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Grimmest Hits
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Grimmest Hits
Studio album by
Black Label Society
ReleasedJanuary 19, 2018
Genre
Length55:52
LabeleOne
Black Label Society chronology
Catacombs of the Black Vatican
(2014) 		Grimmest Hits
(2018) 		Doom Crew Inc.
(2021)
Singles from Grimmest Hits
  1. "Room of Nightmares"
    Released: October 2, 2017[1]

Grimmest Hits is the tenth studio album by American heavy metal band Black Label Society. The album was released on January 19, 2018. According to AllMusic, the sound of the album was inspired by Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin.[2] Despite its title, the album is not a greatest hits album. Zakk Wylde admitted in an interview with Billboard that he "just wanted to confuse people".[3]

The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hard Music, No. 1 Independent, and No. 2 Rock Charts. The album was also the No. 1 selling album at Best Buy for the week of its release, beating out Grammy-nominated Fall Out Boy by a considerable margin. Upon its release, the album landed at #1 spot on iTunes Top Rock Albums Chart and No. 7 on the Overall Top Albums Chart.[4]

Promotion

[edit]

In Spring 2018, Black Label Society collaborated with Corrosion of Conformity, Eyehategod, and Red Fang to promote Grimmest Hits album.[5] On February 26, 2020, the band performed Grimmest Hits at the North American Crusade tour in Tucson, Arizona.[6]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
All About the Rock6.8/10[7]
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[2]
Blabbermouth.net8/10[8]
Distorted Sound8/10[9]
Ghost Cult7/10[10]
Hysteria8/10[11]
Maximum Volume Music9/10[12]
Metal.de7/10[13]
Metal Express Radio6.5/10[14]
Metal HammerStarStarStarHalf star[15]
The Spill MagazineStarStarStarStar[16]
The Music[17]
The Rogers RevueA[18]

Blabbermouth.net called Grimmest Hits a "partial excuse" for Zakk Wylde to show his affection for Ozzy [Ozbourne] and Black Sabbath.[8]

Blair K. Rose of All About the Rock said that Grimmest Hits "carries on the torch rather proudly".[7] The Moshville Times said that the album "doesn't reinvent the Black Label Society wheel", and mentioning that "it's not their finest hour".[19] Martien Koolen called Grimmest Hits "Black Label Society's best album".[20]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Zakk Wylde.

No.TitleLength
1."Trampled Down Below"5:04
2."Seasons of Falter"4:00
3."The Betrayal"3:48
4."All That Once Shined"3:54
5."The Only Words"5:29
6."Room of Nightmares"2:31
7."A Love Unreal"6:00
8."Disbelief"5:28
9."The Day That Heaven Had Gone Away"6:12
10."Illusions of Peace"4:07
11."Bury Your Sorrow"4:41
12."Nothing Left to Say"4:22
Total length:55:36
Japanese CD bonus tracks[21]
No.TitleLength
13."Disbelief (Unblackened Version)"5:08
14."The Only Words (Unblackened Version)"3:49
Total length:64:35

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Grimmest Hits
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[22] 30
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[23] 26
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[24] 21
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 50
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[26] 116
French Albums (SNEP)[27] 132
Italian Albums (FIMI)[28] 88
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[29] 130
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[30] 133
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[31] 74
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[32] 25
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[33] 97
US Billboard 200[34] 29
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[35] 1
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[36] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[37] 3

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Grimmest Hits

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Grimmest Hits is the tenth studio album by the American heavy metal band , released on January 19, 2018, through Entertainment One Music. The album features twelve tracks that blend heavy metal riffs with acoustic elements, showcasing the band's signature style influenced by and Led Zeppelin. Black Label Society, founded in 1998 by guitarist and vocalist —formerly of Ozzy Osbourne's band—has become known for its southern-tinged heavy metal sound, exploring themes of personal struggles, war, and introspection. serves as the creative force behind the group, handling guitars, vocals, and production on Grimmest Hits, with associate producers John "JD" DeServio and Adam Klumpp contributing to the recording process at Wylde's personal studio in . The album marks the band's return following a four-year hiatus after 2014's Catacombs of the Black Vatican, continuing their tradition of delivering riff-heavy anthems. Upon release, Grimmest Hits debuted at number four on the chart and topped the Albums chart, demonstrating strong commercial performance and fan reception. Critics praised the album for its massive riffs and dynamic songwriting, hailing it as one of the band's strongest efforts in their two-decade career, with tracks like "Trampled Down Below" and "Room of Nightmares" highlighting Wylde's guitar prowess and reverence for heavy metal pioneers. The record's darker lyrical tone and mix of electric and acoustic songs further solidified Black Label Society's reputation for evolving within the heavy metal genre.

