HELLYEAH ARE GETTING HEAVIER

Word on the street is that Hellyeah’s new album, Band of Brothers, sees the supergroup’s members trying to get back to their roots — namely, Pantera and Mudvayne, two heavier bands that a lot of people (like me!) who don’t like Hellyeah actually enjoyed to whatever degree. (For the record, while I LOVE Pantera with all my heart, I only like Mudvayne. Sorry, Mudvanye. If it makes you dudes feel any better, I’ve gotten this far and failed to mention Nothingface for a reason.)

Unfortunately, if the album’s title track, which has now premiered on Noisecreep, is any indication, Hellyeah have not quite succeeded at this task.

Sure, the music is mostly heavier… but not really in a good way. Now Vinnie Paul can add himself to the list of musicians aping Pantera; the main riff is so faux Dimebag I thought I was listening to a Throwdown song for a second. And maybe you think that Vinnie Paul is allowed to ape Pantera, since he was in that band — which is fair enough. But the chorus still sounds like the honky-tonk stuff Hellyeah have always made. And the lyrics are as laughable as they’ve ever been:

I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine,
As long as we stand together,
Everything’s gonna be alright
I’ll keep you high when you get low,
Just a band of brothers raising hell,
Like a murder of crows

I mean…

Listen to the track here and make up your own mind. Have Hellyeah redeemed themselves for past sins, or simply committed a new one?

Band of Brothers comes out July 17 via Eleven Seven Music.

-AR