Awake

1	Sick of Life 3:52
2	Awake 5:04
3	Greed 3:28
4	Bad Magick 4:14
5	Goin' Down 3:22
6	Mistakes 5:58
7	Trippin' 4:55
8	Forgive Me 4:19
9	Vampires 3:45
10	The Journey 0:49
11	Spiral 5:34

Barnes & Noble

Although it's true that Boston neo-metal stalwarts Godsmack have already sold more than three million discs on the scaly backs of the hits "Whatever" and "Keep Away," their self-titled debut disc (released in 1997) was really just the cleaned-up demo recording that got them signed. Awake is the bracing slap in the face that reveals Godsmack's true colors -- black as they might be. "I wanna know why I've always felt alone," howls vocalist Sully Erna on "Sick of My Life" as churning down-tuned guitars, throbbing bass lines, and surging drums coalesce in a maelstrom of melodic angst that's equal parts Alice in Chains, Helmet, and Metallica. "Awake" and "Bad Magick" deliver similar doses of pernicious, percussive fury, and "Vampires" combines testosterone riffage with eerie spoken-word samples in a way that's as effective as Ministry's "So What?" With the inoffensive sounds of Third Eye Blind, Matchbox Twenty, and Creed cleaning up the charts, Godsmack provide a riveting wake-up call to those who still like their rock sprinkled with rage. Jon Wiederhorn

All Music Guide

Godsmack recorded its self-titled debut for 1,500 dollars and served up a triple-platinum helping of meaty, cleverly written, pure metal. The tribal "Voodoo" was one of 2000's best singles. The first three songs of the group's sophomore effort, Awake -- "Sick of Life," "Awake," and "Greed" -- blend together unanimously into a swirl of Tony Rambola's jackhammer guitar riffs. It's the deeper cuts that are the standout tracks. The dirgy, slow groove in "Mistakes" is hook laden. One common thread between Godsmack and Awake is lead singer Sully Erna's angst-ridden lyrics. "Oh God, I'm makin' the same mistakes," he cries in "Mistakes," as Rambola's guitars encircle him. Drummer Tommy Stewart, on "Trippin'," aptly pronounces Erna's anger in "Face down/I walk away/Every time I think I do the right thing/You turn your back on me." ~ Christina Fuoco, All Music Guide