Godsmack Thrives Live And Inspired

Massachusetts’ favorite son Sully Erna and Godsmack have released the first live CD in the band’s 17-year history. Live & Inspired was recorded during the band’s 2010 tour, but sounds as fresh as it does familiar.

The original concept was to pick songs performed in various cities along the way, but 80 percent of the disc was ultimately recorded at the Fox Theatre in Detroit because of a very lively and engaged audience. The band, already well known for their powerful live performances and ravenous fan base, made the right choice because Live & Inspired captures the energy of their shows without compromise.

An uncompromising live album is just what the band needed. 

The 13 tracks selected are mostly band staples from their studio albums, including The Enemy, Voodoo, and Whatever. All of them continue to be the cornerstone of their live shows.

Unfortunately you won't find any songs from Oracle, but that’s not by choice. The band didn’t have any recordings from Oracle when Live & Inspired was recorded.

There is still plenty to highlight from the album, including Whatever, which plays better live. I Stand Alone, a song that the band contributed to film The Scorpion King soundtrack, is also nothing less than explosive. It's a fan favorite; the most played active rock song in 2002 for a 14 weeks.



Speak, a song written by all four band members, shows their cohesion as a group, and showcases the work of bassist Robbie Merrill and guitarist Tony Rombola. Rombola recalls how Speak first came together.

“While on tour with Metallica, Robbie, Shannon (Larkin) and I were jamming in the dressing room," he says. "Sully popped his head in the room cause he really liked the riff we were playing and he pretty much wrote the melody and finished the song right then and there."

Of course, no live album would be complete without Batalla de los Tambores, which is a drum battle between Erna and drummer Shannon Larkin. Erna spent 20+ years behind a drum kit before forming Godsmack, and it’s clear that his timing and chops are just as strong as ever.

"Live & Inspired is our way of saying 'thank you' to all of our fans for believing in us throughout the years, and helping us to become a great live band,” said Erna. “Along with this ass-whooping set live from Detroit Rock City, we've also included four cover songs of our favorite hits in the past to show you that, we too, are simply just fans that appreciate nothing more than good old fashioned ass-kicking rock 'n' roll! Enjoy!"

Erna is referring to a 4-track bonus disc featuring covers of Rocky Mountain Way, originally performed and made legendary by Joe Walsh; the Beatles’ Come Together; Pink Floyd’s Time; and Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters.



The tracks were selected because they in some way inspired the band. And all four do the originals justice, particularly the passionate Nothing Else Matters and Time, in which the band stays true to the original with Erna sounding remarkably like David Gilmour.

All in all, there isn’t a weak link on the track list. Produced and and recorded by Godsmack, the album also benefits from mixing by Dave Fortman (Slipknot, Anthrax) at Prism Sound Studios in Acton, Massachusetts; and mastering by Adam Ayan at Gateway Mastering in Portland, Maine.

Another interesting aspect of the album is that Godsmack showcases how they relish their roles as fans and understand and appreciate their own fans. With Live & Inspired, fans not only participated during the live shows but were also invited to share photos for potential inclusion on the CD’s packaging. Photos include the band on stage, posing with fans, and tattoo close-ups.

 Godsmack Live & Inspired Rocks 9.1 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.

When some bands release live albums to tide over fans (and record companies) in between studio albums, the result is lackluster. But that's not the case here. Live & Inspired holds its own as one of the finer live albums over the past few decades.

Filler it is not. But those itching for a new album anyway can look ahead to 2013, when the band is anticipating the release of its next album. The band recently wrapped up a 20-city tour with fellow Massachusetts rockers Stained. Godsmack has confirmed their participation in Shiprocked, billed as the “ultimate rock music cruise vacation,” for November and December.

They’ll share the bill with Five Finger Death Punch, Fuel, Filter, Sevendust, P.O.D., Black Stone Cherry, Lit, Geoff Tate, In This Moment, and Gilby Clarke. The 4-day cruise sails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Key West, Florida, and Nassau Bahamas.

Live & Inspired is available from iTunes. Live & Inspired [2 CD] is also available from Amazon and you can find it on Barnes & Noble. This is one of those cases when digital is cool, but the physical set is well worth it.

Sully Erna's Avalon Is A Masterpiece

When you’re the front man for one of the most successful metal/rock bands in the country and have sold more than 15 million CDs worldwide, you don’t need to take chances. As the singer and primary songwriter for Godsmack, Sully Erna absolutely qualifies.

He has long been well-respected as having one of the best bands and voices in the business. And he is equally complicated.

For years, he worked on writing, playing and producing songs that would have felt out of place on Godsmack’s The Oracle or anything else by the band. So he decided to release Avalon, his first solo outing. It was a risk. It's not remotely close to Godsmack.

It's a “huge departure from anything I’ve ever done.” — Sully Erna

From the very first track, it is clear that Erna relishes the experimentation. Instead of pounding drums and shredding guitar, his songs rely on piano, acoustic guitars, hand drums, and mix of tribal and Eastern influences.

The result is hypnotic, melodic, and showcases Erna’s amazing voice in a most pleasing way. And he could not have found better partners to help produce it.

The Massachusetts native added an entire roster of very competent and talented musicians to help him craft his sound: Lisa Guyer (vocals), Tim Theriault (guitar and vocals), Chris Decato (keyboards, midi and vocals), Chris Lester (acoustic guitars and bass), Irina Chirkova (cello), David Stefanelli (drums and percussion), and Niall Gregory (drums and percussion). Gregory, best known for his work with Dead Can Dance, turns in some pretty impressive hand drumming here.


Released on Universal Records, Avalon’s first single, Sinner’s Prayer, is melodic, ethereal and definitely hypnotic. 7 Years is also epic in tone and length, perhaps chronicling the seven years it took to craft these songs. The Departed with Guyer also strikes the rights notes from start to finish. There is no reason to skip a single track.

Erna is an interesting guy. His lyrics consistently and easily reflect that. Besides his day job with Godsmack and his part-time solo work, he’s also an avid poker player, participating in the World Series of Poker. Beyond that, he is a philanthropist (he and his Godsmack bandmates sent supplies to Haiti) and the author of the memoir The Paths We Choose.

Sully Erna’s Avalon Rises With A 9.1 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.

Avalon is not just a collection of songs. It's a masterpiece. As Erna says, “Everything that I know in my life up until now has been bled into this body of work.” I could not agree more.

He is fearless and it shows. And while he is not currently on tour, Avalon brings him closer than ever. You can find Avalon on iTunes. Follow this link to Avalon on Amazon. You can also find the making of Avalon on Erna's Website.