Drowning Pool - Resilience
Drowning Pool have had their fair share of ups and downs in their career, from their success with debut album Sinner and Desensitized, to the untimely and tragic death of original front man Dave Williams. Despite all of the problems and line-up changes, Drowning Pool have continued to remain a force to be reckoned with on the nu-metal scene, offering up their own hard hitting take on groove orientated metal, full to the brim with catchy riffs, hooks, and vocals that are sure to get you chanting along.
Following the departure of Ryan McCombs of SOiL, the band recruited Jasen Moreno on vocals and are now primed to release their latest record, Resilience, on the 8th of April 2013. With an album title that reflects the bands ability to stand the test of time, keep producing music, and keep their fans happy and wanting more, this promises to be an album which once again secures the band a slot amongst the heavy weights of the world metal scene. Speaking to Stevie from the band, he himself said ‘all is going well. We have a singer we dig and made a CD we love…you can’t ask for more’, showing the good place the band are currently in.
We were sent through a copy of Resilience to check out recently and seeing as I’d already heard so many good things about the record, I was looking forward to checking out what was on offer from Resilience and their new singer!
As Anytime Anyplace kicks the album into being it’s clear that Drowning Pool are back, they’re re-energised and they’re ready to take on the world again. Gravelly vocals work with bass heavy rhythms and seriously chunky riffs to form a sound which is fast paced, heavy, in your face and of course, unmistakeably Drowning Pool. Those catchy chorus lines are back, those awesome riffs are back, that serious sense of groove orientated distortion is at the forefront of the mix and what’s that? An almighty guitar solo – in short, the opening moments here aren’t just awesome, they’re quite simply mighty.
Continuing into Die For Nothing the bass heavy rhythms continue, launching into being with a roar of ‘now’ before unleashing the full fury of the band to produce another track which pushes the boundaries of things to a whole new level. Catchy, powerful, distorted and a sure sign that this is a band with a whole new outlook on life, music and existence, this track has classic written all over it, potentially stepping up as a potential new favourite to take over the reins from ‘Bodies’. Continuing to stick on a high we’re presented with One Finger And A Fist next, offering up a slice of pure ‘Sinner’-esque metal and returning to the bands roots once again. Heavy and packed with hooks that are going to have crowds chanting along, this is another moment on the album which is going to make you sit up, take notice and know that you need to get out to see them on the live scene – if you’re not chanting along to ‘one finger and a fist’ after just one listen then simply, there’s something wrong!
Moving through the powerhouse that is Digging These Holes, the almighty Saturday Night and the dark and mysterious Low Crawl, track after track seems to simply flow out of the speakers, each one presenting a new insight into the new workings of the band and the message behind this record. It’s no surprise then that the high octane momentum continues through Life Of Misery and Broken Again, but it’s when Understand comes about that once again we reach another serious high point. Hammering drums mix with bass heavy rhythms to form a track which sounds reminiscent of ‘Step Up’ at some moments, and yet a chilled out ballad at other times – it’s a clever mix and one which is sure to captivate anyone who hears it. Even going so far as to throw in a catchy chorus once again, this track is sure to rapidly become a live favourite, and a moment that people are going to come back to time and time again – to summarise in one word – awesome.
Pushing through the straight up rawness of Bleed With You (VX Up) which once again raises the bar for catchiness, we’re soon led onto Skip To The End, a track which Stevie himself said was based on advice given to him by his father, and a track which once again manages to tread that thin line between power and melody with aplomb. A catchy chorus focused around ‘all I want from life is to skip to the end’ and we’re presented with yet another contender for track of the album, once again demonstrating just how focused Drowning Pool are with their return.
In Memory Of is a marked change, pulling back from the hard hitting edge and presenting us with a far more emotionally charged track designed to allow you to reflect and take a moment to remember those who have sadly left us. There are bound to be those who suggest that this is written in memory of the late and great Dave Williams, and if it is, well, it’s a fitting tribute to one hell of a musician. Hard hitting, powerful, melodic and full of emotional lyrics, this is one to simply sit back and listen to, allow it to flow over you and take on board the message the band are giving you.
Closing with Blindfold the guys save one final hurrah for the end, offering up another track designed to continue the legacy of Drowning Pool in fitting form, hammering towards the closing of the record at breakneck speed and not allowing you the opportunity to forget what they’re all about – pure unadulterated power – and it sounds damned good to me!
There are also two bonus tracks in the form of Apathetic and One Way Prophecy , both of which hark back to the likes of ‘Think’ from Desensitized, but still manage to push forward the sound of the band without too much looking back…two bonus tracks that would have easily sat comfortably on this album for sure.
