The
great guitarist and big personality Zakk Wylde's
project Black Label Society has released an
acoustic live album named 'Unblackened'. A really
good name of this album in matter of fact. This is
a new side of the band and a different angle of
the heavy songs from the previous nine studio
albums they have released between 1999-2011.
Beside the big axe-man Wylde on this album is
longtime friend bassist/vocalist John DeServio,
plus new drummer Chad Szeliga, Nick Catanase also
on guitar, and the great Derek Sherinian on
keyboard. The double disc album, which also
available as a live DVD and is a Black Label Society lover’s
dream. All favorite songs, including 'The Blessed
Hellride', 'In This River', 'Stillborn', and about
twenty-four others, are all present and carved on
these two discs.
There is a lot of South-state bluesy feelings on these two
discs and it sounds very stripped down and naked.
I do prefer to listen and watch the DVD. I'm not
the biggest fan of Black Label Society, but with this release I've
found some new angles and views of their songs.
The guitar playing is of course of a very high quality,
even if it's mostly on acoustic
guitars.
Zakk's singing borrows a lot from his former 'boss'
Ozzy Osbourne. I thought that Oz was singing on
several tracks, so similar did it sound. Not the
most shining and brilliant vocalist, but he has an
emotional voice and especially in the calm
melodies, where he has tuned in a perfect position
in the vocals. A 'unplugged' Black Label Society
is not so bad as it sounds. I like this very much
actually.
If you are a big fan of the big man with the big
beard, this is a given purchase to have in your CD
or DVD collection.
For us others; this is a very nice evening together
with some magnificent musicians in a cozy pub environment.
Thumbs up.
