Godsmack recorded its self-titled debut for 1,500 dollars and served up a triple-platinum helping of meaty, cleverly written, pure metal. The tribal "Voodoo" was one of 2000's best singles. The first three songs of the group's sophomore effort,
Awake -- "Sick of Life," "Awake," and "Greed" -- blend together unanimously into a swirl of Tony Rambola's jackhammer guitar riffs. It's the deeper cuts that are the standout tracks. The dirgy, slow groove in "Mistakes" is hook laden. One common thread between
Godsmack and
Awake is lead singer
Sully Erna's angst-ridden lyrics. "Oh God, I'm makin' the same mistakes," he cries in "Mistakes," as Rambola's guitars encircle him. Drummer Tommy Stewart, on "Trippin'," aptly pronounces
Erna's anger in "Face down/I walk away/Every time I think I do the right thing/You turn your back on me." ~ Christina Fuoco