Newsted - Heavy Metal Music Review
rating: 4
Release Date: August 6th 2013 There is one man that until now has been criminally underrated as a performer, a composer and a musician in general. That man is former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted; he has been overshadowed, forgotten, and to a great extent, discredited as an artist since 2000/2001. This is because of a number of small reasons, the most two most damaging are being mixed out of every Metallica recording that he "appeared on" and playing in the band during Metallica's massive slide into washout alley. This left his pre-Metallica career forgotten, and his post-Metallica career met with apathy. He was a primary member in the foundation of the Thrash band, Flotsam and Jetsam. That feat was one of the main reasons that he was allow join Metallica, it was due to his legit Thrash credentials. What followed was a criminal misuse of his skills and songwriting ability i.e. no audible bass in any Metallica tracks from 1986 on and outright bullying by band mates. All of this culminated with Newsted departing Metallica in 2000/2001 to play with Ozzy Osbourne and then the Canadian tech-Thrash icons Voivod until 2008. Echobrain, Sepultura and many others fall into this man's back catalogue. Newsted then founded Chophouse Records, and used this as his base for the Newsted music project. Led by Jason on bass and vocals, Newsted is very much a "throwback band" that embraces nearly 30 years of styles... and it is awesome! Heavy Metal Music follows on from the successful Metal EP that was launched earlier in the year. Heavy Metal Music is an odd mix; at times it sounds like the best from Load-era Metallica fused with Motorhead fashioned lyrical patterns but sped up. Rather than being a Thrash metal record, this album is unique. It has a strong groove undercurrent mixed with strong bass and drums. This combo makes the songs heavy rather than a simple down tune or gratuitous double kick drumming. One drawback for guitarists will be the fact that the guitar lines are very simplistic. In fact, they recall the sound and ethos of Motorhead, and that is the only way to describe it. If you are not into that style then this will not be for you.
However, you will soon forget this due to the most interesting part of this band, Newsteds vocal choice. His raspy, harsh semi-shouting is a perfect fit for the band. Again, if the goal is to work from the template set by Motorhead's Lemmy, then kudos. Aggression, groove and speed take priority over melodic vocals and shredding solos for this one. This is a welcome change in 2013 metal. The triad of Ampossible, As The Crow Flies and Twisted Tail Of The Comet highlight both the songwriting ability of the band leader and the reach of the band itself. All of these songs, in their own way, play around with "Black Sabbath" flavoured material. To the point of in some parts it actually sounds a little like Ghost, the modern day Black Sabbath. King Of The Underdogs is the sleeper track on Heavy Metal Music, and it is perhaps the most personal. It recalls the theme from the Megadeth songs Of Mice And Men and Something That I'm Not from The System Has Failed album. These, like Underdogs, both detail the personal issues that Dave Mustaine had within the Metallica machine, and Jasonic may be doing the same here. Newsted's trademark bass into opens up the track filled with strife and aggression. There is plenty of room for headbanging with this one, and it is also has the strongest coda on the album. It makes for a personal insight into Newsted's struggle to the top in the most metal way possible. Soldierhead (no surprise) walks away as the standout track of the lot, as it is the first Single release from Metal/Heavy Metal Music. And this is a great song, it really is: fast, fun and metal to its core. What more could you want? This song layouts out what the band wants to be, a faster and more modern Motorhead with Jason's Metallica era vocal patterns, with some stellar bass flurries. It is a clear mission statement, and none of it is bad! http://youtu.be/4kRWwxCPyjw This debut album is excellent, as it blends everything that Newsted has picked up over his vast career. With these tools Jason Newsted has smashed any questions about his credentials or skills. While Metallica slowly fade to black, Jason Newsted has proven that he is the King of the Underdogs and that he is here to stay. Buy this album. Top Songs: Soldierhead,...As the Crow Flies, King of the Underdogs and Twisted Tail of the Come. Newsted's Heavy Metal Music is out on Chophouse Records on the 6th of August.