"The oracle" CD by Godsmack

by Oliver Kube (08.07.2010) Sully Erna & Co. took their sweet time to finally present us with their fifth album! But the long wait has paid off: "The oracle" is a genuine smasher (and it really didn’t hurt that the instrumental crew, enforced by Ugly Kid Joe’s vocalist Whit Crane, has released a nice and nifty interim opus under the name of Another Animal). The opening track "Cryin’ like a bitch" blows you away with sheer force, followed by the irresistibly groovy, and pretty catchy "Saints and sinners". Several songs (check "Love-hate-sex-pain", epic "Good day to die", and "What if" - think Alice In Chains here) remind me of Godsmack’s early days and the Post Grunge feeling of that era. Well, many things do remind me of their brilliant debut way back when, in1998... Right now, the foursome delivers the best, freshest compositions since then. And that juicy, fat sound makes the boys come across extra hungry and dynamic - a perfect gem.