Band:	Black Label Society
Album:	Shot To Hell
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	September 12, 2006
Guest review by:	Doc G.

01. Concrete Jungle
02. Black Mass Reverends
03. Blacked Out World
04. The Last Goodbye
05. Give Yourself To Me
06. Nothing's The Same
07. Hell Is High
08. New Religion
09. Sick Of It All
10. Faith Is Blind
11. Blood Is Thicker Than Water
12. Devil's Dime
13. Lead Me To Your Door

What the hell just happened? I just put in a BLS album, listened to it the whole way through, and I came to the realization that I think the CD company accidentally put a Nickleback disc in the case.....wait nevermind, theres the signature Zakk Wylde guitar squeals.

Ok, so the album opens with what seems to be a promising riff....a possible build-up perhaps? Nope. Just breaks into a generic rock guitar riff with some distorted vocals, luckily it is sort of catchy. The next few songs sort of follow the same thing, typical rock sounding guitar riffs (with the Zakk Wylde squeals of course), catchy but forgotten once the next track comes on. Then time for a heart-felt ballad, then another forgettable hard rock song, then another ballad, followed by another boring rock song, followed by another ballad, then another ballad......another ballad? Once a straightforward heavy metal band with skull crushingly heavy riffs and generally kick ass songs, now putting out ballad after ballad?! Even the heavier type songs seemed to become softer, the production is still the same but it seems to have lost the mean, tough-as-nails sound to it that can be found in previous albums.

The only thing that saves this album from being a total train wreck is at times it does show signs of picking up and getting heavy, too bad it never happens. Like I said, the production is still heavy so it covers up the mediocre cookie-cutter rock songwriting to some degree. You'll also be happy to know that occasionally there are some really nice solos and a few good riffs here and there, just not enough to make this a worthwhile album unfortunately.

I highly recommend staying away from this album, whether you're already a BLS fan or not, its a heartbreaking album. Now excuse me while I go blast some "Blessed Hellride" to wash this crap down.