NEWSTED
Metal EP
Chophouse (2013)
Rating: 9.5/10
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Newsted is the fourth coming (Flotsam And Jetsam / Metallica / Voivod) of heavy metal legend Jason Newsted. Metal is his first heavy offering since parting ways with Voivod and is inspired by fan reaction to his recent jaunt with Metallica at their December 2011 30th anniversary shows.
The band is rounded out by newcomers Jesus Mendez, Jr. on drums and Jessie Farnsworth on guitars. The EP features four songs that fall somewhere between Metallica and Motörhead musically, heavy as stink but with a ton of growling and grooving.
‘Soldierhead’ kicks off the record and is the closest to the Metallica sound that the EP comes. A number of things turn your head immediately. The first is the fury of the overall sound, it really does sound like Metallica circa 1986 (Master Of Puppets). In fact, it sounds more like pre-Newsted Metallica than anything Metallica has done since those days. The second headturner is Newsted’s vocals. I’ll freely admit that I had no idea he could rip it up like this. It’s damn near perfect and better than almost any vocalist in heavy music today.
‘Godsnake’ is up next and this is where the groove starts to get incorporated. The song moves a little slower but marches along venomously getting angrier at every turn. ‘King Of The Underdogs’ has a bit of an Alice Cooper swagger to it but its start / stop riffage hits you like a ton of bricks, handmade for headbanging. ‘Skyscraper’ wraps the EP up with an almost stoner rock vibe. It’s still super-heavy but you can easily identify some Pentagram and Saint Vitus influence musically.
Lyrically, you can tell Newsted was weaned on early Motörhead and Black Sabbath’s essential works as damn near the entire EP is an anti-war sentiment. Although the words are very direct, I’m thoroughly impressed with the fact that they don’t come off as pushy or cheeseball.
Overall, this is something no-one expected (except maybe Newsted’s momma). Heavy music fans certainly expected this to be good but it’s far beyond that. The Metal EP is great from start to finish. It’s sure to excite the people who have been longing for this for over a decade and turn a lot of new heads their way at the same time.
Mark Fisher