Background

Album Development

Grimmest Hits marks Black Label Society's tenth full-length studio album and their first collection of original material since Catacombs of the Black Vatican in . Following extensive touring in support of the 2014 release, the band entered a period of hiatus, during which frontman pursued solo projects including the acoustic album Book of Shadows II in 2016 and performances with his Black Sabbath tribute act, Zakk Sabbath, which he formed in 2014. Wylde initiated the development of Grimmest Hits in 2017. In a July 2017 interview, he confirmed that the album had been recorded and was slated for a 2018 release. The songwriting process was notably efficient, with Wylde composing the bulk of the material over just 20 days in late 2017, without formal pre-production. The album's creation was influenced by Wylde's longstanding affinity for , a cornerstone of his musical style, as evidenced by his concurrent Zakk Sabbath performances that kept Sabbath's riff-heavy aesthetic at the forefront. Additionally, Wylde's recent reconciliation and touring commitments with in 2017 reinforced the project's emphasis on dense, Sabbath-esque heaviness, though the works remained distinct without shared material.

Title Choice

The title Grimmest Hits was deliberately chosen as a satirical twist on the conventional "greatest hits" compilation, intended to subvert audience expectations and underscore Black Label Society's affinity for dark humor and heavy metal irreverence. In a 2018 Billboard interview, explained that the name was selected to mislead fans into anticipating a collection rather than original material, stating "We figured it’d confuse , which is always a good thing." This decision emerged during the album's planning stages in , as sought to emphasize their signature grim, intense aesthetic over any commercial nod to past successes. Wylde highlighted the irony in interviews, noting that the title served as a playful jab at industry norms for acts, positioning Grimmest Hits firmly as a fresh studio effort amid ongoing creative . The naming strategy sparked immediate confusion and amusement in pre-release media coverage and among fans, with outlets like Metal Wani describing it as a "confusing title" that initially baffled listeners expecting archival tracks. Reviews in Metal Invader echoed this, calling the title "misleading" and noting its role in generating buzz through surprise. This reaction amplified the album's launch intrigue without detracting from its core identity.

Production

Recording Sessions

The recording sessions for Black Label Society's Grimmest Hits primarily took place at The Black Vatican, Zakk Wylde's personal studio in Los Angeles, California. These sessions occurred in 2017, compressed into a roughly three-week period to complete the album amid Wylde's demanding schedule. Wylde handled the initial writing phase at home over about 20 days, developing full songs from riffs conceived both domestically and on the road, before summoning the band to track the material together at the studio. This efficient workflow allowed for a focused capture of the band's raw energy, with mixing finalized later that year to meet the January 2018 release deadline. The process presented logistical challenges, particularly in balancing the intensive studio work with Wylde's ongoing commitments to touring and performing with , which limited the available window for recording. Despite the brevity, the sessions emphasized collaborative integration among the core band members, ensuring a cohesive sound reflective of their live dynamic.

Production Team

Zakk Wylde served as the primary producer for Grimmest Hits, overseeing the album's overall creative vision and handling production duties for the guitar elements, drawing on his extensive experience as Black Label Society's founder and leader. Associate producers Adam Klumpp and John "JD" DeServio contributed significantly to the technical aspects, with Klumpp focusing on engineering and additional production support, while DeServio provided assistance on bass integration and mixing processes. Mixing for the album was handled collaboratively by Wylde, Klumpp, and DeServio at The Black Vatican studio in , , emphasizing a dense, aggressive sound typical of heavy metal recordings. The final mastering was completed by Peter A. Barker at Threshold Sound + Vision in , ensuring a polished optimized for the genre. Additional production credits include the artwork concept developed by Wylde himself, with design executed by John Irwin Design to complement the album's thematic intensity.

Content

Musical Style

Grimmest Hits exemplifies Black Label Society's core heavy metal sound, blended with prominent doom and elements, characterized by the use of pinch harmonics, down-tuned guitars for a darker tone, and mid-tempo grooves that drive the album's rhythmic foundation. Compared to the band's 2014 album Catacombs of the Black Vatican, Grimmest Hits evolves toward slower tempos and a deeper influence, with heavier riffing and darker guitar tones, while incorporating acoustic interludes in tracks like "The Only Words" for added textural variety. The album's instrumentation centers on Zakk Wylde's expressive solos played on his signature guitars, complemented by dual guitar harmonies from Wylde and rhythm guitarist Lorina, which enhance the layered riff structures. Drummer Fabb provides a solid backbone with double-kick patterns and thunderous beats that support the mid-tempo dynamics and occasional shifts to faster paces. Influences are evident in the Black Sabbath-inspired riffing, which lends a heavy, psychedelic edge, and the twang reminiscent of , infusing the tracks with bluesy grooves and charismatic swagger.

