April 20, 2004 - Desensitized

A week after my last release and almost three years since their debut "Sinner", Drowning Pool released their second album "Desensitized" on April 20, 2004. The reason for the long delay is sadly the death of lead singer Dave Williams due to heart failure. This obviously shook the band up, but they persevered with new lead singer Jason Jones, but are still playing the same nu-metal style. Let's check out their latest!

The album kicks off with "Think" and it's got a slow but hard-hitting main riff led by C.J. Pierce on guitar and we hear Jones for the first time and he seems to have a decent nu-metal voice as he sings in a pretty low voice and then raises it up to a nice loud yell at times as well. They don't stray too far from the main drag once it's established but things sound solid, including some nice drums by Mike Luce at times, and Jones sounds best when he's yelling at the top of his lungs! Up next is the album's lead single "Step Up" and Pierce leads the way with another hard-hitting and cool main guitar riff with some nice high bits to it and Jones sounds pretty great yelling the verse overtop and holding some nice longer yells. Things are definitely fairly heavy, but they're also pretty accessible and catchy and it's easy to see why this fighting anthem became such a successful single. Once these guys establish their main drag they rarely seem to deviate from it, but this song is so upbeat and catchy that you don't mind so much. They quiet things down briefly in a nice little break-up before returning for a final chorus. Track 3 is "Numb" and Pierce plays some super distorted and solid guitar in the opening/chorus riff, but the verse is a much simpler stop-and-start riff that allows Jones to take the spotlight. He sings in a bit of a grunge-y tone on this song and it sounds alright but it also sounds slightly lame honestly. He mixes in some nice high yells, but it's a largely average verse (and chorus too really). Easily the worst of the first three songs. The next track is "This Life" and it's got a way lighter vibe with Pierce playing some guitar that is definitely not heavy, but it's a pretty cool main riff honestly! Jones voice actually sounds solid in this lighter setting and while I wouldn't think this is what I would want from Drowning Pool, they do a pretty good job with this one. The chorus is louder but pretty simple and Jones sings quickly overtop and this combines for a decent chorus as well! We also hear our first guitar solo of the album and while there's no shredding or anything too crazy Pierce definitely spices things up with a decent little solo. For a song that is very atypical this was quite good! Track 5 is "Nothingness" and we're back to a more typical Drowning Pool main riff with Jones starting us off with some "ohhhhh ohhhhh" vocals that are definitely not adding anything. The verse is driven by a fast snd pretty sweet guitar riff by Pierce and Jones sounds solid here as well! The chorus is decent but much simpler but the great verse makes up for it...at first. There are a lot more choruses by the end of the song so it's a mixed bag, but overall still a decent tune. Up next is "Bringing Me Down" and it's got a more pop-y side to it with some light and simple guitar leading the way. They really stick to the main drag on this one and it's okay sure, but it's also not really wowing you with anything and it's just a simple, average song. Track 7 is "Love And War" and it starts with a light, melodic guitar riff by Pierce. Jones sings a slow verse to match the mood and halfway through the volume and heaviness pick up for a nice segue into the loud chorus. It's a decently catchy chorus but like a lot of these songs they don't reach out and grab your attention once they establish the main drag. Another decent tune but nothing too special. The next track is "Forget" and Luce plays a catchy drum beat while Jones sings a typical verse overtop some lighter and slightly boring guitar. Jones sounds decently heavy in the chorus and there's actually a lengthy guitar solo where Pierce shows off some skill! The solo is easily the best part of the song and I'm not sure why there isn't more of this! Track 9 is "Cast Me Aside" and Pierce plays a distorted and cool guitar riff to lead the way in this opening/chorus riff, then the guitar falls away for the beginning of the verse as Jones takes the spotlight. He sounds solid singing quickly and when Pierce comes back in his guitar sounds solid as well. It seems like they might have another solo time, but they do nothing with this long break before returning to the chorus and it's just such a missed opportunity! Up next is "Killin' Me" and Pierce plays some fast and pretty sweet guitar on this one! I love the ramp up to the chorus and it's a pretty catchy and solid chorus as well! Jones sounds catchy snd great singing fast/almost rapping and he even has some nice screams as well on this song! This is definitely one of the better songs on the album! The final song on the album is "Hate" and it's opening/chorus riff is typical(ly heavy and decent), but it's very fucking similar to the main riff of the single "Step Up", which is a little weird for sure! Pierce comes in and out with heavy guitar bits while Jones sings another fast and cool verse. The chorus is slower but decently catchy and hard-hitting and while this definitely fits the template they end the album with two of the best songs on it, talk about finishing strong!

That is the end of "Desensitized" and I thought it was a good album, but definitely not a great one. There was cool stuff on here for sure and most of it was decent, but the ceiling is almost the same as the floor as there are only a couple guitar solos that really stand out beyond the norm. I think it's pretty damn close with their debut "Sinner", but I like this one slightly less and this also marks the end of Drowning Pool in my library.