Interestingly, when we interviewed Stevie a while back and asked whether there were any tracks he was particularly proud of he said ‘If it were not for some electronic noises we added in the background, ‘One Finger And A Fist’ would be exactly like something off the Sinner CD. Also a song called ‘Skip To The End’ because the lyrics are taken from advice my father used to give me all the time’, and whilst I agree that they’re both damned quality tracks, with an album of this calibre it’s hard to pick one or two out as particular favourites. From start to finish this is a record which continues the legacy of Drowning Pool, pushes the boundaries of their sound and reminds you why you first fell in love with them. Jasen fits as if he’s been in the band his entire life, and the result is a well put together cohesive record from start to finish.
I don’t recommend that you listen to this record, I demand that you listen to it – it’s that simple.
To find out more about Drowning Pool, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Check out our interview with Stevie below.
Words: Dave Nicholls.
Following the departure of Ryan McCombs of SOiL, the band recruited Jasen Moreno on vocals and are now primed to release their latest record, Resilience, on the 8th of April 2013. With an album title that reflects the bands ability to stand the test of time, keep producing music, and keep their fans happy and wanting more, this promises to be an album which once again secures the band a slot amongst the heavy weights of the world metal scene. Speaking to Stevie from the band, he himself said ‘all is going well. We have a singer we dig and made a CD we love…you can’t ask for more’, showing the good place the band are currently in.
We were sent through a copy of Resilience to check out recently and seeing as I’d already heard so many good things about the record, I was looking forward to checking out what was on offer from Resilience and their new singer!
As Anytime Anyplace kicks the album into being it’s clear that Drowning Pool are back, they’re re-energised and they’re ready to take on the world again. Gravelly vocals work with bass heavy rhythms and seriously chunky riffs to form a sound which is fast paced, heavy, in your face and of course, unmistakeably Drowning Pool. Those catchy chorus lines are back, those awesome riffs are back, that serious sense of groove orientated distortion is at the forefront of the mix and what’s that? An almighty guitar solo – in short, the opening moments here aren’t just awesome, they’re quite simply mighty.
Continuing into Die For Nothing the bass heavy rhythms continue, launching into being with a roar of ‘now’ before unleashing the full fury of the band to produce another track which pushes the boundaries of things to a whole new level. Catchy, powerful, distorted and a sure sign that this is a band with a whole new outlook on life, music and existence, this track has classic written all over it, potentially stepping up as a potential new favourite to take over the reins from ‘Bodies’. Continuing to stick on a high we’re presented with One Finger And A Fist next, offering up a slice of pure ‘Sinner’-esque metal and returning to the bands roots once again. Heavy and packed with hooks that are going to have crowds chanting along, this is another moment on the album which is going to make you sit up, take notice and know that you need to get out to see them on the live scene – if you’re not chanting along to ‘one finger and a fist’ after just one listen then simply, there’s something wrong!
Moving through the powerhouse that is Digging These Holes, the almighty Saturday Night and the dark and mysterious Low Crawl, track after track seems to simply flow out of the speakers, each one presenting a new insight into the new workings of the band and the message behind this record. It’s no surprise then that the high octane momentum continues through Life Of Misery and Broken Again, but it’s when Understand comes about that once again we reach another serious high point. Hammering drums mix with bass heavy rhythms to form a track which sounds reminiscent of ‘Step Up’ at some moments, and yet a chilled out ballad at other times – it’s a clever mix and one which is sure to captivate anyone who hears it. Even going so far as to throw in a catchy chorus once again, this track is sure to rapidly become a live favourite, and a moment that people are going to come back to time and time again – to summarise in one word – awesome.
Pushing through the straight up rawness of Bleed With You (VX Up) which once again raises the bar for catchiness, we’re soon led onto Skip To The End, a track which Stevie himself said was based on advice given to him by his father, and a track which once again manages to tread that thin line between power and melody with aplomb. A catchy chorus focused around ‘all I want from life is to skip to the end’ and we’re presented with yet another contender for track of the album, once again demonstrating just how focused Drowning Pool are with their return.
In Memory Of is a marked change, pulling back from the hard hitting edge and presenting us with a far more emotionally charged track designed to allow you to reflect and take a moment to remember those who have sadly left us. There are bound to be those who suggest that this is written in memory of the late and great Dave Williams, and if it is, well, it’s a fitting tribute to one hell of a musician. Hard hitting, powerful, melodic and full of emotional lyrics, this is one to simply sit back and listen to, allow it to flow over you and take on board the message the band are giving you.
Closing with Blindfold the guys save one final hurrah for the end, offering up another track designed to continue the legacy of Drowning Pool in fitting form, hammering towards the closing of the record at breakneck speed and not allowing you the opportunity to forget what they’re all about – pure unadulterated power – and it sounds damned good to me!
