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Rating:
Corey Taylor, frontman of one of the most extravagant bands (certainly not original nor transgressive), the Slipknot, tries again with "his" personal band. Stone Sour bring us a new work. "Come What(ever)" is the second album of this satellite band of the 9 masked ones from DesMoines. The substance, however, changes with the latest proposal of the masked ones, but the real qualitative value is not that notable, quite the opposite. The previous self-titled album was a bit monotonous, slightly in line with the times when nu-metal was overwhelming kids looking for something angry, but it had rather interesting elements: a slight emphasis on melody, good aggression, and even excellent instrumental skill, which made them a hope, albeit small, for the continuation of the genre. So, all this is powerful again in this second album, but in the same, anonymous manner as the previous one.
First song: "30/30-150" starts strong, with a riff reminiscent of Slipknot memory then becoming fast and pounding, but a bit banal in the vocal and rhythmic solution and a very simple chorus that becomes almost annoying. "Come what(ever) May" runs along the same line: somewhat predictable riffs, catchy and impactful verses, and an easily engaging chorus. Perhaps the real point is that this album presents itself from the first bars as very impactful and, despite the hardness of the sound, very catchy. Then, I also underline, in this track, a slightly out-of-place, unnecessary solo. "Hell& Consequences" does not change the tones much, with a banal chorus, but very much so. Corey sings well, even if now and then he falls into the desire to get angry, entering the territories dear to Slipknot, while the instrumental section, with that tone that spills into oriental melodies, seems again, useless and out of place. And here it is, predictable, the first ballad: "SillyWorld": over 4 minutes of bland and heard-before melody. "Made Of Scars" is monotonous, while some healthy nastiness is breathed in the following "Reborn", with a Taylor that showcases his famous screams in the chorus. "Your God" presents a calm progression throughout its duration, a nice solo, and not much more. The melodies are rather predictable, not even that interesting. And, once again indispensable, the second grand ballad: "Through Glass". If you are looking for a song with a captivating melody, with an acoustic backdrop, here is the song for you, which, however, without being banal, is quite beautiful, in the same vein as "Bother" from the previous album. Out of the semi-metal atmosphere of the album, this is perhaps one of the best pieces, where Taylor's almost suffering voice shows all its strength and expressiveness. But, in return, the worst track also emerges: "Socio". It continues with very standard songs, without a real bite that could elevate them qualitatively: "1st Person", "Cardiff" are the emblem of this album: monotonous, monochord, with predictable and not even well-thought-out solutions. It closes with "Zzxyz Rd", a ballad accompanied by a tapestry of piano and acoustic guitars. I wouldn't know how to judge it correctly because it is perfect in its standard: it's the usual ballad that starts with the piano, with almost whispered voice, only to explode with distorted guitars that burst out solos full of sentiment, while the voice continues to sing over the guitar melodies, to then close with a piano epilogue. Already heard of ballads like this one.
Summarizing the judgement is not difficult: it's a classic Nu-Metal album: tracks pulled like a sound power but that lean too much towards commercial and impactful melodies. The problem is not so much the melody in this album as its monotony and its disorienting predictability. For those thirsty for easy easy nu-metal and easy listening. For the others, abstain.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 30/30-150 (04:18)
I am a dominant gene ... live as I try
Never say forever cause forever's a lie
I can see right through it so I can ignore you
The story changes but the ending won't bore you
I tried to tell you but you simply obeyed
They didn't listen so they threw you away
Now all you do is talk ... I don't wanna hear your bullshit...
Is this what you want?
This is where it BEGINS ... this is where it ENDS [x2]
They called us a Dead Generation; they told us that we wouldn't survive
They left us alone in the maelstrom; as you can see we're all plenty alive
We know where you are and we're coming; let's see you say that shit to our face
30/30-150 Remembers; 30/30-150 Hates
In-My-Own-Peculiar-Way-I-Feel-Mercurial
Before I get ahead of myself again
I know the where, but I still don't know the when
You wanna live in a 1-sided world?
Be prepared for a whole world of hurt
Now with the Grand Façade ... I want to be an angel...
And I want to be God!
