The Wake

When Dave Grohl released Probot, I decided to put away my prejudice against him for his more well-known (not to mention overrated, lacking talent, etc) bands. Grohl has quite simply made an amazing metal album with the help of some of the genre’s most talented and under recognized voices. Featured here are Cronos (Venom), Max Cavalera (Sepultura), Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead), Mike Dean (Corrosion of Conformity), Kurt Brecht (D.R.I.), Lee Dorian (Cathedral/Napalm Death), Wino (The Obsessed), Tom G. Warrior (Celtic Frost), Snake (Voivod), Eric Wagner (Trouble) and King Diamond (Mercyful Fate). Grohl is responsible for almost all of the instrumentation, although there is occasional assistance. The music on each song does reflect the vocalist, as each vocalist co-wrote their song. However, Probot does not sound like a mish-mash of disparate artists, but, instead, sounds coherent and united. There is always a combination of supremely heavy doom metal and thrash on each track, with whatever twist the singer brings along. This is absolutely one of the heaviest, well played and interesting pieces of music I have heard. The songwriting stays true to the underground metal roots, each song is quite memorable and often somewhat catchy. Even if metal is not (yet) your thing, buy this album; it will be an education.