There are also two bonus tracks in the form of Apathetic and One Way Prophecy , both of which hark back to the likes of ‘Think’ from Desensitized, but still manage to push forward the sound of the band without too much looking back…two bonus tracks that would have easily sat comfortably on this album for sure.
Interestingly, when we interviewed Stevie a while back and asked whether there were any tracks he was particularly proud of he said ‘If it were not for some electronic noises we added in the background, ‘One Finger And A Fist’ would be exactly like something off the Sinner CD. Also a song called ‘Skip To The End’ because the lyrics are taken from advice my father used to give me all the time’, and whilst I agree that they’re both damned quality tracks, with an album of this calibre it’s hard to pick one or two out as particular favourites. From start to finish this is a record which continues the legacy of Drowning Pool, pushes the boundaries of their sound and reminds you why you first fell in love with them. Jasen fits as if he’s been in the band his entire life, and the result is a well put together cohesive record from start to finish.
I don’t recommend that you listen to this record, I demand that you listen to it – it’s that simple.
To find out more about Drowning Pool, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Check out our interview with Stevie below.
Words: Dave Nicholls.
Drowning Pool - Interview
So Stevie Benton from Drowning Pool was kind enough to answer some questions for us before the start of their UK tour - so who were we to say no when we got the chance to share his responses with you!
1). So guys, new album and a new singer – how is the world of Drowning Pool looking right now?
All is going well. We have a singer we dig and made a CD we love. We’ve been on the road for a couple of weeks now and all the shows have been rockin’. You can’t ask for more…..
2). Do you think your sound has developed over the years you’ve been going, or are you sticking to a ‘tried and tested’ method?
Each singer has strong and weak points. So you learn to construct songs to highlight the strengths. Jasen is much more similar to Dave in both range and tone than the previous guys. So, you could say that on this CD, we were able to go back to the “tried and tested” method.
3). You’re hitting the UK in April for what’s looking like a hell of a tour, are you looking forward to getting back over to these shores?
We can’t wait! It has been waaaaay too long.
4). Looking at the venues you’re playing, they’re all smaller, more intimate venues – do you prefer playing this sort of venue to playing the larger festivals?
Honestly love both. You get to stand up there and rock out with your buddies. It’s a blast whether you are doing it in front of 20 or 20 thousand people.
5). What can we expect from the upcoming tour? New stuff or a mix of everything?
It’s a mix. A number of songs off Sinner that we haven’t played since Dave passed away, a couple of tunes off the following records, and several new tunes. As people become familiar with the new material, we will play more and more of it live.
6). You’ve been touring the US, then you’ve got the UK and then Europe, have you got any plans for any festival appearances this summer or is it going to be time for some r&r?
No time to rest when you’ve got a new CD coming out. We will be anywhere and everywhere.
7). So the new album, Resilience, how has it been writing with Jasen on vocals?
It’s been almost too easy. There’s nothing the guy can’t pull off. There’s no crazy idea that you can throw at him that he can’t nail. And as far as his own writing goes, the guy is like a one man band.
8). When can we expect the new album to be released?
US release is April 9th. I’d expect the UK release to be soon after. (Note - album will be released in the UK on April 1st).
9). Are there any tracks that you’re particularly proud of on Resilience?
If it were not for some electronic noises we added in the background, “One Finger and a Fist” would be exactly like something off the Sinner CD. Also, a song called “Skip to the End” because the lyrics are taken from advice my father used to give me all the time.
10). The track ‘Bodies’ is a metal classic or sorts, how did that track come about in the first place?
While we were still a local band in Dallas, people would come see us in bars and just go crazy. Moshing and stage diving. “Bodies” is about all the craziness going on from Dave’s perspective as the eye of the storm.
11). All too often people try and pigeon hole music into a specific genre or style – how would you guys describe your music?
That’s really tough. I’m not much for categories or titles. I’d just call us rock or metal. People who aren’t fans of the band, often label us as Nu-metal, as if that is supposed to be a slam. But it’s fine by me.
12). Finally, I’m sure people are going to want to get down to the tour to check things out, if you could share one message with the world, what would it be?
Keep it fuckin’ evil !!!!
Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for us guys!
Thanks bro!
A huge thanks to Stevie for taking the time to answer some questions for us, we'll be bringing you a review of the guys when they hit Plymouth just as soon as we've calmed down after the gig!
Make sure you check out Drowning Pool whilst they're over here on tour - dates below!
Dave Nicholls
1). So guys, new album and a new singer – how is the world of Drowning Pool looking right now?
All is going well. We have a singer we dig and made a CD we love. We’ve been on the road for a couple of weeks now and all the shows have been rockin’. You can’t ask for more…..
