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Album Review
by J. Rockett
24-5-2005
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| AudioSlave: placid-fluidy rocking... |
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AudioSlave: 'Out Of Exile'
(Interscope/Epic)
AudioSlave analyse ancient element - water
AudioSlave are back with the sophomore long-player, ‘Out Of Exile’; how good is it, an improvement or simply a continuation? Well, it is all of the above and then some. It is slightly different and Led Zeppelin don’t figure like a template in a major way but when you listen to the title track, or ‘Doesn’t Remind Me’, or ‘#1 Zero’, then you can‘t help but think of Plant & Page‘s old outfit.
On the whole this is less of a rock album and more a collection of epics arena/stadium audiences love so much. So, the big news in the world of rock is that Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Brad Wilk and Tim Commerford, otherwise known as AudioSlave, are back. The songs have become more subtle - witness the lead single ‘Be Yourself’ - but they are maturing: checking the inlay reveals that all of them are thanking their partners and kids.
The supergroup (a mix of Rage Against The Machine players and Soundgarden singer) manages to produce on 'Out Of Exile' some huge rock beasts such as ‘Drown Me Slowly’, funky-hard rocker ‘The Worm’ and few others but it is - well, polite, somewhat too mainstream. Then, ‘Heaven’s Dead’ is so average it pains me to have the word in a review of these fine musicians with more-than-respectable track records.
Morello continues to explore his guitar like no other axe-man around and the first ‘never-heard-before’ sounds come on the titular track that is sequenced at No. 2; pay close attention to ‘Man Or Animal’ also. Rhythms are as solid as Tom and drummer Wilk’s reputation. Cornell's distinct growl tops it but… If you happen to be a fan of Rage Against The Machine, there isn’t much you could find here.
Highlights include the opening 'Your Time Has Come', stadium-cum-prog rocker 'Doesn't Remind Me' and the hooky 'Yesterday To Tomorrow' that, if culled for a single, it could well be a smash hit.
It looks like the Morello’s partner in founding the coalition “For saving the world, fighting the power, etc” - www.axisofjustice.org, just relaunched, see/Link News - Serj Tankian and System Of a Down have taken over the RATM’s role, as their album ‘Mezmerize’, released the previous week, proves beyond any shadow of a riff.
The AudioSlave album’s aftertaste is knowing they can do better, greater, edgier. That’s why this is a bigger disappointment than the band’s debut.
7/10
J. Rockett
24-5-2005
AudioSlave album ‘Out Of Exile’ is released 23 May 2005 by Interscope/Epic
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