They called us a Dead Generation; they told us that we wouldn't survive
They left us alone in the maelstrom; as you can see we're all plenty alive
We know where you are and we're coming; let's see you say that shit to our face
30/30-150 Remembers; 30/30-150 Hates
I am a fuckin' machine ... fueled by the past
A memory's a memory until it's a fact
I can bury the hatchet and let some shit go
But I got too many grudges to hold
I saw a lot of people try in the end
I never wanna walk that road again
Now I will never give up ... I wanna have it all
I just wanna have enough
This is where it begins... this is where it ends
This is where it BEGINS ... this is where it ENDS
They called us a Dead Generation; they told us that we wouldn't survive
They left us alone in the maelstrom; as you can see we're all clearly alive
We know where you are and we're coming; let's see you say that shit to our face
30/30-150 Remembers; 30/30-150 Hates.
03 Hell & Consequences (03:31)
I'm not a victim,
till I let you take me down.
I'm not a target at the sites of your mercy,
I never asked for anything,
I'm not asking now.
I will not be afraid,
I will not be afraid.
I've done this on my own
and I don't care what you do to me,
I won't hand over what is mine
I've done this for too long,
to let you take it away from me,
its too late to stop me
cause I refuse to die.
I haven't weakened just because I've shown my self
I've taken everything, except everything that's for granted
I'll leave hypocrisy for everybody else
I will not be afraid,
I will not be afraid.
I've done this on my own
and I don't care what you do to me,
I won't hand over what is mine
I've done this for too long,
to let you take it away from me,
its too late to stop me
cause I refuse to die.
I'm not a problem
till you make one out of spite
I'll give you hell and consequences for trying,
you don't want an enemy,
DON'T FUCK WITH MY LIFE!
I will not be afraid,
I will not be afraid,
I've done this on my own
and I don't care what you do to me,
I won't hand over what is mine
I've done this for too long,
to let you take it away from me,
its too late to stop me
cause I refuse to die.
I've done this on my own
and I don't care what you do to me,
I won't hand over ,
I won't hand over what is mine
I've done this for too long,
to let you take it away from me,
its too late to stop me
cause I refuse
I refuse... to die.
I refuse to die!
04 Sillyworld (04:08)
Freedom's just a word today
Freedom's just a word
When someone takes your word away
It's seldom ever heard
So take your sentence full of things you're not supposed to say
and carry on but don't write it down or you'll be gone
Love is just a song today
Love is just a song
When someone takes the song away
You'll seldom sing along
So take those lyrics serious and sing your life away
and carry on but don't write 'em down or they'll be gone
All we ever do is talk
We like to ride but never walk
We make it so damn easy
We get bored
Why can't anybody see
What's good for you is good for me
I can't take your sillyworld
I can't take your sillyworld no more
Peace is just two fingers now
Peace was just a phase
When someone put it on a shirt
She knew to count the days
So take those fingers tape 'em up and shove 'em up your ass
and carry on but don't try it now cause peace is gone
All we ever do is talk
We like to ride but never walk
We make it so damn easy
We get bored
Why can't anybody see
What's good for you is bad for me
I can't take your sillyworld
I can't take your sillyworld no more
We fight our instincts
We go to extremes
We fight our instincts
We go to extremes
We fall apart (x13)
06 Reborn (03:12)
I am walking through your streets - I am looking in your windows
I am elemental now - you'll never even know I'm there
I am watching over you - I am living in the shadows
I am just a word to you, but I am very real and cold...
Cold to all of this - Cold to how you feel - Cold to all your lucid reason
I AM EVERYTHING - I AM ANYTHING - I AM AUTOMATIC
I AM YESTERDAY - I AM EVERYDAY - I AM GONNA BE...
I am all there is to know - I am all that you've forgotten
I am enigmatic now - you never even knew my name
I am dressed tragedy - I am by design immortal
I am just the last one left, I am always here and old
Old and very strong - Old as all you feel - Old as all the world around you
I AM EVERYTHING - I AM ANYTHING - I AM AUTOMATIC
I AM YESTERDAY - I AM EVERYDAY - I AM GONNA BE...
REBORN (this is the start of something)
I am just a secret now - I am just a vague illusion
I am lie you tell yourself that you never truly did believe
I am a whisper in the dark - I am a victim and the killer
I am almost ready now - but you insist I dont exist
That I don't exist - that I don't exist - that I don't EXIST
I AM EVERYTHING - I AM ANYTHING - I AM AUTOMATIC
I AM YESTERDAY - I AM EVERYDAY - I AM GONNA BE...
