Probot - Probot (2004)

Welcome to the all-out metal side project of ex-Nirvana drummer/current Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl.  Grohl had been compiling instrumental material on cassettes (labelled "Probot") for years with specific singers in mind but no real intentions of releasing it.  Friend, ex-Zwan guitarist and Bonnie "Prince" Billy collaborator Matt Sweeney would help him track down some of these vocalists in order to bring some of these tracks to life.  An all-star cast of metal vocalists who influenced Grohl as a kid in the 80s and early 90s was brought together to create a fully-fledged Probot project.  Vocalists range from Soulfly/ex-Sepultura's Max Cavalera to Snake of Voivod or Cronos of Venom.  Much like the Foo Fighter's debut album, Grohl would play most of the instruments himself with certain exceptions; the biggest exception of all being Lemmy of Motorhead providing the bass track and writing the lyrics to the album's biggest hit titled "Shake Your Blood" (a dead-ringer for a classic Motorhead track).  The songs sounds range from metal to hard rock; the more melodic songs tend to use guitar riffs sometimes coming off as a heavier version of the Foo Fighters.  Grohl can certainly nail a band's signature sound as he can make it seem as though even Max Cavalera is back with Sepultura in the good old days.  Also do not miss out on the hidden track at the end of the album called "I Am The Warlock" which features Jack Black on vocals.  Hey may yet have a career in metal.  Despite the somewhat comical lyrics (which are to be expected), this is more of a serious track than Black has ever laid down.  Grohl's drumming is sharp and crisp as usual often times reminiscent of his work on the Songs For The Deaf album he participated on with Queens Of The Stone Age; there are few who could outmatch his work.  Chances of a follow-up to this album are slim, which means contributions from artists absent will not see the light of day (at least not any time soon).  According to sources, a track was ready to go for Tom Araya of Slayer but due to scheduling conflicts, Araya was not available to take part.  It is nice to see Grohl's work come to life as it's one of the more fun metal albums that has come around in a long time.  80s metal is back via the mind of Dave Grohl!

Tracklist:

1. "Centuries Of Sin" (feat. Cronos of Venom)
2. "Red War" (feat. Max Cavalera of Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy and Sepultura)
3. "Shake Your Blood" (feat. Lemmy of Motorhead)
4. "Access Babylon" (feat. Mike Dean of Corrosion Of Conformity)
5. "Silent Spring" (feat. Kurt Brecht of Dirty Rotten Imbeciles)
6. "Ice Cold Man" (feat. Lee Dorrian of Cathedral and Napalm Death)
7. "The Emerald Law" (feat. Wino of Saint Vitus and The Obssessed)
8. "Big Sky" (feat. Tom G. Warrior of Celtic Frost and Hellhammer)
9. "Dictatorsaurus" (feat. Snake of Voivod)
10. "My Tortured Soul" (feat. Eric Wagner of Trouble)
11. "Sweet Dreams" (feat. King Diamond of King Diamond and Mercyful Fate)
12. "I Am The Warlock" (feat. Jack Black of Tenacious D)

 www.myspace.com/probot