Limp Bizkit

I can’t believe I am finally saying this. Today I am reviewing the new Limp Bizkit album, “Still Sucks”. It has been a long 10 years since the last time the band put out a full record. After their long-awaited album “Stampede Of The Disco Elephants” was scrapped, fans were left wondering if they would ever hear another Limp Bizkit album. After years of teasing and talk, a new album is finally here. The hilariously named “Still Sucks” was surprised dropped on Halloween. The album has been the soundtrack to my party ever since. So now to address the disco elephant in the room. After 10 long years, does the album even hold up? I think the answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. Don’t worry though, I will break it down in this Limp Bizkit Still Sucks track-by-track album review.

FFO: P.O.D., Papa Roach, Sylar, Korn

Listen to: Out Of Style, Dirty Rotten Bizkit, Dad Vibes, Turn It Up, Bitch, Snacky Poo

Limp Bizkit is:

Fred Durst – vocals

Wes Borland – guitar

Sam Rivers – bass

John Otto – drums

DJ Lethal – turntables

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Still Sucks: Track-By-Track Review

Out Of Style

“Out Of Style” is the track Limp Bizkit fans have been waiting years for. For those unfamiliar, the bouncy main riff comes from the original track “Wastoid”. The track was teased for years and occasionally appeared on some of the band’s live setlists. My excitement was immeasurable when the album opened up with a familiar and addictive riff. I can’t think of a better way they could have possibly opened up their comeback record.

Aside from the iconic riff, the track also features some of frontman Fred Durst’s best raps and flow to date and fresh record scratches from the famous DJ Lethal. One of the first words uttered in the track is Fred yelling “DJ Lethal!” before the funky scratches kick in and assist Wes Borland’s bouncy riff. The song features mellow verses with an atmospheric riff and drum work. Despite the band being at their best when absolutely belligerent, these sections of the song are fine. These sections allow the main riff to be utilized to kick up the energy every time it bounces back to the forefront.

The only issue with “Out Of Style” is it sets the expectations of the album far too high. I find the track to easily be the best song on the entire record. It has everything any fan of the band could ever want. The perfect rap flow, the fun lyrics and style, the scratches and classic hip-hop influence, the heavy and bouncy riff, and more. I find the track to be one of the band’s best songs ever. I wouldn’t bat an eye if someone told me this track was from the band’s biggest record. This track is the exactly what comes to my mind when I think of Limp Bizkit. Fortunately the band do keep the momentum going with the next track, which is what I consider the next best track from “Still Sucks”.

You can check out my initial reaction to the nu-metal banger here.

Dirty Rotten Bizkit

Limp Bizkit keep the energy going with the appropriately titled track “Dirty Rotten Bizkit”. The song is the exact type of dirty track fans of the band crave. The track opens up with some funky record scratching from DJ Lethal and Wes immediately brings in one of his best riffs in ages. Fred’s vocals on the track are also energetic and youthful. The verses feature his iconic raps that feel like they could fit on their biggest records (like “Out Of Style” before it).

The chorus is nostalgic yet fresh at the same time. It is one of the best clean (sung) choruses by Fred ever. I think the song is a ton of fun. Despite releasing on Halloween, this album sounds perfect for a wild summer ride. Also like “Out Of Style” before it, the song features a slower more relaxed segment. I don’t mind these parts in the slightest. They are calm and allow the listener to prepare for the next onslaught of riffs and record scratches. It sounds comfortingly “90’s” and I can get with that.

“Dirty Rotten Bizkit” does a lot right, and I find it charming and fun. Both this track and it’s predecessor sound like they were crafted from an AI designed to craft the perfect Limp Bizkit song. I wouldn’t have thought that the band haven’t released material in years, as these two songs make it seem like the band never left or lost their groove. At the very worst, “Still Sucks” gave us some of the best Limp Bizkit songs ever (or at least in the last decade by default).

You can check out my initial reaction to the nu-metal banger here.

Dad Vibes

Next up is the hilarious comeback track “Dad Vibes”. The track is was originally debuted over the PA at the end of Limp Bizkit’s iconic – and incredibly viral – Lollapalooza 2021 set. This is also where Fred Durst proved he is the king of marketing even in the modern age. Limp Bizkit took over the internet and social media after Fred debuted his now iconic (and likely popular Halloween costume appropriately enough) “Dad Vibes” look. The band once again had all eyes on them, and this was good timing too, as they were finally about to release new music for the first time in years. While ideally I believe the band should have released new music sooner to capitalize on this viralness at the time, I think it was still marketing genius at its finest.

