Album Review – STONE SOUR – Hydrograd (Roadrunner Records)
Review by Geoff Jenke
Hydrograd is Stone Sour’s first album since their previous 2 concept albums, House of Gold & Bones 1& 2 from 2012 and 2013. Corey Taylor, who is also vocalist for Slipknot, is also lead singer of Stone Sour. Unlike their previous two concept sets, this album is just a straight forward collection of hard rock killer tunes.
Hydrograd starts with a heavy intro piece called YSIF. Although it has no vocals, it lets you know that this album will be relentless. Taipei Person/Allah Tea (say it slowly) is up next and we crunch straight into metal with a rousing sing-a- long chorus. At times this song reminds me of Michael Monroe’s solo sound, which is no disgrace. Knievel Has Landed ups the metal sound, not as fast as the previous track but a far dirtier, heavier groove. Song#3 sounds as if they are trying to get radio play and with a song as good as this, they should. Ten years ago they may have got radio play but in this day, it is doubtful they will. It is still a great song, but a lot more commercial than their usual sound.
Fabuless lets us know Corey Taylor is still a member of Slipknot, while St Marie is the obligatory “phones up in the air with light on” ballad. Every good metal album has to have a ballad. This one has a country influence to it.
While it may start with a nice piano tune Whiplash Pants proves to be the most ferocious and strongest track on the album. Stone Sour has the knack of serving up several types of metal on one album. We get standard fast metal, thrash, punk and hard rock. Then they go throw in a country ballad. You never know what you will get next from Stone Sour and that in itself is a great thing.
If you like your music fast and loud, then this is the album for you.
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