Godsmack - Music, Biography and Discography. Download Godsmack Albums. Godsmack Music.

Godsmack

“It's unbelievable what's happened in New England, ... We have the best fans there. Every place we've been playing has been selling out. It wasn't that long ago that we'd been playing to 50 people in Boston, and we just headlined a 7,000-seat arena and sold it out.” Sully Erna, Lead Singer GodsmackGodsmack was formed by the lead vocalist and primary songwriter Sully Erna – the self-proclaimed savior of metal music. Godsmack have been a phenomenal success right from their very first album, the bands ferocious thrashing guitar sound with poignant lyrics have made the band one of the biggest in the last decade. They have sold over 20 million albums worldwide and are easily one of top live metal acts. Regularly seen on the Ozzfest circuit, the band has headlined many of their own arena shows across the globe. Their charismatic leader is one of metals most enduring superstars. It his songwriting vision, front-man antics, gut wrenching growl and even a bit of drumming duels that have got the band their dedicated fans. Godsmack was started by charismatic singer-songwriter Sully Erna. After two defunct projects Erna was quite frustrated and it was at this point he chose to start a band which would be heavier than what he had done before. Robbie Merrill on bass, Tony Rombola on guitars and Joe D'Arco on drums completed the line-up. They played bars in the Boston area and continued to record demos.

From 1996-1998 they mostly played in the Boston area gaining a lot of fans. In 1998 after their demos received a lot of radio attention they signed to Universal Records. D’Arco was dismissed by Tommy Stewart, a friend of Sully and the original drummer. They immediately went straight into the studio record the first album, taking tracks from the already released demo All Wound Up. In two months they released the self-titled “Godsmack”. The album was produced by Sully Erna himself. The rhythm section, bass and drums were in perfect harmony and created a futuristic metal sound; with Sully’s rusty vocals on tracks like “Voodoo” was unlike any other sound from that era. Sully’s dark lyrics and religious references was the perfect set-up for the video which received wide spread airplay. The album has sold 4 million copies and considered their best.

After touring for nearly tours on the back of the first album, Godsmack went into the studio to record the follow-up. “Awake” released in 2000. The album sounded rawer and used a makeshift studio created in a warehouse to record the album. On its debut it sold 250,000 copies in the first week and since then gone on to sell more than two-million copies world wide. The title track with its disturbing violent imagery reached the No.1 on US Mainstream rock charts. The album truly defines the sound of the band, driven by lead bass and drums with the thrashing guitars. After another Ozzfest appearance the band started recording their third album. During this time they released the international hit single “I Stand Alone” for The Scorpion King sound track. The song carrying the bands signature sound was another No.1 on the Mainstream Rock charts and has been certified Gold.

The third album “Faceless” debut straight in at No.1 in 2003 confirming the superstar status of the band. The album featured no.1 single “Straight Out of line”. The song with the drum intro and crashing guitars was another hit. The album sold a million copies world wide. Shannon Larkin had replaced the original Drummer Tommy Stewart and the band embarked on a US tour.

But it was their next release which presented the band in completely different light. The EP “The Other Side” was an acoustic album. The heavy metal sound was replaced with the melodic acoustic sensibilities and the band was hailed critically. The EP reached No.5 on US charts in 2004. They also opened for Metallica tour dubbed “Madly in Anger with the World”. The year ended in triumph when the band went on an acoustic tour.

In 2006, the band released “IV”, their second album to debut at No.1 produced by Andy Johns who was at the production helm for legendary Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones; the result was a slight change in sound. The album does not lack in its ferocious power but has a grounded sensibility and even blues influences. However the album was a commercial disappointed as compared to their previous albums as it did not touch the million mark.

Godsmack has brought in the raw energy back in Metal music. They will be headlining festivals in 2010 and releasing a new album. The direction of the band still rests with its multi-talented leader.

Did you know that...

• ...Godsmack have a unique distinction of 14 singles in the Top 5 more than Metallica and Linkin Park
• ...Godsmack was voted the best band on Crue Fest which created animosity with the Crue festival creator Motley Crue
• ...lead vocalist Surry Erna had a car accident which wounded a person who could have been killed. She has since then recovered and filed a law-suit.