ALBUM REVIEW: Engines Of Demolition – Black Label Society
It’s been a hot minute since BLACK LABEL SOCIETY graced our ears with a new album, their last being Doom Crew Inc. coming out way back in 2021. Between splitting his time as guitarists for both OZZY OSBOURNE and PANTERA, frontman Zakk Wylde has found a gap in his hectic schedule to gift to us the latest offering from BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, Engines of Demolition. Every so often, a band on their twelfth album delivers something great. However, for Engines of Demolition this is sadly not the case.
The last few months by the band have been spent offering us a smattering of singles in the build up to the album. Album opener, Name In Blood is quite generic sounding but the time spent with Ozzy Osbourne has clearly leaked over in the album with it sounding not too dissimilar to the Prince of Darkness vocally. There are fiery guitar solos and huge riffs which stick the landing as they go hand in hand with the fun vocals. Lead single, The Gallows is a bit more fast paced with more of a bite to it. It chugs along slower but has that hook that has you nodding or banging your head along as Wylde bellows out some impressive vocals. Lord Humungus is perhaps the weakest single of the four in the album’s build up. Sounding like another take of The Gallows musically, you’d be forgiven for thinking that both are the same song or a GUNS N’ ROSES song that never made it to be on an album with some Axl Rose-esque vocals holding up the track. Final single, Broken And Blind sees a return to the slow chugging guitars that drive this song along before falling into a blandness that sadly is the standard for the rest of the album.
When you delve into the album proper, you are greeted by the track Gatherer Of Souls which has a fun bouncy, blues riff that actually stands out from the singles that came before it. It does however feel a bit deceiving because you see what the album could have been as it does offer something a little different that the albums build up. The Hand Of Tomorrow’s Grave sees the album falling into the trap of the songs sounding similar after a fun and atmospheric opening with dreary lyrics that don’t stick. Better Days & Wiser Times does upset the apple cart a bit with a ballad type effort that is fine but isn’t the lighters in the air moment it thinks it is. It’s a slow tread to its end that feels like an afterthought and throws in a guitar solo that feels like it lasts for ages just to take up some time due to its repetitive nature.
Above & Below sees the guitar riff that the band seems to have stuck with for the album returning, making you think you may have replayed a track when in reality, they all just sound like this. Another ballad follows with Back To Me which in fairness is miles better than Better Days & Wiser Times due it having a bit more chutzpah with it knowing when to finish and not outstaying its welcome. The vocals are nice and the musicality of it creates a nice cohesive sound that does add some quality and makes it stand head and shoulders above what has come before it. Pedal To The Floor sadly puts a dampener on any good grace of its predecessor as your head begins to spin due to how repetitive the album has become at this point. As we get to the final songs of the album, there appears to be no sign of redemption for Engines Of Demolition, the recycled nature rears its ugly head again as Broken Pieces and The Stranger offer nothing new, particularly the latter with it feeling like a different version of Gatherer Of Souls with different paint on as it blissfully guides to the end.
There is however, one saving grace on this record, and that is Ozzy’s Song. With Wylde having spent a large part of his career working with Ozzy Osbourne, it makes perfect sense for a song to be dedicated to his fallen colleague. It’s a great ending with some sweet sentiments after what has been a largely dud album. Zakk Wylde saves his best vocals and song writing for this track as you can feel his emotions through the song. You can’t help but feel however, that if this was released as a one off single, then that would have been perfectly fine.
If you’re a massive fan of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, then you’ll have no issue with this album. It hits all those notes you expect from them after twelve albums. For anyone else, it’s a tough listen. Ozzy’s Song is a clear highlight of the album but anything else is sadly instantly forgettable for someone of Zakk Wylde’s skill set. There is no yearning for repeat listens of songs bar one on this record and for an album titled Engines Of Demolition, the only thing that ends up being demolished is your attention at how dull this record truly is. When all is said and done, there is no asking for more once you have finished this.
Rating: 5/10
Engines Of Demolition is out now via Spinefarm Records.
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