Description:
The follow-up to last year’s MTV2 Headbangers Ball the imaginatively titled Volume 2 presents 40 tracks from 40 bands over two CDs, again charting both established acts (disc one) and ones to watch in the future.

Which means?
A veritable host of big names from the rock/metal world, including several notable omissions from the last set (Slipknot, KoRn, Machine Head, Soulfly, Fear Factory). Whereas last time the second CD included several acts I considered deserving of places on the first, this time it’s a mix of the new and several leading figures from more extreme metal (Cradle Of Filth, Satyricon, Deicide, Dimmu Borgir).

Is it much cop?
That depends what you’re looking for. There are still several big names strangely absent – even though the only seven here also on the first volume are those with new material. How about System Of A Down, Dry Kill Logic, Amen, Queens Of The Stone Age, Sepultura, Metallica? Of course, you can’t include everyone. As a showcase of what’s new over the last year to 18 months or so, the first disc is a pretty good round up of fairly mainstream metal. The second’s rather a mixed bag though.

How many good tracks?
About half, mostly on the first disc, but few really stand out. Slipknot continue to show just what an improvement their Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses is, and the same might be said for the new Cradle Of Filth album. Soulfly and Fear Factory, on the other hand, are still churning out much the same material, but with enough class to show why they were sorely missed last time. Of the perhaps less known acts, Black Label Society, Dave Grohl’s Probot, Eighteen Visions and Dimmu Borgir show most promise of ‘making it’.

And the worst?
Hmmm, well, to be honest half the second disc I already knew of, and the other half I see why I hadn’t heard of them. Not the most impressive array of up-and-coming stars. Oh, and if ‘Right Now’ is representative of KoRn’s newer material, their best days are clearly several albums past.

Biggest disappointment?
The poor tracks and remaining gaps I’ve already covered. I’d also say that things could’ve been a bit more up to date. Sure, big albums from last year deserve a place – but the inclusion of A Perfect Circle’s ‘Weak & Powerless’ is questionable with a new album imminent, and HIM’s ‘Your Sweet Six Six Six’ is four years old. And finally, why – when the set already warns of ‘explicit content’ – do the f-words have to be bleeped out of one of the few decent songs from Lamb Of God’s new album?

Verdict:

It’s always a difficult job to please everyone. I can’t help thinking anyone already into this music will already know and have most of those they like, and want to avoid the rest. As an introduction to what’s heavy over the past year, it’s not too bad, but I can’t promise you’ll have a ball.

(3½/5)

  

Release Date: 04 October 2004

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MTV2 Headbangers Ball Volume 2