The last few years have not been kind to Zakk Wylde. He was diagnosed with a severe blood clotting disorder that led him to quit drinking, longtime BLS drummer Craig Nunenmacher departed from the band, and Zakk was released from his long time duties as lead guitarist for Ozzy. Where most artists would fall apart or begin to self destruct, Zakk bounced back and wrote one of the best Black Label Society albums to date.
“Order of the Black” is a hard hitting, tight, focused album the likes of which has not been seen from the BLS camp since “The Blessed Hellride.” The transition between pummeling heaviness and lighter prone ballads is seamless and it feels as if Zakk’s sobriety and focus on one band has fine tuned his already dominant skills. His voice sounds better, his riffs don’t sound forced, and the album doesn’t feel forced like parts of “Mafia” and “Shot to Hell.”
I’m sure at this point you must be looking for specific examples to back up what I’ve stated above. I’ll start off as I usually do, and where it makes most sense to do so, at the top of the album. “Crazy Horse” kicks off with a hard hitting chugging riff that drives right through the track and doesn’t leave any space for filler. It’s a great opener, guaranteed to snap your neck.
“Overlord” is a more simplified tune, catchy and topping off at about 6 minutes; it doesn’t get stale or run itself in circles, and kicks into a high gear shred fest at the 3 minute mark that changes the game with a stunning array of solos.
The first single from the album that saw the light of day was “Parade of the Dead” and it still packs the same punch it did when I first heard it earlier in the year. This is classic BLS speed and could fall in line with classics like “Battering Ram.”
A BLS album just isn’t complete without the piano based ballads which are as powerful as Zakk’s speedier work and just as important to the BLS legacy as his intensive guitar work. On “Order of the Black” you’ve got “Darkest Days” “Time Waits For No One” and “Shallow Grave”. Each is reminiscent of “Hangover Music” in its style and gives a chance to chill out in between an otherwise ass-kicking album. Personally, I think of “Just Killing Time” when I listen to “Time Waits For No One” as the lyrical content runs in a similar vein.
Closing out the album is the acoustic based “January” which is a throwback to Zakk’s “Book of Shadows” album. I’m glad to hear that he took a look back and can still pull out a song in that classic style.
Needless to say, I’m looking forward to catching the Black Label Bezerkus when it comes to NYC late next month. Zakk and the rest of the Black Label Society are on fire with “Order of the Black” and I’m excited to catch the new material live. Zakk proves he’s still got it and that when it comes to adversity, he laughs in its face and can still go out and kick some ass on guitar.