REBORN (this is the start of something)
08 Through Glass (04:42)
I'm looking at you through the glass.
Don't know how much time has passed.
Oh, God, it feels like forever,
But no one ever tells you that
Forever feels like home,
Sitting all alone inside your head
'Cause I'm looking at you through the glass.
Don't know how much time has passed.
All I know is that it feels like forever,
But no one ever tells you that
Forever feels like home,
Sitting all alone inside your head.
"How do you feel?" That is the question,
But I forget you don't expect an easy answer.
When something like a soul
Becomes initialized and folded up
Like paper dolls and little notes,
You can't expect a bit of hope.
So while you're outside looking in,
Describing what you see,
Remember what you're staring at is me
'Cause I'm looking at you through the glass.
Don't know how much time has passed.
All I know is that it feels like forever,
But no one ever tells you that
Forever feels like home,
Sitting all alone inside your head.
How much is real? So much to question.
An epidemic of the mannequins contaminating everything,
We thought came from the heart.
It never did right from the start.
Just listen to the noises,
(Null and void instead of voices.)
Before you tell yourself
It's just a different scene,
Remember it's just different from what you've seen.
I'm looking at you through the glass.
Don't know how much time has passed,
And all I know is that it feels like forever,
But no one ever tells you that
Forever feels like home,
Sitting all alone inside your head
'Cause I'm looking at you through the glass.
Don't know how much time has passed,
And all I know is that it feels like forever,
But no one ever tells you that
Forever feels like home,
Sitting all alone inside your head,
And it's the stars, the stars, that shine for you,
And it's the stars, the stars, that lie to you,
Yeah, yeah,
And it's the stars, the stars, that shine for you,
And it's the stars, the stars, that lie to you,
Yeah, yeah.
I'm looking at you through the glass.
Don't know how much time has passed.
Oh, God, it feels like forever,
But no one ever tells you that
Forever feels like home,
Sitting all alone inside your head
'Cause I'm looking at you through the glass.
Don't know how much time has passed.
All I know is that it feels like forever,
But no one ever tells you that
Forever feels like home,
Sitting all alone inside your head,
And it's the stars, the stars, that shine for you,
Yeah, yeah,
And it's the stars, the stars, that lie to you,
Yeah, yeah,
And it's the stars, the stars, that shine for you,
Yeah, yeah,
And it's the stars, the stars, that lie to you,
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
Oh, and the stars, oh, and the stars, they lie!
09 Socio (03:20)
I remember now, but I still have my doubts
I think It's gonna be today
Everybody came, but it's just not the same
Why did it have to be today?
Now my chest is tight - no, I am not all right
It doesn't have to be this way
Why does it have to be this way?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG, IT'S LIKE I'M TOO FAR GONE
IT DOESN'T MATTER, ANYWAY
FEAR IS IN MY HEART - JUST WHEN I STOP, IT STARTS
AND I CAN NEVER LIVE THIS WAY
Freedom in a cage - no sun and too much rage
I don't know how much I can take
Push it down inside, but it knows just where I hide
I know that "normal" is hard to fake
Bleeding into life - it's like a thousand knives
Are slowly turning me to this
Why does it have to be like this?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG, IT'S LIKE I'M TOO FAR GONE
IT DOESN'T MATTER, ANYWAY
FEAR IS IN MY HEART - JUST WHEN I STOP, IT STARTS
AND I CAN NEVER LIVE THIS WAY
I lost again, today...
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG, IT'S LIKE I'M TOO FAR GONE
IT DOESN'T MATTER, ANYWAY
FEAR IS IN MY HEART - JUST WHEN I STOP, IT STARTS
AND I CAN NEVER LIVE THIS WAY
LIVE WITH A CURSE, SOMETIMES IT'S EVEN WORSE
IT SLOWLY KILLS ME EVERYDAY
SOMETHING I DESPISE IS GONNA TAKE MY LIFE
I GUESS I'LL TRY AGAIN TODAY
10 1st Person (04:01)
Why - is everything so gray - is everything so strange
Is everything so thrown together by mistake?
Why - is everything contrite - is everything a plight
Is everything so insincere and out of sight?
