April 11, 2003
FACELESS
By DARRYL STERDAN

FACELESS
Godsmack
(Republic/Universal)

When a cookie-cutter nü-metal foursome like Godsmack choose Faceless as the title of their third soundalike slab of cliche-riddled grudge-rock, they're either sarcastic, ironic, gutsy or just plain stupid. Perhaps only singer Sully Erna and co. know which one. All we know is that they ain't lying.

From the barking, expletive-laced fury of Erna's lowbrow hate-filled lyrics -- one song is actually titled I F****** Hate You -- to the detuned, chugging aggression of the guitars and the relentless pound-pound-pounding of the drums (except, of course, in the traditional acoustic-guitar closing ballad), Faceless lives up to its title.

Of course, the same would be true if it were called Lifeless. Or Soulless. Or, best of all, Pointless.

Track Listing
1. Straight Out Of Line
2. Faceless
3. Changes
4. Make Me Believe
5. I Stand Alone
6. Re-Align
7. I F****** Hate You
8. Releasing The Demons
9. Dead And Broken
10. I Am
11. The Awakening
12. Serenity