Now about the song itself, it isn’t the most exciting track in the world, but it is a ton of fun. The short and sweet track features a fun flow from Fred with some hilarious lyrics that never fail to catch my attention. The song if simply a fun time, and I think that is the version of Limp Bizkit 2021 needs. The music video is also a ton of fun and features edits of Fred from Limp Bizkit’s 2021 Lollapalooza set (how could it not, right!?).

Dad Vibes Is Still A Worthy Comeback Track

The song may be simply but it isn’t barebones by any means. There is still some solid instrumental work here outside of just the main beat. Fred calls for everybody to “bounce with the franchise” as Wes brings in a classic sounding riff. This riff isn’t as energetic and heavy as the ones found in “Out Of Style” or “Dirty Rotten Bizkit”, but it is still a solid riff. I find the track to be very enjoyable for what it is. It may have been a slightly underwhelming comeback track in terms of energy, but it did perfectly capture the fun and carefree attitude of Limp Bizkit. How could the band release anything other than a self-aware and meme-worthy track after they broke the internet a few months earlier? This was definitely the best move the band could have made, and I approve of the decision.

You can check out my initial reaction to the comeback single here.

Turn It Up, Bitch

The fun isn’t over yet. “Turn It Up, Bitch” is yet another self-aware fun track that keeps the tone of the record going strong. While much less heavy than any of the previous tracks, the track still holds true to the roots of the band. Less “Nookie” and more “Getcha Groove on”, this track scratches that hip-hop fix some Limp Bizkit fans may love. What the track lacks in nu-metal riffs, it makes up in nostalgic instrumentation. The song mainly just features a funky bassline, simplistic drum work, and rap beats. Fred delivers a catchy flow that screams “90’s”. The lyrics are fun and humorous with references to Don Julio in the studio and the band’s nu-metal “straight from the trashcan” roots.

I think the track is served best as an interlude/outro. When the song was originally teased it was labelled as an Outro. Perhaps the track is more of a continuation of what was started in “Dad Vibes” and less of its own thing. The track does nothing innovative, but it doesn’t have to. It is just a fun rap track where Fred takes the lead. I think the track is perfectly accessible as a silly rap track in the context of the album. Unfortunately this build-up doesn’t really go anywhere. I would have assumed the track would bled into another rap-heavy nu-metal track, but instead it is followed by a mellow cover song. This is my only real issue with the track, but it isn’t a gripe I have with the track itself.

You can check out my initial reaction to the fresh track here.

Don’t Change

“Don’t Change” is the first track from the record to go in a different direction. Up until this point, the album has been full of classic nu-metal bangers or fun hip-hop inspired tracks. Now the band switches it up with a surprised no one expected; a cover of a INXS track. The song is soft, calm, and acoustic. Fred does a perfectly fine job with the track, but it does come off a bit random and unnecessary. However, I am sure the song means a lot to Fred or other members of the band. I can’t imagine any other reason why they could randomly cover this track. If that is indeed the case, I am glad the band stepped out of their comfort zone and recorded the cover. I am all for artists expressing themselves in any way they wish to.

Additionally, this style of song isn’t new to the band by any mean. While most people likely want the band to just deliver a straightforward nu-metal comeback record (myself included), the band seems to have had other ideas. The cover isn’t bad by any means, but it isn’t a standout track either. I would have liked to hear “Turn It Up, Bitch” to bleed into another track that has more in common with it but oh well.

You Bring Out The Worst In Me

“You Bring Out The Worst In Me” is one of those songs that could have been executed better. The quality of the song writing is decently impressive, but the performance itself falls a bit flat. While the track initially shocked me, I find it a bit difficult to enjoy on additional listens. What makes the song have shock value is that the song starts off slow like the previous track; however, this changes at the chorus.

The chorus features screams from Fred and not a single word is sung. This sounds heavy and exciting, but the vocal performance here just isn’t very good. Fred sounds less like a nu-metal threat and more like Puddle of Mud frontman Wes Scantlin attempting to (badly) capture the voice of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain. I do admire Fred for venturing outside of his comfort zone at his current age, but that is about all I can admire about this track. The instrumental work isn’t too noteworthy either. The riffs from the first few tracks are far more impressive. I personally find Limp Bizkit at their best when they go full nu-metal, so this track doesn’t quite do it for me.

You can check out my initial reaction to the heavy track here.

