Initial Thoughts. A review of “Confessions” by Buckcherry.

Buckcherry are a band that have lived the preconceived notion of a rock and roll life. Very few bands have been through what Buckcherry have and came out on the other side of it as a powerhouse of rock, though. Their debut was certified gold, but they weren’t able to recapture that fire on the second album. Many critics called it a flop and after facing years of poor sales, the band took a hiatus in 2002. After a few years and a stint with Slash that nearly resulted in Josh Todd and Keith Nelson being members of Velvet Revolver, the band decided to give it another go.

The result of the reunion was the album 15, which spawned several hits, including the massive Crazy Bitch, Sorry, Everything and Next 2 You. The album put Buckcherry back on the map and they have been the juggernauts that many saw coming after their debut album.

Recently, they released their new album Confessions, which is the first on their new label Century Media. That’s what brings us here today. I’ve been asked to review the new album. As always, I’ll hit the highlights. It’s up to you discover the rest of the album. This is Initial Thoughts. The band is Buckcherry. The album is Confessions. Let’s do this!

Up first is the rip-roaring single, Gluttony. The song has the classic Buckcherry sound. With lots of adrenaline, killer riffs and Josh Todd finding a way to get inside your head and stay there, the song was a no-brainer as a single. While no one has ever tried to compare Josh Todd to Shakespeare, his vocals and sense of melody has always been his strong suit. This song is a perfect example of that.

Nothing Left But Tears is the next stop on the album. This is rock and roll, pure and simple. This is what Buckcherry has made their name with. The Truth is the first slower song on the album. We can label it as a ballad if we must. This song is the next in line of slower to mid-tempo hits that Buckcherry has released. Think Everything and Sorry from the album 15 and you have a good idea of what you are in for.

The album does follow a theme. The title is Confessions and there are songs that touch upon each of the seven deadly sins. Gluttony, Wrath, Greed, Sloth, Pride, Envy, and Lust make up those sins and are all song titles on the album. Each song has a very direct relationship to their titles.

My favorite of the sinful songs is Sloth. With its slow (sloth-like) lazy, bluesy backbeat and somber piano tones, the song really feels the most complete for me. Josh Todd’s delivery is timeless on this track. The dual leads, the piano, the solid rhythm and the brilliant song structure add up to be quite possibly my favorite Buckcherry song to date.

Envy is also a favorite from the sin collection. That one will surely be a single at some point. A tale of a love gone wrong and the envy of the man that took his place is one of the most relatable topics you could ever write about. This one will definitely resonate well with the fanbase.

Other highlights for me are the rockers Seven Ways to Die, Air and the beautiful Dreamin’ of You. Overall, the album is a bit more on the mellow side for Buckcherry. The single Gluttony is by far the most aggressive song on the album in my opinion, and I’m not sure how that will settle with a lot Buckcherry fans expecting a full-throttle rock album. For me though, the album is a very good album. Is it a great album? Only time will tell.