Music Review: Hellyeah - Hellyeah - Page 2

Hellyeah really has me torn. On one hand, the album is a lot of fun, some good hard rock grooves, some great drumming, and some good vocals. On the other hand, there really isn't anything all that groundbreaking, it could have used some soloing, and while the Pantera meets Mudvayne sound works at some points, others just sound out of place, especially when the pace slows. It is like one of those mash-up experiments gone awry, someone down in the lab thought it was a good idea, but when they put it all together the result was something of a Frankenstein monster. It is a little Jeckyll and Hyde, as the two chosen flavors would blend in a near perfect union at some junctures, while wildly diverging at others.

While not always in perfect union, Vinnie Paul and Chad Gray are the anchors of the album. Vinnie's drumming is thundering, precise, varied, and sounds incredible. Likewise, Chad Gray's singing is strong throughout, and even better than the last time I listened to Mudvayne, which has been awhile. It is a weird experience, as they both sound excellent, although not always excellent together.

In the end, this is a strong heavy hard rock album that with a little better cohesion could have gone to the next level. I would be remiss if I didn't say something about the band name. I have a response to it: "What?" It is one of the weakest names for a band I have encountered yet, as a song title, and even an album title it works, but a band name? Not so good.

Bottomline. This one falls squarely in the middle. It is a good album to put in, crank up, and rock to, but if you are looking for something a little deeper, a little more experimental or edgy, you would be best served to look elsewhere. If you are a fan of Paul or Gray, definitely seek this out, but keep your expectations in check. Let this one wash over you without thinking too hard about it.

Recommended.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

Visit Chris Beaumont's author page — Chris Beaumont's Blog