Newsted, the new metal project featuring former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted, has dropped their first full-length album. Titled Heavy Metal Music, it feels like Newsted (the man), was trying to envision the album Metallica could have followed the “Black” album with. Incorporating aspects of And Justice For All era Metallica, with the band’s Jason Newsted has worked with since leaving the metal giants, Heavy Metal Music is a mix between hard rock, ala the “Black” album, and the pure thrash of Newsted’s other work with Flotsam & Jetsam and Voivod.
The impact of this record will vary according to your love of the thrash genre. Riff is king here. Whether penned entirely by Jason Newsted, or with input from his band, Heavy Metal Music cracks the riff-whip hard. This is head-banging music, old school style. The kind that inspires you to cut the sleeves off a jean jacket, then adorn the back with a Motorhead patch. You want eighties thrash? BAM!! You got eighties thrash.
“Heroic Dose” is a killer opening jam. A bass heavy rock monster, fully charged by Jason Newsted’s thick low end. “Soldierhead” brings in the Motorhead speed, while “As The Crow Flies” is all grimy groove. “Long Time Dead” also takes its direction from Motorhead, but folds in generous helpings of Among The Living era Anthrax. “King Of The Underdogs” is full on Metallica. Not just the structure and the riff, but also the sing-along chorus, which is worthy of any arena show.
While some tracks produce head banging, others produce eye rolling. “Ampossible”, the first single off HMM, is laughable. Between the cheese-ball riff, and Newsted’s lyrics, the track comes across like a sketch comedy act pretending to be a “metal” band. “Nocturnus” can’t decide if it wants to be a metal ballad, or an obvious homage to Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man”. “Twisted Tale Of The Comet” is another clunker. Clearly inspired by Jason Newsted’s time with Voivod, it proves that only Voivod can be Voivod.
Then there’s the disconnect. None of the songs give Newsted a signature sound. You can’t identify where the band comes in, beyond their influences. As Heavy Metal Music draws to a close, there’s more an air of a cool mix-tape, than a band’s debut album. Another issue is where heavy metal is as a genre in 2013. No longer is there the easy split between “Hair Metal” and “Thrash”. Too many subgenres have popped up. In 2013, a record like Heavy Metal Music sounds out-of-touch. It might not be your grandpa’s rock n roll, but it is your Uncle’s metal, and while you thought he was cool when you were in junior high, you’ve completely outgrown him now.
Song to song, I enjoyed Heavy Metal Music, but I doubt I’ll ever listen to it again, bringing me back to my original point. Do you love simple thrash? Were you hungry for something beyond And Justice For All? Does metal stop for you after 1986? If so, you should be able to ignore the disconnect of Heavy Metal Music, and head bang your way into oblivion. For me, I have no use for new bands recreating that sound. Why dig on Newsted, when I have Death Angel, Forbidden and Exodus?
With all its flaws, Heavy Metal Music is still better than anything Metallica has put out in the last twenty years. Newsted have that going for them, which is nice.
