Godsmack

Solo Artist

Photo: BluEyedA73 · CC BY 2.0
Active 1995-present
Origin Lawrence, Massachusetts
Albums 9
Tracks 99
Most frequent collaborator Andrew Murdock · 34 tracks
Genres Alternative MetalHard RockNu Metal
Artist
90%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 89 of 99 tracks

Does Godsmack write their own songs?

Sully Erna is credited on 88 of the 89 studio tracks whose writers are published, and the band wrote everything on its own until 2018. Three outside co-writers appear across the last two albums.

By the Numbers

9
Studio Albums
99
Tracks Credited
90%
Self-Written
31
Years Active
8
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 89 / 99 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 99 tracks: how many Godsmack wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Godsmack has a writing credit90%
83%
7%
10%
Sole author82tracks83%
Co-written7tracks7%
Outside writers10tracks10%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Godsmack's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 99 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)86%
Composer (music)90%
Producer88%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 99 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Sully Erna 1995-present
86%
89%
88%
10%
Robbie Merrill 1995-present
19%
22%
0%
10%
Sam Koltun 2025-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Mike Mangini 2026-present
0%
0%
0%
0%
Tony Rombola Former 1996-2024
25%
32%
0%
10%
Shannon Larkin Former 2002-2024
13%
14%
0%
10%
Tommy Stewart Former 1995-1997, 1998-2002
2%
2%
0%
0%
Lee Richards Former 1995-1996
0%
0%
0%
0%
Joe D'Arco Died 2024 1997-1998 (died 2024)
0%
0%
0%
0%
Chris Decato Former 2024
0%
0%
0%
0%
Tim Theriault Former 2024
0%
0%
0%
0%
Will Hunt Former 2025
0%
0%
0%
0%
Wade Murff Former 2026
0%
0%
0%
0%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Godsmack's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 90%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
0%
100%
100%
1997All Wound Up...
1998Godsmack
2000Awake
2003Faceless
2006IV
2010The Oracle
20141000hp
2018When Legends Rise
2023Lighting Up the Sky
Early · 100% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
1990s
All Wound Up..., Godsmack
100%
2000s
Awake, Faceless +1 more
100%
2010s
The Oracle, 1000hp +1 more
100%
2020s
Lighting Up the Sky

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Godsmack sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Godsmack
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Faith Hill2%
Kenny Chesney20%
Britney Spears32%
NSYNC41%
Rage Against the Machine73%
Billy Idol81%
Powerman 500089%
90%Godsmack
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Straight Out of Line
Faceless
Written by Sully Erna, Salvatore Paul Erna Jr.
Wrote it
Speak
IV
Written by Sully Erna, Tony Rombola, Salvatore Paul Erna Jr.
Wrote it
Cryin' Like a Bitch
The Oracle
Written by Sully Erna, Tony Rombola, Robbie Merrill, Shannon Larkin, Salvatore Paul Erna Jr.
Wrote it

Discography 9 albums

All nine studio albums, including the 1997 independent debut All Wound Up..., which was re-recorded and reissued the next year as Godsmack. The live albums, the EP and the compilation sit outside this catalogue.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Photo of GodsmackGodsmack99 tracks
AM34Andrew Murdock, 34 tracks Photo of Dave Fortman20Dave Fortman, 20 tracks DB12David Bottrill, 12 tracks Photo of Erik Ron12Erik Ron, 12 tracks AJ11Andy Johns, 11 tracks Photo of John Feldmann2John Feldmann, 2 tracks CL2Clint Lowery, 2 tracks on Sevendust's page LG1Lisa Guyer, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. AM Andrew Murdock · DB David Bottrill · AJ Andy Johns

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Erna is credited on 88 of the 89 studio tracks whose writers are published. For the first six albums nobody outside the band is on a single credit; the outside names only start in 2018, and there are three of them in total.

Quick Facts

  • One writerSully Erna is on 88 of the 89 tracks with published credits
  • No outside writersNone at all until When Legends Rise in 2018
  • CertifiedThe 1998 self-titled album is RIAA 5x platinum
  • Nine albums1997 to 2023, on Universal, Republic and BMG
  • Hot 100Three singles reached it, all peaking in the 70s and 80s
  • Erna on drumsHe played the drums in the studio for most of the first four albums

Creative Fingerprint

One writer carrying a whole catalogue, with the first outside co-writer arriving twenty-one years in.

The Story

Godsmack formed in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1995 around Sully Erna, who sang, wrote and for years drummed on the records as well. Nine studio albums, with the self-titled record certified 5x platinum.

Awards & Recognition

Billboard Music Award, Rock Artist of the Year (2001)
Boston Music Award, Rising Star (1999)
Boston Music Award, Outstanding Debut Rock Band (1999)

Frequently Asked Questions Godsmack

Does Godsmack write their own songs?
Sully Erna is credited on 88 of the 89 studio tracks whose writers are published, and the band wrote everything on its own until 2018. Three outside co-writers appear across the last two albums.
Who wrote "Whatever"?
Sully Erna and Tony Rombola. It is one of the few early songs Erna did not write alone.
How many albums has Godsmack released?
Nine studio albums, from All Wound Up... in 1997 to Lighting Up the Sky in 2023.
What is All Wound Up...?
The independent debut from 1997, recorded for a few thousand dollars. Most of it was re-recorded the next year as the self-titled album.
Did Godsmack win a Grammy?
No. They were nominated four times, for "Vampires", "I Stand Alone" twice and "Straight Out of Line".
Who plays drums on the early records?
Sully Erna played drums in the studio from 1996 to 2003 while also singing. Tommy Stewart, Joe D'Arco and later Shannon Larkin played live.
Who are the outside writers?
John Feldmann, Erik Ron and Clint Lowery of Sevendust, all on When Legends Rise in 2018 apart from one Erik Ron song on Lighting Up the Sky.
Which Godsmack songs reached the Hot 100?
"Straight Out of Line", "Speak" and "Cryin' Like a Bitch". Several others reached the Bubbling Under chart instead.
Which album sold best?
The 1998 self-titled album, certified 5x platinum by the RIAA.
Are they still recording?
Lighting Up the Sky in 2023 is the most recent studio album, and Sully Erna has said it is likely their last.

Sources

Wikipedia: Godsmack Wikipedia: Sully Erna Wikipedia: Godsmack discography File:Godsmack in Northerly Island Pavilion - Wikimedia Commons