Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
From out of the cold realms of darkness comes something seriously fresh, an addition to realms of Metal…something new in Heavy Metal Music. Jason Newsted hasn’t sat around doing nothing since splitting apart from Metallica over a decade ago but he hasn’t quite hit the heights that he did during the period of which arguably Metallica were one of the highest rated and musically dominant groups on the planet. His tenure with the band coincided with the release of …And Justice For All and the so called Black Album/Metallica and in some respects he was the only person worth listening to during the groups torrid time between 1992 and his withdrawal at the start of the new century.
Jason’s latest way back into the rock fraternity seems to be the best yet and with Mike Mushok joining the fold after the impressive E.P. Metal and coming alongside Jessie Farnsworth, Jesus Mendez Jr. and of course Mr. Newsted, the group, cunningly taking their name from the aggressive and brilliant bass player, have the sound of four musicians chomping at the bit, ready to damage to the ever increasing reputation laid down by continental Europe in terms of who really is the king of metal.
Newsted’s Heavy Metal Music is as good, if not pleasurable introduction, to a new band and in terms of where it sits in the realms of his former band’s start in life it blows the socks off Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All as if it was nothing but a distant memory. Taking on the vocal duties as well as playing bass only enhances Newsted’s reputation. The man has certainly done wonders on this debut album by his namesake’s band and throughout it all, the gruff and demanding runs side by side by the dominantly thrilling, the spectacular whips the arse of the unruly and gives the fans a glimpse of what could come in the future.
From Heroic Dose to the challenging …As The Crow Flies, the thumping Twisted Tail of the Comet and the excellent Kindevillusion, this is Jason Newsted in the realms of guttural bass, of outspoken music ability that he showed all those years ago.
Inspired and inspiring, a fist in the air striking the heavens and with a rage against time that was lost but with the other hand firmly planted and in salute to the insurmountable talent that surrounds this superb bass player.
Heavy Metal Music is released on August 5th Via Spinefarm Records.
Ian D. Hall