Nu Metal Meets Guitar Rock
Review Score: 








(8/10)
Man, am I pleasantly surprised! Velvet Revolver has put together a melodic, foot stompin', sing-along-to-the-lyrics masterpiece. I was really apprehensive about "Contraband" sounding like an old 80's hair band. That's probably why it took me several months to buy the CD after its release.
Contraband has the driving beat in most of the songs that you hear in a lot of Nu Metal, but that is combined with clearly sung lyrics and lead guitar solos that are not over the top.
My taste for Metal has progressed along with the genre (Disturbed, Breaking Benjamin, etc). Unfortunately, though, you find too many Nu Metal bands that have dropped a well thought out lead guitar solo for a singer that likes to angrily growl through all the songs (like Slipknot and sadly even the new Drowning Pool). However, I think that Velvet Revolver have combined clearly sung lyrics with awesome music; hence, making a perfect guitar rock/nu metal combo.
There is one terrible aspect of this CD and that is the security feature. (Hint: Any security feature is just an inconvenience that can be swatted away like an annoying fly...all you need to do is Google the words "Velvet Revolver, Contraband, security, disable" and the truth shall set you free!) Velvet Revolver have decided that most of the public must be crooks and will pirate their music. The CD won't copy to your computer unless you use the copying software that is included with the CD (unless you're smart enough to over-ride the security feature (see Google advice above). Contraband will only copy to your computer at a low bit rate (as opposed to "audio lossless"), and what really sucks is once you download the CD to your computer it allows for only 3 burns per song (unless you bybass the security feature/see Google advice above). If you are like me and you regularly update your compilation CDs, 3 burns per song is unacceptable and I'd be through my limit in half a year if I didn't figure out how to bybass the stupid feature. Shame on Velvet Revolver for such an insult to the fans just to prevent a few criminals.
Anyway, if you liked GnR and STP you really should like this CD. If you're into the Nu Metal thing then you also should really like this CD. This is not your Daddy's rock. This is a stable of songs that for the most part get it into high gear and kick it hard. Enjoy!
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