Fool's Faith
Undone SickDay Records

by Franco Wissa
Staff Writer

Comments: As if taking their cues from early metal and hard rock pioneers like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Savatage and Saigon Kick, mixed with the symphonic metal of Domain, Kamelot and Blind Guardian, Fools Faith has found a strong foothold in the metal scene. Formed in 1995, Fools Faith released their debut CD Natural Destruction, under the moniker Aftermath in 2003. But it was while recording 2007’s Undone, that the band saw the departure of original guitarist Bill Dinapoli along with an untimely spilt with Escape Music. However, as is evident by listening to this release, the boys refused to be beaten and after recruiting session guitarist, John Gallicano the boys with renewed passion, returned to the studios, and the result was nothing short of a blistering, wicked metal attack on our senses.

Track 1 “All or Nothing,” grabs you by the throat, and like the punches of a pride fighter, does it come at you hard and fast. What makes this song so excellently written is the escalation of sound. Starting with nasty, heavy guitar power chords coming from one speaker, and three-note guitar riffs coming from the other, does then the heavy use of the snare and bass guitar fill in the background when suddenly they all rock hard together, with a wall of sound that fills your ears, and makes your head bang. As a way for the listener to concentrate on the great voice of Joey Dia, do distorted guitar chords and the bass guitar of Andy Kadin take a brief backseat. A guitar solo from John Gillicano that is reminiscent of such metal masters as Kirk Hammett, KK Downing and Domain’s Axel Ritt, is nothing short of superb. Suddenly his solo stops and accapella vocals are front and center. After using the trick of “tuning down the strings,” does the song then utilize vocal harmonies; more power chords and riffs until the song abruptly end.

Track two, “I” is a showcase for drummer Marc Chandler. With double bass drums, heavy cymbal use and one drum roll after another, does Marc here make this a killer, killer tune. Sounding a lot like Saigon Kick’s “All I Want,” from their 1992 The Lizard release, “I” offers some great vocal harmonies. A beautiful piano opens track three, “Somebody’s Someone.” A slower song, but not exactly a ballad either. Machine gun guitar riffs let you know a change is coming, when after a drum roll is the bass guitar in perfect tune with the guitar, as the two fluctuate in a kind of an “ebb and tide,” manner. Cathederal-esque vocal harmonies, great use of machine gun guitar and keyboard riffs all make for one of the CD's highlights.

An acoustic guitar opens track four, “Welcome To My Life,” and track 6, "My Addiction." Both with a bluesy, backwoods feel that while had some interesting vocal arrangements sadly these two were not “Undone,” strongest tracks. “Track 6, “Hey You,” is Fools Faith cover of the Pink Floyd’s classic. Wow! Choosing to give their own spin on it, while the guitar solo is note for note, a definite metal edge is given to this progressive rocker. Track 7, “Star,” is a perfect mix of keyboards, guitars, vocals, metal drums and even in its softer moments is a true head banger. A harpsichord-sounding keyboard mixed with an arena filling guitar solo made for an epic tune.

The title track “Undone,” (track eight) has some of the finest lyrics on the entire CD. Speaking of such tragic events as the rise of the Third Reich, the horrible Holocaust, the murders of Jon Benet and Nicole Simpson, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and asking the listener “…if you could be like Superman…..what would you see, where would you go, what would you undo, now that you know…….” A song so thought provoking, so mind-numbingly intense in its message that little more is paid attention to than the lyrics. A track to be listened to again and again.

Track nine, “Child Inside of Me,” is power chords on top of more power chords, mixed with some great vocals. A trio of synthesizers and machine gun vocal arrangements with some subtle guitar riffs open track 10, “Wait.” Listen closely for the bass guitar adding some quick fills throughout the track and mid-song comes an explosion of different tempos, riffs, vocals, killer drumming all coming to a huge power end. The closing track “It's All Over,” is a great way for the CD to come to an end. It allows guitarist John Gillicano, bassist/keyboardist Andy Kadin, vocalist Joey Dia and drummer Marc Chandler to give to the CD their talents. Throughout the track each band member fades in an out each giving solos, riffs and fills. But never coming on to strong, what an amazing track.

Taking a louder, stronger, more tough sounding, metal approach to their songwriting than Natural Destruction, here is a tight collection of tunes that will appeal to listeners of metal with a symphonic edge.

www.foolsfaith.com

HRH rating: 8/10