Drowning Pool - Desensitized

How can you not help but root for Drowning Pool?

Fresh off the success of “Bodies,” DP landed a first stage position on 2002’s Ozzfest. Then, something happened to the band darker than any of their songwriting imagery laid end-to-end.

While on tour, 30-year singer Dave Williams was found dead in his trailer. But Drowning Pool doesn't want your sympathy. What they do want is for you to judge them on the merits of their being a brand new band with an entirely new dynamic, while staying true to what got to the level they previously attained. 

Rising up from the tragic ashes is the new-look Drowning Pool. Taking over lead vocal duties is Jason “Gong” Jones, he of the Kix “Blow My Fuse” t-shirt-sporting Jones’. Lest you think Drowning Pool is going to turn on a dime and sound like blues-based Baltimore boogie-rock, you’d be wrong (but what a great nod to the past!).

Drowning Pool’s 2nd album, “Desensitized” is as intense as their debut effort, “Sinner.” More mature and aggressive to the hilt, Drowning Pool mean to hammer you over the the head with topics ranging from self-doubt and perseverance to religion and (gasp!) satanism.

There is nothing subtle about the nod toward the dark arts as the CD is complete with Maxim Magazine-style babe on the cover sporting a bikini with not one, but two strategically-placed pentagrams. It's as tongue-in-cheek as "Shout At The Devil" was in  '85. Something for the 15-year olds to leave lying around to freak out the parents.

While the artwork is the eyecandy, the music is all substance. Drowning Pool don't stray  far from the formula that made "Bodies" a force to be reckoned with. There is a different energy here, though, that is hard to encapsulate. "Gong" is a great singer and from the photos will be a presence on stage. He channels Matthews, Geoff Tate (seriously) and  Type O Negative to varying degrees of success. But successful, it is.

Come for the "Step Up" (see Punisher Soundtrack review). Stay for the "Love And War," "Bringing Me Down," and "Hate." This album is about as complete as you would could demand for this genre. Prove to me Godsmack has written more than one song and I'll buy you lunch...but DP have song-scaped 11 dynamic and different tracks as the day is long. Numerous listens will separate the wheat from the chafe, but there's not much fat...it's all lean. And mean.