Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted was gone from the public eye after his adventures with Voivod as he chose to focus on a career as a painter. In December 2012 he suddenly emerged from the shadows with a new band and a new EP in tow. Fast forward to the present day because Jason is about to release his first studio full length under the Newsted moniker.
Heavy Metal Music is pretty much a continuation of the what Jason Newsted and musical partners in crime showed on the Metal EP, namely hard driven straightforward metal with a lot of nods to Jason’s early thrash metal roots. The passion and sincerity are palpable and the album has better songs and more ideas than the last three Metallica albums combined. Jason sings his guts off and the other three members, including Staind guitarist Mike Mushok, are on fire as well.
However, a ton of energy and passion doesn’t necessarily make for really memorable songs. Granted, ‘Heroic Dose’, ‘Ampossible’, ‘King Of The Underdogs’ and ‘Twisted Tail Of The Comet’ have their own distinct charm, but many songs on the album simply don’t stick. There are no truly memorable hooks, album-of-the-year type guitar solos or any other elements that could make Heavy Metal Music a true stand out release in the monthly ocean of metal releases.
Jason Newsted’s position as one of metal’s most iconic bass players will not be tarnished by the release of Heavy Metal Music and it’s really thrilling to have him back on stage with a new project/band. If he really wants to make a massive impact he and his band should really step up in terms of overall songwriting. Heavy Metal Music is a spirited release and it has its moments, but at the same time it doesn’t make me rush to the nearest record shop and pick up a copy.
6.5/10
Raymond Westland