Debut Solo Effort From Hatebreed Singer
"Jasta". The debut solo record of Jamey Jasta. He of Hatebreed fame, presenting duties on Headbanger's Ball and a sludge band with Crowbar main-man Kirk Weinstein. This litany of projects might put a lot of people off straight away but seeing as I'm largely oblivious to his band Hatebreed's back catalogue and am not an American with teenage memories of a goofy metal show I can largely approach this with open ears. Largely, because of course I have heard solo albums from singers from popular bands before, usually to the detriment of those very same ears.
"Jasta" takes a hardcore base (shouted vocals and fast juddering breakdowns) and adds the odd dollop of metal with a smattering of guest musicians. Not exactly a musical vein that hasn't been tapped before or a massive departure from his day job in Hatebreed but there is some variety here. Radio rocker 'Nothing They Say' is straight adolescent outsider posturing evident in a chorus of "We are nothing, we are nothing, we are nothing they say we are!" Combining the requisite American tough guy emoting with, at times, nu-metal's textural chug (taking this further the logo for the record is a Fred Durst referencing take on Major League Baseball's logo for feck's sake)is not a great idea. 'Anthem Of The Freedom Fighter' with its "I fight for freedom!" refrain would surely be destined for an army recruitment advert were it not for current environment of government austerity budgets.
When Jamey aims for the heart with his clean vocals it merely exposes the limitations in his voice. Full throated shouting he can do, the odd melodic break at a push but whole songs? They just end up a slushy mess a la 'Something You Should Know'. Fortunately, this is not his default setting and when sticking to what he knows best "Jasta" is passable. 'Enslaved, Dead or Depraved' bonds some heavy sludge to the other song's standard components and succeeds; suggesting the time spent with Kirk Weinstein in Kingdom of Sorrow has not been wasted. Add in Randy Blythe of Lamb of God's guest vocal and you've got a definite highlight. A further guest in As I Lay Dying's Tim Lambesis on 'With A Resounding Voice' elevates another track to worthwhile status.
Despite the variety injected by the various guests this jukebox of a record is laden down by banal, posturing lyrics and music that covers so many bases that it ends up lacking identity which is disappointing in an artist as honest as Jasta. However, if you're a teen with ears attuned to your unfortunate but hugely mundane pain or someone who just has to hoover up everything Jasta releases maybe, just maybe this record will strike a chord.