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Interviews : “It reflects all the energy we put into our music” – An Interview With Sully Erna (Godsmack)

By on September 3, 2014

Godsmack 2014

Godsmack – Sully Erna

Godsmack are a band I’ve been listening to since I was in my early teens, at that awkward stage where you’re trying to figure out what’s what. For me, the hard rock Massachusetts band had so much to say through their music and in a way that unleashes pure, rebellious hell, which, of course, is what appealed to me when I heard my first Godsmack album, ‘Awake’. In what was an extremely happy moment for me filled with nostalgia, I had the opportunity to speak with founding member and front man Sully Erna on behalf of Metal Obsession. “Hey! How’s it going, Prat? Everything’s really great for us at the moment. We’ve just been busy with ‘1000hp’, promoting it, getting things going, organizing our tours with all the new songs. We’re really happy with the new album and the response it’s been getting!”

Godsmack has returned with their sixth studio album ‘1000hp’ after four years, and quite frankly, it is an absolute musical riot! Sully shared his thoughts on the new album and how things started off for ‘1000hp’. “It’s such a great album. [It] really represents us as a band and the kind of music we like playing. At one point, there was a period where we didn’t know what the future of Godsmack was: we didn’t know whether we would continue on as a band. Honestly, I think we just needed a break. But somehow, we pushed through all that and got back into it and I think that is what really helped us make this album!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rL4em-Xv5o

Going further into the new album, he gave me a quick track-by-track analysis. “There’s a lot of stuff going on with this album. For instance, we’ve still maintained that classic Godsmack sound that will please our fans but there are also a few new tweaks here and there. When you take songs like ‘Something Different’ or even the title track, it has a more punk-ish feel to the music, with some melodic elements too (‘Something Different’ has this really nice violin section which is a pleasant surprise). Then you have more artsy, less generic songs, that show our more adventurous side like ‘Generation Day’, ‘Living In The Gray’, and ‘Nothing Comes Easy’. ‘FML’ and ‘Locked and Loaded’ are heavier, typical hard rock tunes! That’s what’s great about this album: that there’s so many textures, so many different elements that come together and make sense when you listen to it!” I also asked him how it was to be working with Dave Fortman again, who the band worked with for their previous album ‘The Oracle’. “Dave is such an amazing guy, as a person and as a producer. We worked so well together on ‘The Oracle’ which is why I wanted to work with him again for ‘1000hp’. I respect him and what he does. He really understands the band and what we want out of our music!”

Interesting things happen every day when you’re in a band and recently, the Mayor of Boston, Martin Walsh, declared August 6th as ‘Godsmack Day’. That’s not something that happens to bands everyday! [laughs] “Man, that was such a surprise to us! We didn’t see it coming at all. Martin is a great guy, really loves the music we play, and really supports the band. It was a proud moment, to be honest; for all of us. He thanked us for our dedicated work in the music industry, and it felt good to be recognized for our music and our efforts because for the past 20 years we have been working hard at what we do!”

Yes, 20 years! That’s how long they’ve been around! I grew up listening to ‘Awake’ and ‘Faceless’ and I asked Sully what kept this band together for as long as they have. “ Oh man, there’s been so many times when we’ve all lost it and come so close to splitting and just moving on from Godsmack, with our own lives and our own things. All we did was tour, we were always on the road, and you know, too much of something can piss anyone off! But we got through all of that, we took that break, we thought stuff through and that’s what ‘1000hp’ is really all about. It’s our comeback after everything that’s happened. It reflects all the energy we have and put into our music!”

godsmack 1000hp cover art

‘1000hp’ out now via Spinefarm Records

And, of course, I had to ask what the band’s plans were for their upcoming tours and whether Australia featured in them. Just over a week ago the Soundwave line-up had been announced and Sully gave me this very cheeky answer! “Well, we’ve been planning a whole lot of shows, working things out for the new album, and, of course, we love Australia and we want to back. And in fact, it’s the first on our list. So you’ll probably hear from us about that soon enough! We’ll just have to wait and see!”

Sometimes you always dream of talking to your childhood heroes and imagine what they’d have to say and today I got to talk to one of mine. Needless to say, Sully is a charming, straightforward man with a purpose and it was a pleasure talking to him!

Purchase your copy of ‘1000hp’ now through JB Hi-Fi!

Godsmack are set to appear at next years Soundwave 2015!

Soundwave 2015 Dates

SATURDAY 21 & SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY – ADELAIDE

SATURDAY 21 & SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY – MELBOURNE

SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY & SUNDAY 1 MARCH – SYDNEY

SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY & SUNDAY 1 MARCH – BRISBANE

About

Prarthana is a vegan, Indo-Aussie, heavy music addict, fluent in sarcasm and metal. Traveling is an obsession as she enjoys taking in the history of various countries and following her favorite bands. She's either eating, teaching grammar or learning an instrument, when not occupied with windmilling in the faces of other humans.