Despite their often sporadic output, New York’s Glassjaw are one of the most enigmatic – and influential – bands in the post-hardcore scene. While their 2000 debut album Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence put them on the map, it was a major label move to Warner Bros. – and the release of 2002’s Worship And Tribute – that put Glassjaw in front of a huge audience. And its sound paved the way for bands as varied as Letlive and Funeral For A Friend later on as well. Produced by nu-metal godfather Ross Robinson again, he really brought out the best in Glassjaw’s instrumental and songwriting abilities.
Worship And Tribute is mostly different from their previous work, but is innovative in its diversity all the same. It still bears some similarities, though. Vocalist Daryl Palumbo’s abilities took a giant leap forward here, and while they might still be an acquired taste, Palumbo’s reliance on a more melodic tone (and optimistic lyrics overall) makes Worship And Tribute a more accessible affair. Whether it’s the unexpected calm of “Ape Dos Mil” or the swarming hardcore aggression of opener “Tip Your Bartender”, you can tell Palumbo’s vocals are influenced by Faith No More’s Mike Patton. The aggressive “Pink Roses” showcases Palumbo – and Glassjaw – at their most unhinged, with the song threatening to break apart at anytime.
An interesting fact about this record is that Shannon Larkin – who became the drummer of Godsmack in 2003 – tracked the drums on the album. While it was his only outing with the band, Larkin’s drumming is both intense (“Pink Roses”, “Tip Your Bartender”) and intricate (“Ape Dos Mil”), providing an important component to Worship And Tribute. His talent, though, shouldn’t surprise anyone. A key member of bands like Wrathchild America (later Souls At Zero) and nu-metal’s Amen, his talent is obvious throughout the entire album. An integral aspect of Glassjaw’s sophomore success.
“Cosmopolitan Bloodloss” is a brilliant introduction to Glassjaw. With a THICC bass tone and interesting guitar effects (thanks, Justin Beck!), it’s the perfect song to show your “I listen to everything” friends something heavier. Heavy enough for the purists, melodic and accessible enough to reach a wider audience. You can probably echo similar sentiments concerning “Ape Dos Mil”, the album’s biggest single. A track devoid of anything resembling aggression or heaviness, it’s an ethereal track that brings the band’s atmosphere and, of course, Daryl Palumbo’s vocals to the forefront.
Even the second half of the record is intriguing stuff. Album closer “Two Tabs Of Mescaline” is essentially a blend of everything you’ll hear on the entire album, while “Trailer Park Jesus” has some intense guitar feedback that almost operates like a heavier “Ape Dos Mil”, in some respects.
It’s not a stretch to say Worship And Tribute is as classic a record as you can get in modern post-hardcore. Rich with interesting musicianship, a very talented vocalist in Daryl Palumbo, and diverse songwriting, it’s a quantum leap in maturity past their debut full-length – which was already quite good to begin with. This one is pretty much essential.
