10 Best Godsmack Songs With Reader's Picks

Photo: Foto: Stefan Brending

With our top ten Godsmack songs, we are looking at the career of one of the longest-running post-grunge/nu-metal bands, first formed in 1995 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Their sound has often been compared to that of Seattle grunge band Alice In Chains throughout their career, with their name even being the same as one of that band’s songs. Despite citing them as an influence, they have stated that they did not name themselves after the song. They have produced seven albums, three consecutively reaching number one on the Billboard 200.

Godsmack comprises vocalist and guitarist Sully Erna, guitarist Tony Rombola, bassist Robbie Merrill, and drummer Shannon Larkin. Erna is the founding member of the band and had played in various bands for twenty-three years before Godsmack’s formation. For the first two years of their existence, the band played throughout the Boston area before signing with Universal in 1998, after which their debut album was released not long after. The album was successful, and they soon scored high-profile tours, which included supporting Black Sabbath.

Godsmack released their second album, Awake, in 2000, ranking fifth on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts. After recording a song that was a theme to the film The Scorpion King, they released their third album, Faceless, in 2003, which was their first Billboard number one. In 2004, they recorded an acoustic ep titled The Other Side, which also got to number five. Their next album in 2006, titled IV, also got to number one, and in 2007, they released a best-of compilation titled Ten Years of Godsmack. They released their third and so far final number-one album in 2008, titled The Oracle, before taking a break until 2013. They re-emerged in 2014 with the album 1000hp which got to number three on the Billboard. Two years later in 2016, they left Universal. Their most recent album, When Legends Rise, was released in 2019.

# 10 – Speak

Kicking off our top ten Godsmack songs list is this single taken from the band’s fourth album, IV, released in 2006. It got to number one on the Mainstream Rock ChartS in the US and ten on the Modern Rock charts. The band has stated that the nucleus of the song first came about while they were jamming on the road with Metallica.

# 9 – Greed

Up next, we have the third and final single taken from Godsmack’s second album, Awake, released in 2001. A video was produced for the song that featured the same woman on the cover of the band’s debut album. It reached number three on the Mainstream Rock charts, twenty-eight on the Modern Rock charts and 123 on the Billboard 100.

# 8 – Running Blind

Here we have an acoustic song taken from Godsmack’s acoustic ep The Other Side released in 2004. In most of Godsmack’s songs, there is a similarity to Alice In Chains, which is very evident in this song. The track got to number three on the US Mainstream Rock Charts, fourteen on the Modern Rock Charts, and 123 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.

# 7 – Keep Away

In the number seven spot on our Godsmack songs list, we go back to the beginning of the band’s career with the second single to be released from their self-titled debut released in 1998. An acoustic version of it was featured on The Other Side. It was also featured in the 2002 film Rollerball. Upon its release, it broke into the Mainstream Rock charts, reaching number five and thirty-one on the Modern Rock charts.

# 6 – Under Your Scars

Oh, this is such a sweet one from the most recent album, When Legends Rise, released in 2019. The song and the video are a testament to the band’s fans, who have stuck with them all throughout the years. It shows the connection that the band have with their fans and how inspirational they are to them. As a reflective piece on Godsmack’s career, it is brilliant.

# 5 – Bad Religion

At the halfway point on our Godsmack songs list we present the fourth and final single from the debut album. The song is fueled by an anti-abortion message because Sully Erna is a practicing Wiccan. We all have our own opinions on such topics, but nevertheless, it is still a very good song. After the September 11th attacks, this song was part of a list of songs that were deemed inappropriate to be played on the radio.

# 4 – Straight Out Of Line

This track was the lead single from Faceless. It was another track that got to number one on the mainstream rock chart and number ten on the modern rock chart. It was their third number one, and they remained in that position for two weeks. It is also their highest-charting song on the Billboard 200, reaching number three. During the year of its release, it was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance at the Grammy Awards but lost to Evanescence’s “Bring Me To Life.”

# 3 – I Stand Alone

This song was taken from the soundtrack to the movie The Scorpion King. It also appeared on Faceless. It was another mainstream rock chart-topper that got to number twenty on modern rock tracks. The song, which had two Grammy Nominations, is the movie’s main theme, with the lyrics being about the main character played by Dwayne Johnson, and the video for it features Johnson playing his character.

# 2 – Voodoo

Just off the top spot, we have a well-known song from Godsmack’s first album that was known for being featured on the MTV series Fear. The song is more experimental than many of the band’s other songs. It is the final track on the album. A sequel to it called “Voodoo Two” was written and included on IV. It got to number five on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts and number six on the Modern Rock charts.

# 1 – Awake

Our choice for the best Godsmack song is the lead single and title track from Godsmack’s second album. The song is about a past relationship with Sully Erna. It is another of the band’s number ones. It was on the mainstream rock chart for a year. The song has three versions, including a radio edit and an acoustic version. It was also used in commercials for the United States Navy’s “Accelerate Your Life” campaign.