Album Review: Drowning Pool releases 2010 album, creatively titled “Drowning Pool” ; plus YouTube interview

Drowning Pool.

The name of the band conjures up one word with anybody who has ever heard of them:

Bodies.

I never owned a DP album before I came upon their 2007 release Full Circle but was very familiar with the song “Bodies.”  I have no clue what it was about except it involved bodies that hit the floor.  Several times.  I’m not sure if I even liked the song but the chorus has stuck with me like herpes. I can’t get rid of it.

I did know that after their debut album became popular their lead singer unfortunately
died and at one point Rob Zombie was possibly on deck to record vocals for their sophomore release after contributing a track together to the Darevdevil soundtrack in 2003.  Well, the director of House of 1000 Corpses never showed up to work and they released an album with some random dude singing and a saline infused porn star on the cover. I never heard it. Shortly after they vanished from Planet Rock.

Sadly, sometimes sex DOESN'T sell.

Flash forward to 2010.

Drowning Pool is set to release their 4th studio album, creatively titled Drowning Pool, on April 27th.  Because RUFKM.NET is such an influential force in the music industry, 10th Street Entertainment has trusted us with  a copy almost a month prior to it’s release.

I  bought their last album, Full Circle, after hearing “37 Stitches” on Sirius/XM’s Octane every 37 minutes.  Then I saw them destroy West Palm at Crue Fest last summer.  While the album had several bright spots -many of those due to new lead singer Ryan Mccombs – it was a bit disjointed and seemed like a transitional album.

Well, that transition is OVER.  I have heard this album on headphones at the gym, driving down the highway with the top down, and cranked on my home stereo over the last few days.  Every time I hear it I have one thing to say:  Are You Fucking Kidding Me?

The recording of Drowning Pool is the first time they have entered the studio with the same singer and on the same label.  The result is a muscular, focused sonic assault infused with melody and attitude that sounds like a cohesive band.  The 11 tracks on the album have been

According to page 2,321 of the new Health Care Plan, all Americans are required to purchase Drowning Pool's new album.

stripped to the bone clocking in at just over 35 minutes.  Bands these days seem to put EVERYTHING they record in the studio on their album resulting in 15-20 tracks and tons of filler. The short running time is a welcome change as I like 9 out of the 11 tracks. While the modern production is similar to many bands in their genre, the range of Ryan Mccomb’s vocals and their grasp of an infectious bridge and chorus is unique.  From the concert ready anthems “Feel Like I Do” and “Horns Up” , the croon/scream of “Over my Head”, the Skynyrd / Black Label Society-ish guitar and vocals of “Alcohol Blind”, and the killer bass line of “Children of the Gun”,  one thing remains constant: It fucking rocks.  On the album opener, “Let the Sin Begin”, Ryan sings “Got an Indiana heart with a Lone Star state of mind.” Couldn’t agree more.

But enough from me. Check out the first 8 minutes of an hour long discussion with Ryan Mccombs.  He discusses the album, tour, and VERY honest revelations about the inspirations behind the new songs on Drowning Pool.

YouTube Style with snazzy pix:

Quicktime Version:

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Want to hear the whole thing? Go here for the full interview featuring a track by track breakdown of Drowning Pool.

Past Shenanigans: 13 Stupid Questions with Ryan Mccombs of Drowning Pool