Themes

The lyrics of Grimmest Hits predominantly explore dark themes of personal struggle, betrayal, and loss, reflecting a raw emotional intensity characteristic of Black Label Society's output. In "," the narrative delves into the breakdown of trust and the pain of deception, with lines like "You say that you're not blind / Yet you can't see which way the river flows" illustrating a sense of disillusionment and abandonment. Similarly, "Seasons of Falter" portrays life's downturns through imagery of isolation and futility, as in "Within this cold you reside / The gathering snow / To have traveled so far / With nothing to show," evoking a profound sense of emotional desolation and unfulfilled journeys. Zakk Wylde's songwriting on the album incorporates autobiographical elements, drawing from his own experiences with the toll of fame, battles with addiction, and paths to resilience. He has described the lyrics as inspired by "things that have happened to me and things that I have seen happen to other people," often incorporating metaphors from personal readings or life events to convey introspection. Wylde's recovery from severe alcohol dependency, which he has openly discussed as beginning after a near-fatal health scare in 2009, informs these reflections, highlighting themes of overcoming personal demons amid the rock lifestyle's pressures. Recurring motifs throughout the album include apocalyptic and glimmers of redemption, adding layers to the narrative depth. Tracks like "Trampled Down Below" employ end-times visuals, such as "Holes begin to pierce the sky / Light that falls / The gathering of lies," to symbolize societal and personal decay under deceitful forces. In contrast, "All That Once Shined" weaves redemption through mourning lost glory, with verses like "Mourn the past and all that once shined / As hope begins to falter in this void where you reside" suggesting a resilient of transience and renewal. The overall tone of Grimmest Hits is its grimmest and most introspective to date, as Wylde himself noted the "lyrics are grim," aligning with the band's "berzerkus" ethos of unfiltered, high-energy expression while steering clear of explicit political content. This musical heaviness subtly underscores the thematic weight, amplifying the sense of cathartic release.

Promotion and Release

Release Information

Grimmest Hits was released on January 19, 2018, by eOne Music in the United States and internationally. The appeared in multiple formats, including a standard digipak , digital download, and double LP vinyl edition. eOne Music, a key distributor in the heavy metal genre, managed the U.S. release, continuing Black Label Society's partnership with the label from their 2014 Catacombs of the Black Vatican. Pre-orders commenced in October 2017, featuring exclusivity for instant gratification tracks available to digital buyers.

Marketing and Singles

The marketing campaign for Grimmest Hits leveraged the album's ironic title to generate buzz, with bandleader explaining in press materials that he selected it deliberately to confuse audiences and spark curiosity about the non-compilation release. Wylde shared teasers for the and its tracks across social media platforms, including and , building anticipation through short clips and promotional posts ahead of the January 2018 launch. Pre-order options were made available via the label's webstore for physical copies, with digital pre-saves also offered to encourage early fan engagement. The rollout featured three key singles to hype the album. It began with the first single "Room of Nightmares" on October 2, 2017, accompanied by a . "All That Once Shined" debuted as an early single on November 20, 2017, accompanied by a performance-oriented that showcased the band's raw energy in a studio setting. This was followed by "Trampled Down Below," positioned as the and premiering as a full track on January 8, 2018, with its —directed by Dan Sturgess—released on June 20, 2018, emphasizing live performance footage captured at London's during the band's European tour. Additional promotion included interviews where Wylde discussed the album's unpolished, heavy sound. A Guitar World feature described Grimmest Hits as a "collection of radio-unfriendly loudness," underscoring its dense, riff-driven aesthetic designed for devoted metal fans rather than mainstream airplay. Similar themes emerged in discussions, noting the record's Black Sabbath-inspired elements and avoidance of commercial polish.

