Despite being quite an established band themselves, Stone Sour could never really overcome the perception that they are the smaller, more lyrical brother of Slipknot.

Yes, their self-titled debut album was the perfect meeting between the riffing might of Metallica and the dark melodies of Alice in Chains.

The following two releases however watered it down with something the musicians probably consider 'more mature songwriting,' but was actually just lighter songs with choruses that seemed to drag on forever without becoming truly catchy.

It is exactly that lack of edginess that Stone Sour try to overcome on their new album 'House of Gold & Bones Part 1.'

The band's ambition to show that they possess not only the balls to record their heaviest album since the first one, but also their ambition to surpass themselves on every level, is evident from every note here.

Sharp riffs in the vein of 90's Megadeth echo in the quiet emptiness of the opening track 'Gone Sovereign,' before the song launches into an avalanche of frantic riffing and fast solos like some sort of weird contemporary speed metal.

'RU486' and the closer 'Last of the Real' pack a similar punch but the core of the album are more restrained songs with catchy pop-metal choruses like 'Absolute Zero' and 'My Name Is Allen.'

The band diversifies the guitar attacks with acoustic sections, laced by strings and even piano ballads that make the album quite multilayered and dynamic.

Meanwhile Corey Taylor demonstrates he is one of the most versatile singers in modern metal, showing the same same amount of mastership in both the guttural growls and the melodic vocals in the more lyric moments like 'The Travelers, Pt. 1' and 'Taciturn.'

The best news however, is something else – the choruses this time around are truly catchy and where Stone Sour would have previously shocked you with the surprising inability of such talented musicians to put together great songs, now things seem to click quite well.

Even so 'House of Gold & Bones Part 1' is your typical Stone Sour album that is nothing out of the extraordinary. Just a well crafted release by a talented band that doesn't hide its desire to be as popular and suitable for rock radio as possible.

It is quite likely that this CD will attract many new fans for the band due to the simply undeniable quality of many of the songs. But beyond that, Stone Sour continue to miss a certain piece of charisma that they need to become truly great.