Entertainment

Andrew’s Judgmental Album Reviews: Godsmack – Lighting Up The Sky (2023)

Rumored as Godsmack’s final studio album, do they go out with a bang or a whimper?

Published

2 years ago

March 5, 2023

Most people who follow wrestling have an idea who Godsmack is. Between WWE using their songs for SummerSlam 2006 and Super Showdown 2020, The Enemy was also in Smackdown vs Raw 2007. That’s also overlooking the whole Scorpion King movie helping to vault them further into mainstream with I Stand Alone.

There we go, a fairly well known band with a new album for the first time in 5 years. Lets see if they return to any semblance of their older sound that put them on the map, or if we continue with “Dad Rock” staples. Also apparently, Sully said in an interview this is most likely Godsmack’s last original studio album. So that adds a level of excitement for me to see exactly what kind of impression they leave us with.

Let’s dive into Godsmack’s potentially final original studio album!

Godsmack is: Sully Erna (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Percussion), Tony Rombola (Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals), Robbie Merrill ( Bass, Backing Vocals), Shannon Larkin (Drums, Percussion)

Artist: Godsmack
Album: Lighting Up The Sky
Label: BMG Rights Management
Total Track Time: 49:31

You and I is a surprisingly sweet song basically about taking on the world together. Musically and even a few lyrical sprinkles give that bluesy ZZ Top vibe. While this doesn’t have the ferocity I was expecting for the first song, its very cool, it builds well and sets an interesting tone. Red, White & Blue well okay…they are from Massachusetts right? SO this makes sense. It’s a faster tempo, Stone Temple Pilots, style of groovy rock. Now the lyrics are interesting because they’re obviously about the last few years of lies, fear and anger; but the crux is standing by the red, white & blue. So its surprisingly patriotic. Its self aware enough to point out short comings, but still stand firm on pride. Which I can respect. Surrender starts with a riff that is going to annoy the hell out of me because it sounds so much like another one. But I can’t find it. It has a distinct early 00s distorted flair that made me think Trapt or TRUSTcompany. But aside from being driven crazy by an ear worm, the song is actually quite catchy and has enough of the Godsmack heaviness to not feel like a complete slice of radio rock mediocrity. What About Me okay well this is a song I definitely relate to lyrically more than I’d like. That classic feeling of putting yourself out there for other people and/or other things and getting nothing in return. It has a building tempo so it gets more and more frustrated, which I appreciate. “So where’s my resolution? And where’s my better days?, All my life I’ve given up everything, So what about me?, What about me?”.

Truth is their first piano ballad that really captured me since Serenity. This is a fantastic depiction of a toxic relationship, from the side of the person trying to fix it regardless of the uphill battle. Great imagery in the lyrics, a pain and desperation in the arrangement…just a nearly perfect dark ballad. Hell’s Not Dead is one of those songs where I personally don’t feel the music matches the lyrics. I get the whole “Hell’s not dead, it’s what I’m living in”, but this has far too much of a bar fight musical tone. Its a bit more up-tempo than I’d like, which is probably because of the heaviness of the tone from the last few songs, they wanted more rebellious. I just don’t think it quite blends well. Soul on Fire doesn’t really seem to contain a lot of subtlety in the lyrics. Its definitely a story of really wanting the object of affection for the song. The faster tempo works here for the attraction and adrenaline rush concepts, so its a fun song with a very apt arrangement. Is it mostly radio rock? Yes. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. Let’s Go has a nice rhythm driven groove with a great drum beat, and also gives the vibe of this being their last non-Greatest Hits album. “Let’s go, With so many miles behind me, Let’s go, This road is winding down around my neck, I’m played out in so many ways, I paid all my dues so I’ll be ok, Let’s go, This road has finally drowned me” – lyrically they’ve reached the end of the road, now I just have to hope the album sticks the landing or I’ll probably be questioning why this was 8th and not last.

Best of Times tries to start off with the slower echoed vocal similar to Voodoo. Lyrically its really just a love letter/giant thank you to the fans. Still throwing in some lines about closing the chapter, so it’s an interesting concept. While the song itself bores me a bit, they tried to tap back into the older sound to say thank you. So I appreciate the artistic stretch, the song is just very average to me. Growing Old is again a title that doesn’t lend to a lot of questions. The lyrics could be directly in reference to missing time with a child, but its a nearly country western take on growing old. The pace is building and filled with darkness, its just very nicely done all things considered. Lighting Up The Sky actually kicks off with the final few riffs of Growing Old, so the transition is a little unexpected. The refrain instrumentation is a little quicker than the verses, but that also works well for the contrast of looking back on life. “Lighting up the sky, Burning through a life, If I had only known, When I was so young, Never taking time, Never take it slow, But would I be alive, Or would I ever know, If I wasn’t lighting up the sky?” – with the last few songs all having a similar tone of coming to an end and growing old; this one being a retrospective to end on a high note is a cool concept. The song itself even ends with a few samples of their classic songs.

Now I’ll immediately lead with, I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would. Probably my favorite album of theirs since Faceless (2003). I still have a few issues with not liking some of the arrangements/presentation, but generally speaking its a pretty solid album. They definitely don’t really have much of that edgy Nu Metal/Alternative Metal vibes they did 20 years ago, but people mature. This felt like a logical progression for their entire sound and laid things to rest without many questions.