Reception

Critical Reception

Upon its release, Grimmest Hits received generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised its heavy riffs and Zakk Wylde's guitar prowess while noting some formulaic elements in its song structures. Blabbermouth.net awarded the album 8 out of 10, highlighting its strong Black Sabbath influences as a key strength. Louder Sound gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars, commending the high standard of songcraft and emotive guitar solos that elevate the tracks. Other outlets averaged around 6.5 out of 10, appreciating the album's blend of doom and blues but critiquing its reliance on familiar tropes. Critics frequently lauded the album's massive, riff-driven sound, with describing it as a " purebred prize dairy cow" for enthusiasts seeking endless guitar hooks, particularly on tracks like "Trampled Down Below" and "." Wylde's technical skill and Sabbath-inspired leads were standout elements, as noted the record serves as "a partial excuse for Zakk ’s Ozzy/ affection," fusing doom riffs with bluesy undertones effectively. Decibel Geek echoed this, praising the "killer riffs and solos" that improve upon efforts, though they emphasized the album's heavy, grungy vibe as its core appeal. On the downside, some reviewers pointed to repetitive structures and a lack of innovation when compared to Black Label Society's earlier works, such as Catacombs of the Black Vatican. Louder Sound observed formulaic patterns throughout, where Wylde's solos, while vital, follow predictable paths despite their character. Decibel Geek specifically criticized the excess of ballads like "The Only Words," calling them uninspired and overly reminiscent of , which diluted the album's freshness for longtime fans. Overall, the reception positioned Grimmest Hits as a solid, if not groundbreaking, entry in the band's discography, rewarding listeners who favor unapologetic heavy metal grooves.

Commercial Performance

Grimmest Hits debuted at number 29 on the chart in the United States, earning 15,000 equivalent album units in its first week, which included traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEAs), and streaming equivalent albums (SEAs). This marked a solid performance for the heavy metal release, driven in part by digital pre-orders of the "Trampled Down Below," which contributed to the overall unit count. The album also achieved number one positions on both the Hard Rock Albums and charts, while peaking at number three on the Top Rock Albums chart. Internationally, Grimmest Hits entered the charts at number 25 on the Swiss Albums Chart, number 30 on the Australian Albums Chart, and number 21 on the German Albums Chart, representing career highs for in those markets. On digital platforms, the album launched strongly, reaching number one on the iTunes Top Rock Albums chart and number seven on the overall Albums chart upon its . In the years following its release, Grimmest Hits has sustained visibility through streaming services, with its 55-minute runtime contributing to ongoing listener engagement on platforms like , though it has not received any major certifications such as gold status in .

Credits

Track Listing

The standard edition of Grimmest Hits contains 12 tracks with a total duration of 55:36. All tracks were written by .
No.TitleDuration
1"Trampled Down Below"5:04
2"Seasons of Falter"4:00
3"The Betrayal"3:48
4"All That Once Shined"3:54
5"The Only Words"5:29
6"Room of Nightmares"2:31
7"A Love Unreal"6:00
8"Disbelief"5:28
9"The Day That Heaven Had Gone Away"6:12
10"Illusions of Peace"4:07
11"Bury Your Sorrow"4:41
12"Nothing Left to Say"4:22
The digipak and deluxe editions include two bonus tracks: "Disbelief (Unblackened Version)" (5:08) and "The Only Words (Unblackened Version)" (3:49), for a total duration of 64:35. There are no regional variants beyond the standard edition.

Personnel

The personnel for Grimmest Hits primarily consists of the core members of , with handling lead vocals, , , and , in addition to serving as and contributing to mixing. Dario Lorina performed on . John "JD" DeServio played bass, acted as associate , and handled mixing. Jeff Fabb provided drums. No major guest musicians are credited, though Wylde's multi-instrumental contributions include organ and strings on select tracks. All performances were recorded at The Black Vatican in , . Additional technical staff includes Adam Klumpp as associate and . The album was mastered by Peter A. Barker at Threshold Sound + Vision in . Artwork and design were handled by John Irwin Design, with concept by . Booking was managed by , with Tim Borror as domestic agent. Management was overseen by Barbaranne Wylde and Rob Nicholson.

