Faceless

Fans of Godsmack’s dark, swirling, commanding music will be delighted by the Boston band’s powerful third effort, which mixes arena rock in the vein of an Alice in Chains (in fact, Godsmack takes its name from an AIC song) with the aggression of Pantera. With new drummer Shannon Larkin (formerly of Amen), Godsmack stick with the riff-heavy, layered tunes and sharp, confident bridge-burning lyrics (witness the convincing vitriol of "I F@?king Hate You"). Highlights include Sully Erna’s gut-spewing scream on "Changes," the memorable chorus and commanding assured "I Stand Alone," and the radio-ready "Straight out of Line." The tribal drums and chanting of the instrumental "The Awakening" sets the stage for "Serenity," the final track, which brings Faceless full circle, the acoustic guitars, congas and strings providing a sinuous conclusion to a potent album. --Katherine Turman