Love The Hate

This track is more of a skit than an full-ledged song. Fans of the band should be used to this concept by now. I don’t think “Love The Hate” harms the album at all, in fact it sets the mood for exactly what kind of band Limp Bizkit is. However, since the track is a short piece that doesn’t exactly add to the short album, it doesn’t fit in as well as it should.

I think if the album was 59 minutes or an hour and 14 minutes like previous albums “Significant Other” or “Chocolate Starfish And The Hotdog Flavored Water” respectively, this track would fit in well. When an album is as short as “Still Sucks” – running in at a total of 32 minutes – it is hard to enjoy a simple and humorous track like this one. It almost makes you wish they utilized the time better rather than place a skit here.

A Misleading Interlude

However, if you are able to ignore these judgements, the track is quite appropriate for Limp Bizkit. You can’t name an album something as self-aware and humorous as “Still Sucks” without addressing the hate in an equally ironic and humorous way. I also believe that the track would have either benefited from either having a breakdown at the end or leading into a heavier rap-filled nu-metal track. However, this isn’t the case. The song follows a more grungy track and leads into another grungy track. A skit just doesn’t fit in here honestly. I also can’t help but hear the Malcolm In The Middle theme song in the singing portion of the track. Sure it sounds nostalgic, but the track just could have been better or at least positioned better in the context of the record.

Long story short, I don’t diss the band for recording a skit track. I find it very on-brand for the band. My gripe here is that the track is positioned between unfitting tracks, and it goes no where. I encourage the band to continue placing humor within their tracks. It isn’t the track that has issues, it is the placement of the track that I have slight issues with.

Barnacle

With “Barnacle”, the band tackle the grunge style rather than the nu-metal sound they are known best for. The song starts with a humorous intro stating “this next song goes out to all those barnacles out there” before the mood immediately changes to a more somber grunge sound reminiscent of Nirvana. Fred sounds great at first actually, I think the style really matches with his vocals. However, the chorus could use some work.

Like “You Bring Out The Worst In Me” before it, Fred puts on his best Wes Scantlin impersonation for the chorus. I know what he was going for, and from a song writing perspective it works, but I don’t find the vocal performance all too great here. The infamous frontman attempts to do a rough grungy scream that just doesn’t come off too attractive too me. I am sure there are plenty of people who like their music a little rough who will love this track, but to me it just doesn’t hit the mark.

This track just isn’t what I hope to hear when I listen to Limp Bizkit. I admire the band for experimenting so late into their career though, so props on that. However, one last complaint I have is that the track is only a minute and 55 seconds long. This leaves me feeling like the song ended before it even started. Unfortunately this trend continues in the next track as well.

Empty Hole

Limp Bizkit slow things down again with “Empty Hole”. The song mostly consists of a simple acoustic riff with Fred flexing his pipes with one of the best singing performances of his career. Honestly I have to give credit where it is due. While the song doesn’t really go anywhere and is far too short, I think Fred sounds fantastic here. If someone played this song for me without context, I wouldn’t have ever thought this was just Limp Bizkit stripping down and going acoustic. Don’t get me wrong, it still sounds like Fred singing, but he is definitely trying new things here.

Fans of the band’s cover of “Behind Blue Eyes” will really enjoy this one. This time the track is an original though, so I have to give the band props here for succeeding with a track like this. I only wish that the track went somewhere more interesting by the end of it, and that it was a bit longer. A minute and 52 seconds just doesn’t quite do it for me.

Pill Popper

Like “You Bring Out The Worst In Me” and “Barnacle” before it, this track has the band taking their music in a more serious – and grunge adjacent – direction. “Pill Popper” is easily the most serious track on the record. The lyrics seem to reference the issues with big pharma, as the intro states that the pharmaceutical industry “doesn’t create cures, they create customers”. The riff on this track is also much heavier than the ones found on the other grungy tracks on “Still Sucks”.

Limp Bizkit At Their Most Serious

I find a lot of fans digging this track, and I think it is great that fans are bonding with a track so different than what the band is famous for. This track reminds me of the heavier tracks from the band’s infamous record “Results May Vary”. The album has it’s moments of greatness, but the lack of Wes Borland riffs were noticeable. Perhaps fans of this record may have just found their new favorite track. My only concern with this track is that Fred’s voice once again sounds a bit off on the chorus, but I think this is the track where he pulls off this sound the best. I enjoy the track overall. It may even be one of my new favorite serious Limp Bizkit songs. However I am still heavily partial to fun belligerency of the band’s nu-metal side.

You can check out my initial reaction to the shockingly serious track here.

