and more likely funded by him as well he really does call the shots and I do like what I hear. Opener "Heroic Dose" is fairly loose and reminds me of old death metal album sound of the early 90s. Few riffs but well done with the production being simple that the bands slowly have to get together on the song.
"Soldierhead" was out as an EP and now you have the album it fits in very well. More of the same and with Jason taking mic duties it is odd to hear him so often. His work on the album is pretty much spoken parts. But again it seems to work well. The minimal sound and riffs all blend well and I am sure this is more of a tribute to metal than any real threat to say this is the best band ever.
More of a shock is in the little parts of melody and dare I say it a tune "...As the Crow Flies" shows some nice hints of rock and still in that style started on track one. He is not for changing on this album and I think it was a great decision.
This reviewer is taken back a bit with "Long Time Dead" as it has that twin guitar thrashy style all over it. More of the punky feel to it than metal but I can see both fans enjoying this one. "Above All" reminds me of early Motorhead with the big bass intro sound, it is also just as catchy.
"King of the Underdogs" has that sound I was used to hearing from Jason, a nice little into builds into a drum and riff wall of sound. Again all in that minimal sound, it tends to be normal for an album to have many guitars tracked all over the sound but feels so much less. But it all sounds well polished and after playing for so long he knows what he is doing, having fun.
Later tracks "Nocturnus" and "Twisted Tail of the Comet" continue the album well both adding something different as each track has done. There is not too much crazy soloing on this album and the same can be said for the drums, never over the top. The name of the album could be a little tribute to Metal Machine Music that back then made so many heads turn and think it was a joke.
Funny how there could be a link to Reed but this album will sell less and get less coverage in the press. "Futureality" ends the album and for me the worst track. It is just a little bit boring, lyrics are lazy here but it is a 56 minute album so one track is ok.
The album will not be liked by many metal fans as most only want to hear the same crap over and over. This is not a Metallica album nor is it a thrash album. It is an album for music fans who like something a little different. It is not heavy or even fast but it should appeal to metal fans and I do think many outside metal will like this. I could see it working well live but I may never see that.
Jason is back and I can see why he left, simply for the music.
7/10
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