Black Label Society - 1999 - Sonic Brew

Around the late '90s/early 21st century, the traditional guitar solo in hard rock/heavy metal appeared to be a dying beast, as most bands were rejecting six-string leads in favor of focusing solely on detuned riffage (culminating a few years later with Metallica's sonic stinkbomb, St. Anger). But one early sign that the tide was changing was the arrival of the Zakk Wylde-led project Black Label Society, and their 1999 debut, Sonic Brew. Expectedly, the group is all about the almighty guitar -- loud 'n' proud riffs and solos abound -- while Wylde himself handles the vocal duties (and can alternate his voice between a more melodic Phil Anselmo on the heavier material, and a Southern rocker on the acoustic fare). The majority of the album's style is basically summed up with the opening track, "Bored to Tears," with a few detours along the way (such as acoustic guitar shredfest "T.A.Z.," and the Lynyrd Skynyrd-like ballad "Spoke in the Wheel"). With the arrival of Sonic Brew, a whole new era of guitarists practicing their speed and scales in their bedrooms would soon be ushered in.

		1		Bored to Tears	Wylde	4:28
		2		The Rose Petalled Garden	Wylde	4:59
		3		Hey You (Batch of Lies)	Wylde	3:48
		4		Born to Lose	Wylde	4:23
		5		Peddlers of Death	Wylde	4:33
		6		Mother Mary	Wylde	4:27
		7		Beneath the Tree	Wylde	4:37
		8		Low Down	Wylde	4:36
		9		T.A.Z.	Wylde	1:56
		10		Lost My Better Half	Wylde	4:24
		11		Black Pearl	Wylde	3:27
		12		World of Trouble	Wylde	5:20
		13		Spoke in the Wheel	Wylde	4:13
		14		The Beginning... at Last	Wylde	4:26
		15		No More Tears	Castillo, Inez, Osbourne ...	6:57

¡Aquí!