This past Friday (June 22), the metal world found out some terrible news when it was announced that Vinnie Paul of Hellyeah/Ex-Pantera/Ex-Damageplan had passed away in his Las Vegas home. The second half of the greatest and most dynamic brother duo in metal history has joined his brother in Heaven. I decided that I was going to pay tribute to Vinnie Paul this week by dedicating the album of the week to him. While there are many bands that I can choose from whether it be Rebel Meets Rebel, Pantera, or even Damageplan, I decided that I was going to choose an album from his latest band Hellyeah. The album that I chose is my favorite album from the band that I got autographed by the band in their self titled debut album. It had been two years since Vinnie had joined a band and he decided that the supergroup that featured members of Mudvayne and Nothingface was the right choice. The band was made up of Chad Gray (Vocals), Greg Tribbett (Lead Guitar), Tom Maxwell (Rhythm Guitar), Jerry Montano (Bass), and Vinnie Paul on the drums. The album was released on April 10, 2007 and it took no time for the album to peak at it’s highest point on the Billboard Top 200 Charts at number nine selling over 45,000 copies in it’s first week.
1. HELLYEAH– The opening track can be considered some what of an anthem for the band and what they meant moving forward. An amazingly heavy track that reminds us why we love Vinnie and how much better he made this band. 5/5
2. You Wouldn’t Know– Some say that the track is about someone trying to be true to themselves in the way the industry is run and some say that it’s about Vinnie and he deals with the death of his brother. Nevertheless, this is one of my all time favorite Hellyeah songs. 5/5
3. Matter of Time– An insane in your face track that reminds me of Mudvayne a little much, but no surprise with Chad Gray at the helm. I think the track or at least a part of it could be about Dimebag once again in the verse when they refer to the man with the gun in his hand. 4.5/5
4. Waging War– Another in your face track that I have to be honest in saying that I think the track is about Phil Anselmo and what he had said in that interview about Dime and Vinnie. 4/5
5. Alcohaulin’ Ass-A cool track that starts out with some acoustic guitars and some slide guitar in this track that is just a good time party song. 5/5
6. GodDamn– A bad ass groove metal number that I think is the band confessing their distaste over the music industry exes that run it. 5/5
7. In the Mood-I love the way this instrumental track starts off as it’s very melodic before it leads to the next track. 4/5
8. Star-A track that sludges along mixing a little element of Nu-Metal into it that I think is about a guy finding a new love that has made his life shine brighter. 4.5/5
9. Rotten to the Core– I think this is a cool track that can be looked at like it’s coming from the perspective of a Villain who just wants destruction and chaos. Check out the lyrics to the track. 4/5
10. Thank You– This is a track the band did in tribute to Dimebag Darrell, Tom Maxwell’s Mother and Chad Gray’s Grandmother who all passed away. 5/5
11. Nausea– A track that is about someone who just doesn’t care about life or anyone around him that he is willing to ruin everything only because he feels he’s been fed lies his whole life. 4/5
12. One Thing– The last track on the album that has a real Pantera feel to it musically in this track that is about someone who feels they’ve lost everything that they just want one sign of hope. 4/5
My Final Thoughts– This is still collectively my favorite album from a band that I have been up and down with over the years. There is no denying that they’ve come into their own over the years. My favorite tracks on the album are GodDamn and You Wouldn’t Know while my least favorite track is Nausea. I am giving the album 4.5 stars out of five for a final grade.
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