So if this really is their final studio album, I think they did right by everything. A little bit of aggression found its way in, bluesy rock, a great dark piano ballad and the last few songs said thank you or made amends to many different facets of the journey. The whole album being more of a love letter to their career is an interesting take, but I’m here for it. Good stuff Godsmack.

Final Judgment: 8.15/10

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Entertainment

Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (4/10/25)

It’s gonna be May!

Published

2 weeks ago

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Steven Mitchell

There’s been a slight change in the forecast…

There may not be a storm on the horizon, but when Wrestling Is Life, every day is unpredictable! What does HPW have planned for May Day?

HPW prepares for the storm ahead…

Blood & Thunder still beckons, and the Faces of Evil need to defend their HPW World Trios Championships. Therefore, Wrestling Is Life will see two qualifying trios matches! After the controversial nature of losing the titles at HyruleMania, Arrow Club is given a spot in these qualifiers. And they will be facing familiar foes in TSDQ! The Studly Don’t Quit, but will they make it through to ThunderStruck? As for the second qualifier, Los Taros Locos will return in hopes of stampeding up to the top of HPW, but they’ll be up against quite the mysterious team. Cia represents the OG Dark Forces expelled from the group, and she’ll bring her sister, Lana, with her!

But who is their third partner? They didn’t name them, so who could it be? Volga? Kevin Gibdo? Or even Wizzro? Will keeping it an unknown be the key to winning?

Igos du Ikana speaks.

From inside his shadowy throne room, The Ruler of Ruin looks at the HPW Death Mountain Championship on a pedestal. “The HPW Death Mountain Championship. A championship created not just to commemorate one of Hyrule’s greatest landmarks, but also to commemorate one of Hyrule’s greatest wrestling promotions. Death Mountain Wrestling was a vital part of wrestling history, where legends would pave the way for a new generation, and inspire many more. Not unlike Termina Championship Wrestling.”

Igos walks past the pedestal to look to a trophy case. Igos looks to his copy of the classic TCW Championship, and even of the High Noon Championship. There are also poster sized pictures of Igos’ greatest moments, such as the first time he won the TCW title, and the last time he held it while TCW was still active. Igos continues by saying, “I say this not because you don’t know. Of course you know this. I say this so that you might understand. I say this because I need you to understand. You have great aspirations, and strong ambition, but I don’t think you understand what you’re attempting to achieve.

“You stand at the foot of a mountain, it’s shadow upon you. That mountain’s name is legacy. You want to climb the mountain. You want to reach the top and plant your own flag at the summit. You want everyone to see you, to look up to you, to acknowledge you. But this climb is more challenging than you know. This climb is more challenging than you can handle. These belts may only be ten pounds, but they weigh so much more once you put them on. You are not ready for the climb. You are not ready to carry that weight. You are not ready to push yourself, step after step, inch after inch, as the mountain only grows steeper and steeper. And you never will be.

“So I tell you this not because you do not know. I tell you this so that you may understand. You must turn back now, find another path forward, before it is too late. Before you fall… to ruin.” It is clear who this message is for, but will young Yunobo heed this grizzled warrior’s warning?

HPW Deep Dive: Wisdom VS Power.

The Princess of Hyrule visits Hero of Hyrule, Link, now that he’s home from the hospital. He still needs bed rest, given everything Ganon did to him. He has bandages around his head, and his sister, Aryll, checks his stitches. 13 stitches all along the hairline. They’re holding well, no bleeding. Zelda sits with Link and holds his hand. She apologizes for what happened, but Link shakes his head. Aryll agrees, Zelda’s not to blame, Ganon and his Dark Forces are. They ruined her moment, they beat Link down, so they they have to be stopped. Ganon’s coming after the title anyway, so Zelda can get payback at the same time.

Ganon says, “Like I give a damn.” The Gerudo Ace lounges in his manor, The Dark Forces all around him. That now includes Shabonne & Tali, sporting new ensembles to reflect joining up. The Faces of Evil have their HPW World Trios Championships while Ganon has the Triforce Tournament trophy in hand. Ganon then mockingly says, “YoU dEsErVe It~! YoU dEsErVe It~!” Audio from the Triforce Anniversary event is interspliced here, as well as flashes of Zelda being emotional as she has the title belt put on.

“Isn’t it strange that Zelda takes the fall at HyruleMania, but I’m the one relegated to the tournament? And she clearly has that pointy eared little simp wrapped around her finger, or else he wouldn’t have even agreed to the match. But hey, what do I know? I only beat Link one-on-one in his first defense, then beat Zelda one-on-one in my first defense. I’m the Triple Crown Champion, I beat legends of TCW, and I’m this year’s Triforce Tournament winner. No one is more deserving of that title, of whatever title there is, than me! Isn’t that right?” The group all say, “Yeah!”

Ganon says, “The Dark Forces will be golden!” The group again shouts, “Yeah!” Ganon says, “The Dark Forces RUNS HPW!” The group again shouts, “YEAH!!” The Dark Forces all raise a glass to drink it up, while Link rests his head on Zelda’s shoulder and she rests her head on his. The Princess of Hyrule may reign, but will she fail to trump the Gerudo Ace? The countdown is on until May 1st, when Wrestling is Life!