References

  1. https://mnrkheavy.com/products/black-label-society-grimmest-hits-digi-pak-cd
  2. https://loudwire.com/black-label-society-grimmest-hits-album-review/
  3. https://www.ruemorguerecords.com/product/black-label-society-grimmest-hits/
  4. https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Black_Label_Society/245
  5. https://www.discogs.com/release/11440006-Black-Label-Society-Grimmest-Hits
  6. https://loudwire.com/black-label-society-grimmest-hits-debuts-strong-m-shadows-danny-worsnop-more/
  7. https://blacklabelsociety.net/zakk-sabbath/
  8. https://loudwire.com/zakk-wylde-reuniting-with-ozzy-new-black-label-society-album-interview/
  9. https://blabbermouth.net/news/zakk-wylde-says-it-took-20-days-to-write-new-black-label-society-album-we-dont-do-pre-production-or-anything-crazy-like-that
  10. https://www.cantonrep.com/story/entertainment/arts/2018/01/31/the-wylde-life-zakk-wylde/15361417007/
  11. https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/zakk-wylde-talks-ozzy-grimmest-hits-album-8097598/
  12. https://metalwani.com/2017/12/review-black-label-society-grimmest-hits.html
  13. https://metalinvader.net/en/black-label-society-grimmest-hits/
  14. https://www.discogs.com/master/1300886-Black-Label-Society-Grimmest-Hits
  15. https://q1043.iheart.com/featured/out-of-the-box/content/2018-01-09-interview-zakk-wylde-talks-new-black-label-society-grimmest-hits-ozzy/
  16. https://maytherockbewithyou.com/mtrbwy/2018/02/zakk-wylde-black-label-society/
  17. https://genius.com/albums/Black-label-society/Grimmest-hits
  18. https://www.discogs.com/release/11489792-Black-Label-Society-Grimmest-Hits
  19. https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Black_Label_Society/Grimmest_Hits/695697
  20. https://distortedsoundmag.com/album-review-grimmest-hits-black-label-society/
  21. https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/75926/Black-Label-Society-Grimmest-Hits/
  22. https://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=20616
  23. https://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Black_Label_Society/Grimmest_Hits/942702/
  24. https://powerchordspodcast.weebly.com/home/black-label-society-grimmest-hits-entertainment-one
  25. https://www.guitarworld.com/features/black-label-society-zakk-wylde-dario-lorina-doom-crew-inc
  26. https://glidemagazine.com/234813/at-bostons-house-of-blues-zakk-wyldes-black-label-society-delivers-frenetic-wah-saturated-solos-show-review-photos/
  27. https://avenoctum.com/2018/01/10/black-label-society-grimmest-hits-spinefarm/
  28. https://genius.com/Black-label-society-the-betrayal-lyrics
  29. https://genius.com/Black-label-society-seasons-of-falter-lyrics
  30. https://heavymag.com.au/zakk-wylde-interview/
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e02qLQ2dKlM
  32. https://genius.com/Black-label-society-trampled-down-below-lyrics
  33. https://genius.com/Black-label-society-all-that-once-shined-lyrics
  34. https://blabbermouth.net/news/zakk-wylde-my-friends-went-to-college-i-went-to-ozzy-osbourne-university
  35. https://loudwire.com/black-label-society-grimmest-hits-riffs-zakk-wylde/
  36. https://loudwire.com/black-label-society-grimmest-hits-room-of-nightmares-video/
  37. https://www.amazon.com/Grimmest-Hits-Black-Label-Society/dp/B0764QDSKC
  38. https://www.kerrang.com/why-eone-is-the-under-the-radar-metal-label-changing-the-game
  39. https://musicinjection.com.au/2017/10/04/zakk-wyldes-black-label-society-to-release-new-album-grimmest-hits-on-jan-19/
  40. https://www.facebook.com/zakkwylde/videos/grimmest-hits-the-only-words-spotify-itunes-apple-music-amazoncom-best-buy-wylde/1841659935883610/
  41. https://loudwire.com/black-label-society-trampled-down-below-new-song/
  42. https://blabbermouth.net/news/black-label-society-debuts-room-of-nightmares-song-and-video
  43. https://live-metal.com/2017/11/20/black-label-society-releases-all-that-once-shined-single-video/
  44. https://blabbermouth.net/news/black-label-society-releases-music-video-for-trampled-down-below
  45. https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/black-label-society-premiere-new-trampled-down-below-music-video
  46. https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/grimmest-hits-zakk-wylde-and-bls-serve-up-a-collection-of-radio-unfriendly-loudness-on-their-new-album
  47. https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/grimmest-hits
  48. https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/black-label-society-grimmest-hits-album-review-1
  49. https://www.decibelgeek.com/black-label-society-releases-its-grimmest-hits/
  50. https://heavymag.com.au/blac-label-society-deliver-love-unreal/
  51. https://blacklabelsociety.net/albums-and-dvds/grimmest-hits/
  52. https://music.apple.com/us/album/grimmest-hits/1280594876
  53. https://www.discogs.com/release/11438320-Black-Label-Society-Grimmest-Hits
  54. https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Black_Label_Society/Grimmest_Hits/673714
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