No,it’s not really a metal album — not according to my definition of metal, anyway. But Van Weezer is certainly a solidly rocking Weezer disc. Their hardest-hidding in many a year, in fact. So that’s a good thing. A better thing: It’s chock full of chuging, chunky riffs (including the one from Ozzy’s Crazy Train), divebombing licks and pyrotechnic solos pilfered straight from your favourite ’80s hair bands — along with penty of Rivers Cuomo‘s undiminished and undeniable pop smarts, of course. That’s more than good enough for me. You too, I reckon.
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The inspiration for Van Weezer, the band’s 15th studio album, derives from the deepest roots of Weezer — metal! What has metal got to do with Weezer, you ask? In his earliest years, Rivers Cuomo was a huge KISS fan; Brian Bell was a big Black Sabbath fan; Pat Wilson worshipped at the altar of Van Halen and Rush; Scott Shriner loved Slayer and Metallica. The last time this vein of harder rock was mined by Weezer was on their much-loved 2002 album Maladroit; Van Weezer is primed to take that album’s sonics many steps further, courtesy of producer Suzy Shinn.
Van Weezer follows the release of the band’s first-ever orchestral album OK Human earlier this year. Weezer have sold over 10 million albums in the U.S., and over 35 million records worldwide since their debut album’s release in 1994. The catalogue has included such megahits as Buddy Holly, Undone (The Sweater Song), Say It Ain’t So, El Scorcho, Hash Pipe, Island In The Sun, Beverly Hills, Pork and Beans and more.”
