Godsmack (album)
Godsmack is the debut album by the band Godsmack. The album was initially paid for by the band and released as All Wound Up, before the band was signed to Universal Records and Republic Records. It was mastered at Sterling Sound in New York City. It differs from All Wound Up by splitting the song "Get Up, Get Out!" into two tracks, while the song "Goin' Down" was removed. "Goin' Down" later appeared on the band's second major album Awake, along with another song left off the self-titled album, "Bad Magick".
Reception
After playing the Boston area over the following two years, local radio stations WAAF, WBCN WFNX began playing the singles "Keep Away" and "Whatever", both of which helped the band to sell copies of their self-financed album All Wound Up. After the demand for their album became too high, Republic Records/Universal Records stepped in and signed the band to their label in 1998. The band replaced drummer Joe D'Arco with Tommy Stewart and All Wound Up was remastered and released six weeks later as their self-titled debut album Godsmack.On December 4, 2001, the album was certified 4x Platinum by the RIAA.
Loudwire named Godsmack as one of the top 10 hard rock albums of 1998.
Controversy
The album caused controversy due to its profane lyrics, and liner notes containing a Wiccan pentagram and reference to "Salem witches", minus a Parental Advisory warning label. After listening to his son's copy of the album, a father in the U.S. complained to Walmart, who sold him the album, that the lyrics were offensive. Walmart and Kmart took the album off the shelves. The band and its record label later added a Parental Advisory sticker to the album, and some stores ordered amended copies of the album. Erna commented on the situation to Rolling Stone magazine, stating, "Our record has been in the marketplace for more than a year now without a parental advisory sticker and this is the one and only complaint. Stickers and lyrics are by nature subjective. We have decided to put a sticker on the record." This controversy did not hurt album sales, but according to Erna, helped, stating, "It's almost taunting kids to go out and get the record to see what we're saying on it."Track listing
Notes- The Japanese bonus tracks are situated before "Voodoo" as tracks 12 and 13.
- Track 13 is a misspelling of "Bad Magick", later released on Awake.
Personnel
- Sully Erna – vocals, guitar, drums, producer, additional keyboards
- Tony Rombola – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Robbie Merrill – bass
- Andrew Murdock – co-production, engineering, additional percussion
- Joseph M. Palmaccio – mastering
- Toni Tiller – girl on CD layout
- Dale May – photography
Charts
| Year | Chart | Peak position |
| 1999 | Heatseekers | 2 |
| 1999 | The Billboard 200 | 22 |
| 2000 | Catalog Albums Chart | 1 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Chart | Peak position |
| 1999 | "Whatever" | Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 7 |
| 1999 | "Whatever" | Alternative Songs | 19 |
| 1999 | "Keep Away" | Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 5 |
| 1999 | "Keep Away" | Alternative Songs | 31 |
| 2000 | "Voodoo" | Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 5 |
| 2000 | "Voodoo" | Alternative Songs | 6 |
| 2000 | "Bad Religion" | Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks | 8 |
| 2000 | "Bad Religion" | Alternative Songs | 32 |