Godsmack

On their debut, Godsmack inject modern metal with a menacing swagger. Ill-tempered howler Sully Erna has nothing but malice for those who cross his path, while the band dish out seriously pugnacious performances. Numerous cuts, including “Moon Baby,” come encased in nu-metal samples, ominously processed vocals, and saber-toothed funk—but as “Bad Religion” proves, Godsmack frequently shift into grungy hard rock with minimal effects. The Boston bruisers also flirt with Middle Eastern sounds on “Voodoo,” which boasts Erna’s deep, sinister moan and a trance-inducing groove.

Boston's Godsmack confidently brought nu-metal rock into the technological age by seamlessly incorporating noisy hooks into a tight framework of pulsing beats, processed vocals, and a slew of programmed samples, edits, and voiceovers.