Godsmack When Legends Rise

Twenty years after the release of their breakthrough debut effort, Massachusetts hard rock veterans Godsmack veered in a fresh direction for their seventh set, When Legends Rise. Following 2014's by-the-numbers 1000hp and frontman Sully Erna's 2016 sophomore solo effort, Hometown Life, Legends presents a little of the old Godsmack -- crunch, grit, and all -- with an added dose of polish and melody courtesy of co-producer Erik Ron (Motionless in White, Issues, I See Stars). Like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes, Godsmack are reborn, to a certain extent, shedding some of the bitterness, anger, and aggression that was a trademark of their earlier output. Yet, without that violent anger and creeping darkness that defined some of their biggest hits, what's left is a band that remains hungry and driven by hope. The album kicks off with a one-two punch that serves as a reminder of their power and offers a taste of the new path they've set for themselves. "When Legends Rise" is a rousing