HELLYEAH - HELLYEAH
Because so few are truly greater than the sum of their parts, we’ve learned to be wary of “supergroup” projects. But Hellyeah is one of the rare, and welcome, exceptions. Comprising Damageplan’s Vinnie Paul, Mudvayne’s Chad Gray and Gregg Tribbett, and Nothingface’s Tom Maxwell and Jerry Montano (who’s also part of Danzig), the quintet rocks with — big surprise — fierce headbanging fury. But it does much more than just turn the amps up to 11 to unleash the beast. Tight, sinewy grooves and gear-shifting dynamics fill most of these 12 tracks. “Alcohaulin’ Ass” offers some rootsy tongue-in-cheek, and “Thank You” is a ringing power ballad about absent friends. “One Thing,” “GodDamn” and the anthemic title track fit the classic metal mold, and “Matter of Time” and “Rotten to the Core” are more contemporary mosh pit fare.Hellyeah Billboard
