 "Let the bodies hit the floor, let the bodies hit the floor . . ." Before September 11 these words were regularly opening WWF Smackdown, and the latest signings to Creed's Wind-up label were responsible. Drowning Pool's Bodies is a hell of a tune which has since become a staple on the UK's more discerning rock dancefloors. So are Drowning Pool a one-trick pony, or is there a bit more depth to nu metal's latest hopefuls?
New US single Sinner opens Drowning Pool's debut, and it mixes old school Pantera vocals with a soundscape which wouldn't sound out of place next to Staind or Puddle Of Mudd. The mix of the old and the new is very apparent in a number of songs off this album; and never more than in the afore-mentioned Bodies. This second track tips its hat to Coal Chamber's Sway in a very obvious fashion, but this is no bad thing; the result is both beautiful and brutal.
Drowning Pool's influences obviously reach further that early 90s metal though. The loud-quiet-loud dynamics pioneered by Nirvana (and The Pixies before them) are used to great effect on a number of Sinner's tracks; the excellent Reminded being a particularly good example. Tear Away adds another grunge influence; unsettling harmony vocals straight from the Alice In Chains book of songwriting.
Sermon closes Sinner with vocalist Dave Williams veering from a Maynard James Keenan howl to the spoken words of a preacher: "Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention. Are you ready for the joke, are you ready for the great deception." The quality of songwriting here is very strong, and the majority of tracks end up leaving a lasting impression. There's nothing else here as instant as Bodies, but the rest is well worth persevering with.
If you've enjoyed albums by the likes of Puddle Of Mudd, Nickelback and Staind over the last few months, then Drowning Pool's Sinner will not disappoint. A very impressive debut from a band who obviously consider substance just as important as style. :: Rowan Shaeffer |
