With Black Label Society being solely Zakk Wylde’s vision, it was only a matter of time before his cohorts launched their own bands on the side. First out of the gate is bassist John “J.D.” DeServio’s Cycle of Pain, which also includes J.D.’s childhood friends Joe Taylor on guitar and Gregg Locascio on vocals.

From the first song, “5” (named for its 5/4 time signature), it is apparent who is the main creative force. J.D.’s bass is always loud and clear in the mix—not in an oppressive, nü-metal fashion, but in a manner that allows you to actually hear what he’s doing. Bassists rarely get a platform like this, so I’m happy to hear him take advantage of it. The songs are mostly in a grooving, hard rock vein that any BLS fan should appreciate. However, that doesn’t mean J.D. is afraid to take a few chances—see the industrial-flavored “M,” the bluesy “Babe,” the funky “Do My Work” (featuring a guest rap by Sen Dog of Cypress Hill), the drum-and-bass rhythm of “Pungle” and the exotic-sounding “Egypt.”

It’s worth noting that the disc features a host of guest appearances, including some lead work by Zakk Wylde; Billy Idol drummer Brian Tichy on drums and guitar; Korn drummer Ray Luzier; Tantric frontman Hugo Ferreira; and Fear Factory’s Burton C. Bell. They never reach for the spotlight and instead serve to augment the identity established by J.D. and his bandmates. This bodes well for Cycle of Pain’s future.