2). Do you think your sound has developed over the years you’ve been going, or are you sticking to a ‘tried and tested’ method?
Each singer has strong and weak points. So you learn to construct songs to highlight the strengths. Jasen is much more similar to Dave in both range and tone than the previous guys. So, you could say that on this CD, we were able to go back to the “tried and tested” method.
3). You’re hitting the UK in April for what’s looking like a hell of a tour, are you looking forward to getting back over to these shores?
We can’t wait! It has been waaaaay too long.
4). Looking at the venues you’re playing, they’re all smaller, more intimate venues – do you prefer playing this sort of venue to playing the larger festivals?
Honestly love both. You get to stand up there and rock out with your buddies. It’s a blast whether you are doing it in front of 20 or 20 thousand people.
5). What can we expect from the upcoming tour? New stuff or a mix of everything?
It’s a mix. A number of songs off Sinner that we haven’t played since Dave passed away, a couple of tunes off the following records, and several new tunes. As people become familiar with the new material, we will play more and more of it live.
6). You’ve been touring the US, then you’ve got the UK and then Europe, have you got any plans for any festival appearances this summer or is it going to be time for some r&r?
No time to rest when you’ve got a new CD coming out. We will be anywhere and everywhere.
7). So the new album, Resilience, how has it been writing with Jasen on vocals?
It’s been almost too easy. There’s nothing the guy can’t pull off. There’s no crazy idea that you can throw at him that he can’t nail. And as far as his own writing goes, the guy is like a one man band.
8). When can we expect the new album to be released?
US release is April 9th. I’d expect the UK release to be soon after. (Note - album will be released in the UK on April 1st).
9). Are there any tracks that you’re particularly proud of on Resilience?
If it were not for some electronic noises we added in the background, “One Finger and a Fist” would be exactly like something off the Sinner CD. Also, a song called “Skip to the End” because the lyrics are taken from advice my father used to give me all the time.
10). The track ‘Bodies’ is a metal classic or sorts, how did that track come about in the first place?
While we were still a local band in Dallas, people would come see us in bars and just go crazy. Moshing and stage diving. “Bodies” is about all the craziness going on from Dave’s perspective as the eye of the storm.
11). All too often people try and pigeon hole music into a specific genre or style – how would you guys describe your music?
That’s really tough. I’m not much for categories or titles. I’d just call us rock or metal. People who aren’t fans of the band, often label us as Nu-metal, as if that is supposed to be a slam. But it’s fine by me.
12). Finally, I’m sure people are going to want to get down to the tour to check things out, if you could share one message with the world, what would it be?
Keep it fuckin’ evil !!!!
Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for us guys!
Thanks bro!
A huge thanks to Stevie for taking the time to answer some questions for us, we'll be bringing you a review of the guys when they hit Plymouth just as soon as we've calmed down after the gig!
Make sure you check out Drowning Pool whilst they're over here on tour - dates below!
Dave Nicholls
Drowning Pool Tour
There aren't many bands out there who can say they've toured the likes of Kuwait, Iraq, Korea and Guantanamo Bay, played Crue Fest and OZZfest and shared bills with the likes of Motley Crue, Papa Roach, Ozzy Osbourne and System Of A Down - but that's exactly what you get with platinum selling Drowning Pool.
Now back with new singer Jasen Moreno, and working on their fifth studio album (yet to be titled), the guys are more focused, more fiery and more fierce than ever before - so what better time to get out there to check them out on the road. Due to be hitting the UK along with Chris Jericho's Fozzy and Welsh titans Revoker in April, this promises to be a tour which you can't afford to miss, giving fans the chance to witness classic tracks like Step Up and Bodies, and the bands new single One Finger And A Fist as they were intended to be - live, powerful, in your face, and unforgettable.
Now back with new singer Jasen Moreno, and working on their fifth studio album (yet to be titled), the guys are more focused, more fiery and more fierce than ever before - so what better time to get out there to check them out on the road. Due to be hitting the UK along with Chris Jericho's Fozzy and Welsh titans Revoker in April, this promises to be a tour which you can't afford to miss, giving fans the chance to witness classic tracks like Step Up and Bodies, and the bands new single One Finger And A Fist as they were intended to be - live, powerful, in your face, and unforgettable.
Tour dates are (April 2013):
To find out more about Drowning Pool and the upcoming tour, make sure you check out their website HERE. Make sure you check out their video for Saturday Night. |
|
See you in the pit.
To find out more about Drowning Pool, check out their Facebook page HERE.
To find out more about Fozzy, check out their Facebook page HERE.
To find out more about Revoker, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
To find out more about Drowning Pool, check out their Facebook page HERE.
To find out more about Fozzy, check out their Facebook page HERE.
To find out more about Revoker, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls