Godsmack is a Alternative Metal and Hard Rock band consisting of:
- Sully Erna: lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, harmonica (1995-present)
- Tony Rombola: lead guitar, backing vocals (1997-present)
- Robbie Merrill: bass, (1995-present)
- Shannon Larkin: drums, percussion (2002-present)
Erna was a drummer since the age of 3, and wanted to form a new band in which he would sing rather than play drums, resulting in this band. The name is partly inspired by Alice in Chains' song "God Smack", as well as an In-Joke about someone with a cold sore on his lip. After independently releasing an album and becoming a live favorite, the band signed to Republic/Universal and released their professionally-produced Self-Titled Album (a remastered and restructured version of their debut).
Many metalheads hate them, often calling them out as Alice in Chains ripoffs, but many will contradict this statement. It's hard not to hear that they sound like them, but they have enough elements of their own to create their own radio-friendly style of metal.
In February 2014, Godsmack began writing for their long-awaited sixth album. It came out in August of that year, and is called 1000hp.
Influences:
Albums
- 1998: Godsmack
- 2000: Awake
- 2003: Faceless
- 2006: IV
- 2010: The Oracle
- 2014: 1000hp
- 2018: When Legends Rise
- 2023: Lighting Up The Sky
I Trope Alone:
- Delinquents: Sully, by his own admission, got into a lot of trouble with the law as a teenager, though he cleaned up his act in his early 20s. He defined the difference between what he did and more serious offenses by once saying "I've been to jail a bunch of times, but I've never done prison."
- Sir Swears-a-Lot: Sully, Sully, SULLY.
- Beautiful Dreamer: "Under Your Scars."Wish you were here right beside me
So I could watch you sleep
Hold your body closer, breathe you deep - Cover Version:
- "Sweet Leaf" by Black Sabbath on Awake.
- The drum solo from their live album contains portions of YYZ, Walk This Way, Moby Dick, and Tom Sawyer.
- How We Got Here: "1000hp" is about the transition from Godsmack's origins to their current lifestyle.
- Take That!:
- "Cryin' Like a Bitch" is directed at Nikki Sixx, after Cruefest II.
- "Straight Out of Line" is a song directed at old friends who sneer at the band's singer, Sully Erna, across a crowded room because of his fame... a brilliant Take That! to those acquainted with the band who make fun of him for its popularity. These
links say it all.
- The Faceless: Their album cover for Faceless.
- Nu Metal: Applying to their older material, especially Awake and Faceless.
- Post-Grunge: One of the heaviest examples.
- Siamese Twin Songs: On the self-titled album, "Someone In London" is a two minute instrumental interlude that leads directly into "Get Up, Get Out!". The self-released demo All Wound Up... doesn't separate the two tracks or give "Someone In London" its own title, so "Get Up, Get Out!" is just presented as one song with an Epic Instrumental Opener.
- Soprano and Gravel: Sully alternates between a melodic baritone and a gruff rasp.
- Bad Ass Biker: "I Stand Alone" music video the band rides motorcycles in the opening scene.
- Hollywood Voodoo: "Voodoo". Specially as Sully Erna is actually a Wiccan, and thus the ritual is closer to that.
- Video Full of Film Clips: "I Stand Alone", being from The Scorpion King soundtrack, while also featuring scenes of a story where Sully seeks what seems to be Mathayus's temple.
