Year: 2019
Total Time: 54:34
Label: Self-Financed
Just before 2019 gave its place to the indescribable 2020, Jamey Jasta released his third personal album called “The Lost Chapters Volume 2.” It is the sequel to 2017’s “The Lost Chapters,” which served as a small collection of singles and unreleased tracks. The same applies here as we get compositions that, according to Jasta’s interviews, had been on his hard drive for a number of years.
The style of the album is quite close to the style of HATEBREED. Pretty straightforward Hardcore Metal but kind of less heavy and considerably more melodic. An approach Jasta might have been afraid to try with his regular band. The group is complemented by brothers Nick and Charlie Bellmore (TOXIC HOLOCAUST) on guitar and drums respectively, with whom Jasta also collaborated on the side project KINGDOM OF SORROW.
While the music not something original, what makes it quite interesting is the very special guests we meet in the album. Are you ready? Hold your breath and here we go: George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher (CANNIBAL CORPSE), Max Cavalera (SEPULTURA), Jesse Leach, Howard Jones (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE), Matt Heafy (TRIVIUM), Kirk Windstein (CROWBAR), Phil Rind (SACRED REICH), Billy Bio (BIOHAZARD), Frankie Palmieri (EMMURE), Zoli Teglas (IGNITE), Tommy Victor (PRONG) and the talented guitarist Joey Concepcion (ARMALAGGON, DEE SNIDER) with whom Jasta covers the classic MEGADETH epic “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”.
All the guests add a little of their personal style, without of course bringing the songs close to the style of their personal bands as Dave Grohl did with PROBOT. So, don’t expect to hear Death Metal in “They Want Your Soul”, Jasta’s duet with Fisher or melodic Metalcore in “When The Contagion Is You” in which Matthew Heafy participates. Most tracks follow a groovy mid-tempo Hardcore rhythm, sometimes veering off in more melodic Punk directions (Cleaned By The Waves) and sometimes into Thrash Metal (Our Guardian Angel).
While the album is entertaining, the recurring pattern of the rhythmic Hardcore with catchy chorus is a little tiring. You have to get to the eighth track to hear a faster song. And that’s when I personally think the album starts talking business, but on the other hand that maybe be a little late. This, combined with the somewhat simpler and generic riffs that accompany most compositions, make “The Lost Chapters Vol. 2” easily lose the interest of the listener.
To conclude we have an interesting release, especially for the Jamey Jasta fans, which is enough to fill the gap until the next HATEBREED record, but I’m afraid it will be easily forgotten.
Rating: 6/10
Editor: Dimitris Benetatos
Related Link: JASTA – Official Page
