Buckcherry are back with a fist of hard rock and are packing a few creative punches too. Unfortunately it’s a lot fewer than I expected.
The single Gluttony has some great hooks and carries the typical Buckcherry vibe of hard-hitting guitars and Josh Todd’s rasping vocals. The rest of the first half of the album is rather more disappointing though. Wrath is too repetitive while Nothing But Tears is interesting through its lyrical bitterness, but is ultimately more of the same. Older fans who know Cream (Black Butterfly album, 2008) will see parallels in The Truth and it has one of the best solos on the album by Keith Nelson.
The rhythm guitars come into their own on Greed with Stevie. D driving through behind the scenes and there’s some great layering between the vocals and guitars – typically Buckcherry and successful too! Water and Seven Ways To Die are less remarkable but lead into the better half of the album. Air has a haunting minor note just before the chorus, taking the track in a different direction to what you might expect and, though rough and gutsy, is a more reflective song.
Sloth is heartfelt from the outset; Todd’s love-promises rip into you from the start soaked in bursts of guitar. The vocals almost clash with the instruments but it’s this creativeness that gives Buckcherry their own flavour and spark. It’s original structurally and in terms of production. Pride was easy to pass over but talking-quality of the vocals on the verses of Envy reminded me of something Slash might do but it had a great impact: the vocals slam into your face while the guitar ripples in the background. Lust was alright, another mediocre song but Dreamin’ of You is fresh to finish on. Slightly off-beat it’s still quite repetitive but inspiring.
It’s definitely Buckcherry and has their name stamped all over it in muddy, ink-soaked words. I’m sure the live show will live up to their reputation and to the album with a raucous party atmosphere, but for me Confessions lacks that flair to mark an album out.
Track List:
- Gluttony
- Wrath
- Nothing Let But Tears
- The Truth
- Greed
- Water
- Seven Ways To Die
- Air
- Sloth
- Pride
- Envy
- Lust
- Dreamin’ Of You
