My reason for checking out Probot was simple – I liked the concept and I really, really dig one of the performers on the album. Honestly, I could mostly care less about Dave Grohl and some of the singers featured on Probot and even though I grew up on a lot of old metal it's not something that I'm a big fan of today. Still, Probot is an interesting idea that I felt I couldn't simply overlook and I'm glad I didn't. There has been a lot of hype about this one since information about the project began leaking on the internet a few years ago and I'm glad I missed most of it for the simple fact that the hype is usually bigger than the result. I have a feeling I might not have enjoyed Probot quite as much had I bought into all the misconceptions about what Grohl was trying to achieve here.
So what is the concept of Probot? Well, Dave Grohl did something I'm sure many music fans have only dreamed of. He wrote a series of songs in the style of some of his favorite metal bands from back in the day – mainly 1983 to 1990 – and asked some of his idols to pen lyrics and sing on the tracks. With the exception of a few spots the music here is 100% Dave and each track has a different vocalist and approach to metal. Obviously, this isn't Foo Fighters type Dave Grohl and fans of Dave's previous efforts aren't going to enjoy Probot unless they also happen to be fans of metal as well.
As I mentioned, there was one song on Probot that I was truly interested in hearing and that was Scott "Wino" Weinrich's contribution, "The Emerald Law." I’ve been a fan of Wino’s bands for quiet awhile and go see him live (most recently as part of the Hidden Hand) when I can. “The Emerald Law” is exactly the type of sound one expects from Wino – great guitar (supplied by Wino himself in this instance), interesting lyrics, and some seriously stoner rock influences.
The most accessible track is Lemmy’s (Motorhead) “Shake Your Blood” which is the first single and video being released from Probot. A straight up scorching rocker in the old “Ace of Spades” style with Lemmy providing the bass (but of course). Each of the other tracks here (including a bonus track featuring a decidedly un-metal “singer” which I refuse to give away) skillfully tap into the featured singer’s method and ability as well. Mike Dean (Corrosion of Conformity) shines on the frantic “Access Babylon” and Lee Dorian (Cathedral, Napalm Death) brings the doom on “Ice Cold Man” which also features Bubba Dupree from Void on lead guitar. Kim Thayil of Soundgarden fame also lends his talents on the King Diamond track “Sweet Dreams” and a few of the other singer’s add their own instrumental gifts.
I read another review of this release where the critic complained that nothing Dave Grohl wrote was original and all of the songs could easily have come from each band/singer’s best albums. This is the entire point of Probot and I think Dave did an excellent job capturing some of the finest years of metal history. There are a few places where the music seemed a little flat, but all in all I think Probot is a historic mark on the timeline of hard rock and metal. If you consider yourself now (or in the past) a fan of at least one of these bands you it owe it to yourself to check out Probot because an album like this may never happen again.
Tracks - Singer/Band(s)
Centuries Of Sin (Cronos - Venom)
Red War ( Max Cavalera - Soulfly, Sepultura)
Shake Your Blood (Lemmy - Motorhead)
Access Babylon (Mike Dean - Corrosion of Conformity)
Silent Spring (Kurt Brecht - DRI)
Ice Cold Man (Lee Dorrian - Cathedral, Napalm Death)
The Emerald Law ( Wino - St. Vitus, Obsessed, Spirit Caravan, Place of Skulls, the Hidden Hand)
Big Sky (Tom G. Warrior - Celtic Frost /Apollyon Sun)
Dictatorsaurus ( Snake - Voivod)
My Tortured Soul (Eric Wagner - Trouble)
Sweet Dreams (King Diamond - Mercyful Fate)
Bonus Track
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