WHY - DOES EVERYTHING SEEM WRONG
DOES EVERTYHING LOOK DRAWN
DOES EVERYTHING SEEM BLASTED LIKE IT DON'T BELONG?
I wanna make it a way - I wanna make it a waste
I wanna make it a gross mis adventure
I WANNA MAKE YOU ALL!
I WANNA MAKE YOU ALL!
I WANNA MAKE YOU... lie to me... lie to me
When - did everything go bad - did everything fall flat
Did everything decay and lose itself so fast?
When - did everything succumb - did everything go numb
Did everything lobotomize what it's become?
WHEN - DOES EVERYTHING COME BACK
DOES EVERYTHING RELAPSE
DOES EVERYTHING SAVE FACE AND FIND ITSELF AT LAST
I wanna show you the way - I wanna show you the waste
I wanna show you the worst misadventure
I WANNA SHOW YOU ALL!
I WANNA SHOW YOU ALL!
I WANNA SHOW YOU HOW TO... die for me... die for me...
I wanna give it away - I wanna give it the waste
I wanna give it the worst misadventure
I WANNA GIVE IT ALL!
I'M GONNA GIVE IT ALL!
I'LL NEVER GIVE UP!
Lie to me... die for me...
Now - everything's a lie - everything's your lie
Everything's a face inside another lie
Now - everything's a side - everything's one side
Everything depends on just which side you're on...
11 Cardiff (04:42)
This fluid feels like pain
This stoic mood is all in vain
I reach into the dark
I tear the sun in me apart
How many years ago?
How many deaths i can't let go?
My flesh is temporary, my god extraordinary
You can't kill my mind
A man delivered can never make his way in darkness
I know tonight will end
But i won't give this life away again
Sifting through the seen debris
Oh my father call to me
This smoke is my blood
This song is just no good
Save me from my bitterness
Give me up, i did my best
Shock this system full of shit
Lock this fucker lost in it
You can't kill my mind
A man delivered can never make his way in darkness
I know tonight will end
But i won't give this life away
I won't give this life away again
A man surrendered can never find his own forgiveness
I know my life will end
But i won't give tonight away
But i won't give tonight away again
This fluid feels like pain
This ruin feels like rain
I'll reach into the past
My future's fading fast
How many years ago?
How many i'll let go?
My flesh is all i have
My face is up in stares
This smoke is my blood
This life is not enough
This life is not enough
12 Zzyzx Rd. (05:15)
I don't know how else to put this
It's taken me so long to do this
I'm falling asleep but I cant see straight
My muscles feel like a melee
My body's curled in a u shape
I put on my best but I'm still afraid
Propped up by lies with promises
Saving my place as life forgets
Maybe its time i saw the world
I'm only here for a while
But patience is not my style
And I'm so tired that i gotta go
What am I supposed to want now?
What am I supposed to do?
Did you really think
I wouldn't see this through
Tell me I should stick around for you
Tell me I could have it all
I'm still too tired to care
And I gotta go
I get to go home in one week
But I'm leaving home in three weeks
They throw me a bone
Just to pick me dry
I'm following suit and directions
I crawl up inside for protection
I'm told what to do
And I don't know why
I'm over existing in limbo
I'm over the myths and placebos
I don't really mind
If I just fade away
I'm ready to live with my family
I'm ready to die in obscurity
Cause I'm so tired that I've gotta go
What am I supposed to want now?
What am I supposed to do?
You still don't think
I'm gonna see this through
Tell me I'm a part of history
Tell me I can have it all
I'm still too tired
To care and I gotta go
-Solo-
Oh yeah
-Solo-
:under solo:
I'm still too tired
To care and I've gotta go
I'm still too tired
To care and I've gotta go
I'm still too tired
To care and I've gotta go
Yeah yeah
Yea oh
Still too tired
To care and I gotta go
Yeah-hah
Yeah-hah
I'm still too tired
To care and I gotta go
Yeah-hah-yea
Oh no
Oh no
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Other reviews
By thetrooper
"Stone Sour hit the mark once more, they have finally made it clear that they are NOT a satellite band of Slipknot."
"The pinnacle of the entire album is nonetheless 'Through Glass,' compact and sweet melodic rock that features a truly monumental performance by Corey."
