Illinois rock trio Chevelle are about to embark on their 17th year as a band, and what better way to celebrate than releasing a new album! Hats Off to the Bull came out last Tuesday, December 6 viaEpic Records, making it the sixth studio album for the family band.

It's been two years since the band's last album, and fans have been patiently waiting for some new stuff, and boy did they get it! Hats Off to the Bull is serious and hard-hitting, but still the classic Chevelle as old-time fans know them. The 11-track record is filled-to-the-brim with emotion, metaphors and personal conflicts, which is evident by the hard, yet mostly slow tempo and soft-but-loud voice and sound.

The album has some slow parts that are hard to get through, but as soon as it starts you know it's the unique cohesion of Chevelle. Tracks such as "Same Old Trip," the harder, faster "Clones" and title track "Hats Off to the Bull" save that though, with their catchiness and upbeat attitude. However, there are a few more mellow songs bunched together that sort of make you lose focus and make them seem like one big song. This isn't my favorite album, but it deinitely has potential and I think I'm one of few who will have negatives about it, but hey that's the music business for you!

I give this album three guitars!

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