Fresh off the success of Bodies, DP landed
a first stage position on 2002s Ozzfest. Then, something happened to the
band darker than any of their songwriting imagery laid end-to-end.
While on tour, 30-year singer Dave Williams
was found dead in his trailer. But Drowning Pool doesn't want your sympathy.
What they do want is for you to judge them on the merits of their being
a brand new band with an entirely new dynamic, while staying true to what
got to the level they previously attained.
Rising up from the tragic ashes is the
new-look Drowning Pool. Taking over lead vocal duties is Jason Gong Jones,
he of the Kix Blow My Fuse t-shirt-sporting Jones. Lest you think Drowning
Pool is going to turn on a dime and sound like blues-based Baltimore boogie-rock,
youd be wrong (but what a great nod to the past!).
Drowning Pools 2nd album, Desensitized
is as intense as their debut effort, Sinner. More mature and aggressive
to the hilt, Drowning Pool mean to hammer you over the the head with topics
ranging from self-doubt and perseverance to religion and (gasp!) satanism.
There is nothing subtle about the nod toward
the dark arts as the CD is complete with Maxim Magazine-style babe on the
cover sporting a bikini with not one, but two strategically-placed pentagrams.
It's as tongue-in-cheek as "Shout At The Devil" was in '85. Something
for the 15-year olds to leave lying around to freak out the parents.
While the artwork is the eyecandy, the
music is all substance. Drowning Pool don't stray far from the formula
that made "Bodies" a force to be reckoned with. There is a different energy
here, though, that is hard to encapsulate. "Gong" is a great singer and
from the photos will be a presence on stage. He channels Matthews, Geoff
Tate (seriously) and Type O Negative to varying degrees of success.
But successful, it is.
Come for the "Step Up" (see Punisher
Soundtrack review). Stay for the "Love And War," "Bringing Me Down,"
and "Hate." This album is about as complete as you would could demand for
this genre. Prove to me Godsmack has written more than one song and I'll
buy you lunch...but DP have song-scaped 11 dynamic and different tracks
as the day is long. Numerous listens will separate the wheat from the chafe,
but there's not much fat...it's all lean. And mean.
CD Info
Drowning
Pool - Desensitized
Label: Wind-Up
Rating:
Tracks: 1.) Think
2.) Step Up
3.) Numb
4.) This Life
5.) Nothingness
6.) Bringing Me Down
7.) Love And War
8.) Forget
9.) Cast Me Aside
10.) Killin' Me
11.) Hate
Posted by DA DOCTA:
THIS CD IS WEAK NEXT TO SINNER BUT A GOOD EFFORT OVERALL. NO ONE CAN HOLD A CANDLE TO DAVE AND GONG IS JUST A PASSING FANCY. DP NEEDS A SOLID VOCALIST WHO CAN FRONT THE BAND WITH STYLE. CJ'S GUITAR WORK IS AMAZING AND THE REST OF THE BOYS KICK ASS TOO BUT THE GONG HAVE TO BE GONE!
Posted by Bullet:
I think that DP is one of the greatest heavey Metal Bands ever to grace the Rock culture
Posted by Dan:
This is to everyone.
DP are a good Nu Metal Band. Ive never heard Godsmack but im sure they're good also. This is a really good album and if you like heavy stuff, then get it.
PS guru is a f*ckstick
Posted by Deth:
Why not the compare to Godsmack in any shape or form? They play the same type of music. They play for the some crowd (Nu Metal/radio/mainstream). So why not compare them to Godsmack? Is it because you will find out there just a rip off of something better? Or that it looks like there careers are running parallel? Or will you find out Godsmack is more successful? Which one is it?
Posted by MSIorDIE:
guru's a homo. DP have successfully carved their own niche. and Met7Az, please don't compare them to godsmack in ANY way, shape, or form.
Posted by Met7Az:
no.. I think you might be wrong on that Guru... they said the same thing about Godsmack and they're still going strong
Posted by King:
I was a big fan of Dave Williams and Drowning Pool. I'm glad to see that their back, and even though I like Sinner more, this album is still good stuff. I'm happy to see that they can still make good music.
Posted by guru:
no man drowning pool sucks. angst metal for the middle school jock crowd. i give 'em one more album before they fade into obscurity.
