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While Ozzy Osbourne seems to be on an indefinite hiatus, guitarist Zakk Wylde seems to be moving from strength to strength with the release of his eighth solo release, and sixth under his bands name Black Label Society.
His previous release, 2003’s The Blessed Hellride, was a straight up over the top full on heavy rock affair. Hangover Music Vol. VI however is something different altogether.
Essentially, Wylde has taken a stripped back approach with his new material with songs that could have easily fitted on 1996’s Book Of Shadows (Released under his own name). Having said that, there’s more than enough heaviness here that at times to bridge the gap between his heavier nature and sensitive sides, making Hangover Music Vol. VI something of an introspective rocker of sorts, with extrovert tendencies at times.
Joining Wylde this time around are various members of The Black Label Society chapters such as bassists James Lomenzo, John Deservio and Mike Inez (Ex-Alice In Chains/Ozzy Osbourne) and drummers Craig Nunenmacher (Ex-Crowbar) and John Tempesta (Rob Zombie/Helmet).
‘Crazy Or High’ starts off innocently enough with the gentle strands of a simple acoustic beginning, but it isn’t long before the middle section kicks off with a climatic electric solo, only to end things off where it all began with minimal input from the electric influences.
‘Queen Of Sorrow’ and ‘Steppin Stone’ start off in the same direction as the opener, but soon flare up with plenty of guitars from Wylde, while maintaining somewhat of a sedate nature both from the musical and lyrical standpoints, while the Beatle’s influenced duo of ‘Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow’ and the first single ‘House Of Doom’ are pure magic with Wylde’s piano and acoustic finesse taking over the central focus.
The short acoustic flamenco tinged shred of ‘Takillya (Estyabon)’ segues into the stunning ‘Won’t Find It Here’, which is without a doubt one of the albums real stunning high points.
The country tinged ‘She Deserves A Free Ride (Val’s Song)’ and ‘Woman Don’t Cry’ are perhaps spread a little thin structure wise (Even if Wylde is the king of straight forward song writing), but it’s soon made up with the anthem like ‘Damage Is Done’ and the touching tribute to the late Alice In Chain’s vocalist ‘Layne’ (Staley) and ‘No Other’.
The cover of Procol Harum’s ‘Whiter Shade Of Pale’ is well done, and fits in nicely with the albums direction, while ‘Once More’ and the classic ‘Fear’ see Wylde’s expansive collection of emotionally driven songs complete Hangover Music Vol. VI.
As good as this album is, it still doesn’t quite manage to surpass Book Of Shadows in diversity and consistency of songs. But then when you’re putting Wylde’s depth and quality of music and songs against most other artists around at the moment, this really is another great release from a man who’s all about quality rather than press coverage. Related Links:
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