Snacky Poo

Right when I was thinking that Limp Bizkit kept all the whacky hip-hop influenced tracks in the front-half of the record, “Snacky Poo” brings it back to the 90’s. The track opens up with a humorous sample of someone (sounds like Fred) opening up a bag of chips and chowing down on a snacky poo. The track mostly reminds me of “Turn It Up, Bitch”. The song mostly consists of Fred rapping over a funky and nostalgic beat with some simple drum work following along.

As mentioned earlier, the track screams 90s. At one point Fred even says “and bring it back to 90’s to ease up on the tension”. I find this to be a direct reference to how the last several tracks were much more serious than most listeners would have anticipated after hearing the first four tracks. This is one of those tongue-and-cheek moments from the band that I find funny and I admire. The whole track is just a fun time. Additionally the track features a heavy reference to “Chocolate Starfish and the Hotdog Flavored Water”. At the beginning of the chorus Fred spits out “Chocolate on the starfish, everybody kiss it.” The band are clearly just having a good time on the track and it is contagious. This is what I love to hear from Limp Bizkit.

Another Humorous (But Unnecessary) Skit

My only gripe with the track is that I thought it was going to be a longer track, as the runtime for the track is four minutes and 11 seconds. However, this isn’t the case at all. The musical portion of the song ends at two minutes :20 seconds, making “Snacky Poo” another short song that leaves the party early. The rest of the track is a silly skit mimicking interviewers that just recite already known information. Meanwhile Wes is answers all questions with an unenthusiastic “yes”.

The skit is pretty funny, but I think it would have served better as a separate track. It would be great to just listen to this fun song without having to skip the second half of it after numerous listens. Additionally, it seems weird having a skit like this positioned between two serious tracks. I am sure it is intention to “ease up on the tension”, but I think it would work better in a different context. Regardless, I find the track to be one of my favorite songs from the album. This is the personality and sound of Limp Bizkit that I really enjoy.

You can check out my initial reaction to the whacky track here.

Goodbye

We have reached the end of the album. What could be a more appropriate way to end an album other than with a track titled “Goodbye”? The best part is that the song also sounds like a goodbye as well. The song is acoustic and has an emotional and soft tone. As Limp Bizkit joked in their hilarious album reveal video with Jake Bacon, this song is “a boy band track”. Shockingly enough, this experimentation works out well for the band. I never had a song like this on my wish list for “Still Sucks”, yet here we are. In fact, this may even be my favorite track on the record that lacks the nu-metal sound. I think the song is great for what it tries to accomplish, and is a perfect closing track for the record.

Closing Thoughts

“Still Sucks” doesn’t break any boundaries, but it doesn’t really need to. The album contains quite a bit of filler and likely would have worked better as a comeback EP rather than a full-length record. I find the first four tracks to be great additions to not only the Limp Bizkit discography, but also hopefully their future live setlists as well. I have been wanting to see the band live for awhile now – as a legacy band – but I think the band still has plenty to say in modern times. If some of these tracks end up being mainstays on the band’s setlist, then I consider this album a win.

Long story short, I find the high points of “Still Sucks” to be really high, and some of the band’s best material to date, but record as a cohesive work falls flat in becoming the next “Chocolate Starfish And The Hotdog Flavored Water” or “Significant Other”. These high points make me want to give the album a higher rating than I probably should, that is how much I dig the first four tracks.

Final Verdict: 8/10 Shells

Metal Shell Reacts To Limp Bizkit | Still Sucks

Want to see what I thought about “Still Sucks” in real-time? I recorded my initial reaction to many of the tracks including the fan-favorite “Out Of Style”. Please check out the video below to see how this banger blew me away. The other reactions from the album can be found on the Metal Shell Youtube channel.

Still Sucks CD And Vinyl

Unfortunately there are not physical copies available for “Still Sucks”, but if you wish to purchase an MP3 download of the album you can click the link here! Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, I will never recommend a product or service I don’t have 100% faith in. Happy listening!

Need More Limp Bizkit In Your Life?

Need more Limp Bizkit in your life? Check out my previous article discussing the band’s take over of social media following their Lollapalooza 2021 set. I also cover the set in depth as well.

Additionally, I recommend you check out our official modern metal playlist. The Spotify playlist features several of the latest tracks by Limp Bizkit, as well as plenty of other highly recommended modern bangers! Check it out down below and be sure to follow the playlist if you like what you hear. I update it weekly, so you won’t miss a thing!

What did you think about this Limp Bizkit Still Sucks album review? Let us know down in the comments.