Heavy metal is very much alive and doing well thanks to the likes of these guys who have come up with easily their best offering to date. The Oracle shows a band that has been around the bend and draws upon that experience to make an album which is hard to not relate to. Hitting upon many darker subjects they approach each with such venom that it takes the gravely delivery of Sully Erna to vocalize this edgy heavy metal classic. He can be the nasty dude as in "Cryin' Like A Bitch!" or he can become the retrospective thinker as with "Good Day To Die". He has been compared to Layne Staley and James Hetfield and this album will only intensify those feelings.
It has been four years since the last studio release by the band and I would have to say it was worth the wait. While I felt that their previous albums were good, I never expected the fantastic musical treat that is presented here. On this disc you get plenty of old style heavy metal anthems with a modern twist. Think of a mash up of Metallica, Alice In Chains and throw in a good dose of Steppenwolf for good measure. No matter how you slice it, this is an album that is high quality from start to finish. Pure electric, head banging, good time metal from start to end which is something you don't see too often.
The main dilemma you are going to have is which version to buy. The standard disc has ten cuts while the special edition has a DVD on the making of the album along with two additional songs. The two songs added are as good as what is on the regular disc and make it worth the price. The DVD is OK for that sort of thing but it is not something you are going to watch very often. You might be better off buying it online where you can get the original with the two extra songs. I bought the special edition but wish that all the music was on one disc.
This one is a no brainer for any heavy metal fan. It will have you pumping the fist and using whatever utensil is handy for a microphone. This is one that I will have two copies of so there is always one in the truck and at home.
Track listing:
1. Cryin' Like A Bitch
2. Saints And Sinners
3. War And Peace
4. Love-Hate-Sex-Pain
5. What If?
6. Devils Swing
7. Good Day To Die
8. Forever Shamed
9. Shadow Of A Soul
10. The Oracle
11. Whisky Hangover (special edition bonus track)
12. I Blame You (special edition bonus track)
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