BLACK LABEL SOCIETY — Stronger Than Death (review)

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY — Stronger Than Death album cover Album · 2000 · Heavy Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
Kingcrimsonprog
Stronger Than Death, from 2000, is the second full-length studio album by the American Heavy Metal band Black Label Society. Black Label Society were essentially the solo project of Zack Wylde at this stage, and are his third venture away from Ozzy Osbourne, after the piano filled solo album Book Of Shadows and the one-off Southern Rock album with Pride And Glory.

The sound of Stronger Than Death is a fairly heavy and no frills mixture of doomy Classic Heavy Metal and Stoner Rock. This album is one of their most direct and hard hitting affairs, with song after song of the gnarlier, more metallic side of the band. It's a bit less raw and muddy than their debut, and it has shed most of the Southern Rock tinge, but has not yet become just as produced and radio friendly as their most famous works. As with all of the BLS efforts, its packaged in a theme of Biker culture and alcohol consumption.

Its almost difficult to chose highlight from album since its so consistent and free of filler, but my favourite songs include `Phoney Smiles & Fake Hellos,' `Superterrorizer' and `Ain't Life Grand,' although its hard to think of this record without the furiously catchy single `Counterfeit God' (famous for having Mark Walburg playing bass guitar in its music video).

Besides the meaty, low pitched riffs, and the mixture of slow groves with fast paced driving sections, the main focus of any Black Label Society record is the lead guitar. Zack has a very distinctive style. Its full of personality, flash and lots of little flourishes.

You should consider checking out the band if you are a fan of Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Pantera, Down, Clutch or Pepper-era C.O.C.

This early album is one of their heaviest to date. Its got fewer ballads, an edgier production and less tracks exclusively in the mid-tempo range than their later work like Mafia and Shot To Hell.

Overall; Stronger Than Death is probably the band's most direct and no-frills records to date. If you like their debut, this is a must have. It could be argued that it may be repetitive but its my personal favourite of all their albums, the songs are great, everything is tasteful and its got a certain bite to it.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

The Goblin Sessions Heavy Metal
THEM
Buy this album from MMA partners
Tormenta De Arena Metalcore
VORAGO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Infinite Metalcore
FUTURE GHOST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Heretic Melodic Death Metal
SUNCINDER
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Skull Burned Wearing Hell Like A Life Vest As The Night Wept Mathcore
FRONTIERER
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

OPETH`S Epic Headline Show at Bloodstock 2024 | YouTube Premiere | Full Set | August 9th, 2024
OPETH
666sharon666· 18 minutes ago
Opeth '§4' Visualizer/Lyrics Video
OPETH
666sharon666· 18 minutes ago
Future Ghost - Wolves (Official Music Video)
FUTURE GHOST
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Future Ghost - Nemesis Game (Official Music Video)
FUTURE GHOST
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Harrowed TwentyTenVideo
HARROWED
Bosh66· 3 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed