When Legends Rise

Seven albums and 20 years into their career, Godsmack retain their post-grunge power and penchant for high-gloss hooks. The tribal drums and high-flying chorus of the title track flow seamlessly into singer Sully Erna’s multilayered vocal turn and guitarist Tony Rombola’s tasteful solo on the infectious “Bulletproof.” A stadium-sized chorus shares the stage with overdriven wah-wah guitars and a massive backing choir on “Unforgettable,” while a melancholy piano and somber strings lead the way on the ballad “Under Your Scars.”

GODSMACK has been slugging away for a couple of decades and with great success. The multi-platinum certified act is a household name. The safe bet for the four-time Grammy award nominated unit would have been to crank out another metallic bruiser. Instead, frontman Sully Erna sought to carve a new p...