Godsmack

Godsmack is the major-label debut by Godsmack, formed near Boston, Massachusetts. The band had self-released All Wound Up... in 1997, and after signing with Universal, this record reworked it with a remix and added tracks. Mudrock (Andrew Murdock) produced. Sully Erna's low, powerful singing, Tony Rombola's guitar, Robbie Merrill's bass and Tommy Stewart's drums sound a dark, heavy modern hard rock recalling Alice in Chains and Metallica. "Whatever" is an early signature song that caught fire through Boston radio, and "Keep Away," "Voodoo" and "Bad Religion" carry intense hooks too. A sound taking in occult imagery and tribal rhythms held a distinct presence at the height of the nu-metal era. On the back of long touring and radio support, the album reached multi-platinum and pushed the band to national reach. Raw yet highly addictive, it is a firm starting point.