IV, the 2006 album from Godsmack, is getting released on vinyl for the very first time. Featuring remastered audio and pressed on either classic black or limited quantity red marble vinyl, the album hits shelves on November 15.
The fourth album from the band, IV marked a significant progression in lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Sully Erna’s role as producer. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with over 200 thousand copies sold in its first week, becoming the band’s second project to reach the position. It also features singles “Speak,” which hit number one on Billboard’s rock chart and landed within the Billboard Hot 100, and “Shine Down” and “The Enemy,” both of which hit number four on the rock chart.
Upon the album’s release, critics and fans both noted that IV seemed to be a bit of a departure from some of the harder sounds that came to be associated with the band through their early albums in the late 90s and early 2000s. Erna, however, noted in interviews that he had always considered Godsmack to be more of a hard-rock band than a metal band. “We’re experimenting with bigger sounds, like these bluesy-edged riffs,” the singer explained to Rock Confidential. “They’re still tough and it’s hard rock and it’s Godsmack and it’s in your face. It’s powerful, but it’s not so much metal anymore.”
Their success with IV certainly helped Godsmack remain a force within rock music for years to come. The band now boasts 13 number one singles on the rock chart, with their 2010 follow-up album, Oracle, also topping the Billboard 200. Most recently, Godsmack shared their eighth studio album Lighting Up The Sky in 2023 after a five-year gap from their previous album. While Erna did confirm that the album would be the band’s last, he was careful to say that the band was not breaking up and would continue to tour their hits for years to come. “ We’re not announcing a breakup. We’re not announcing the farewell tour,” he told Consequence in 2023. “At this point, we just want to get out there and have fun with our career and have fun with the fans.” Clearly, Godsmack is continuing to honor the music they’ve made.
