Hellyeah – Stampede (2010)
I have to admit that I have had mixed feelings about the band Hellyeah prior to their releasing Stampede. The last album just didn’t do it for me, and I expected a lot more from Vinnie Paul & company. On Stampede, Hellyeah, sounds more like a complete band than on their debut. To my ears, everything has improved with album two. The song writing is better, the music is better, Chad Gray’s vocals are even better. As a result, Stampede is a better album! With that being said, even though Stampede is better than its predecessor, it still is not without it some issues. There are a few songs that I would consider filler, and although Gray’s vocals are better, his voice is still an acquired taste.
“Cowboy Way”, and “Hell of A Time” are pretty cool tunes. I even hear a little bit of that Pantera-like groove that I love so much.
The song “Better Man” took me by surprise. It is completely different from the first four songs on Stampede. This is a balladesque tune that was written by Chad Gray. It kind of sounds like a heavy Skynyrd tune. Hellyeah could actually have a big hit on their hands with this.
With “Polerider”, Hellyeah have created a brand new anthem that will likely take all of the strip clubs by storm. This is a pretty catchy tune!
The first time I heard “Stand or Walk Away”, I had to check the credits on the album. Chad Gray sound an awful lot like Fozzy’s Chris Jericho on this track. This is a mid tempo number that isn’t quite as heavy as some of the tracks on Stampede. It is a very good tune that is going to get a lot of airplay.
Overall, with Stampede, I see Hellyeah growing as a band. This album definitely has a lot more good material than bad. This album proves to me that this metal super group has the potential to excel past all of their previous bands, and truly make an impact on the metal scene. Stampede won’t be the album to do it, but it will certainly make a lot of folks take notice of Hellyeah for the first time.
If you are a fan of Pantera, Damageplan, Nothingface or Mudvayne, you gotta give this album a chance. You will definitely find some cool tunes to rock to!
For a free download of the song “Cowboy Way”, please visit the Hellyeah website!
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Cowboy Way
2. The Debt That All Men Pay
3. Hell of a Time
4. Stampede
5. Better Man
6. It’s On!
7. Pole Rider
8. Cold as a Stone
9. Stand or Walk Away
10. Alive and Well
11. Order the Sun
Hell Yeah is:
Chad Gray – Vocals
Greg Tribbett – Guitars
Tom Maxwell – Guitars
Bob Zilla – Bass
Vinnie Paul Abbott – Drums
Leave A Comment ↓
We have to remember with everybody’s music you have to listen to the songs a few times before you “jugde” them. I hated Judas Priest Screaming With A Vengence the first couple of times I heard it. But what a mistake that would have been if I’d tossed the album. I really like the verse on this song. Powerful screaming.