SkullFist
Chasing the Dream
NoiseArt Records
2014
It’s funny that I keep reading, some moronic reviewers mostly in some “scenester” publications, that tend to have deep affiliations or friendships with certain labels or festival, about all of this “new bands” like Enforcer and Alpha Tiger and SkullFist and more and how they’re the new “Iron Maiden” or the new “Helloween” obviously we had Metal Hammer UK, I think pronouncing Bullet For My Valentine the new Judas Priest (tries not to have orange juice come out of the nostrils) completing the “picture” of insane and inane claims, by those “geniuses”...
SkullFist are nowhere as “g@y” as the Welsh wimps. These Canadian true metal aficionados are more in tune with a wimpier version of Savage Grace, with more nasal, adolescent vocals that seem a little “tuned” in places, although, I would not really be certain about that. Musically they offer some pretty catchy riffs and the occasional impressive lead, even double sometimes with decent enough chops. They seem to have really worked hard on the album and that has paid back and even if a few parts seem to be reminiscent of something, that seems to be dome more as a tribute rather than an attempt to rip off.
“Hour to Live” is an infectious “thunder-riding” opener, that simply comes in at a hundred miles to nullify all resistance in an instance…
“Bad for Good” is crankier and groovier, with lots more attitude and while it’s reminiscent of something I can’t quite place right now, it’s still pretty good...
“Chasing My Dream” has a nice riff and a nice chorus melody but just becomes too repetitive...
“Call of the Wild” has some pretty nice guitars ripping through it... while “Sign of the Warrior” might be as cliché as the title suggests, but is at least quite energetic and fist pumping and anthemic too! Now where’s the Clearasil!? If you get a date, you don’t want all that “cheese” to ruin your “facade”... hehe…
“You’re Gonna Pay” attempts even higher notes I guess, probably by having the singer, squeezing into even tighter spandex, but ain’t something too special...
“Don’t Stop the Fight” likewise has rather boring verses, but a marginally better chorus... and a more concert friendly character, including a fiery solo. Even though their guitarist by that name’s gone... the band has a song that’s entitled “Shreds Not Dead” which happens to be an instrumental. It’s not strictly a shred showpiece in the strictest sense – but it’s quite masterful and fun and nice – so props to them.
Last but not least, there’s “Mean Street Rider”, a rather fast and to the point rocker, with intricate guitar work that ends with a bit of an afterburner of a drum barrage :P All in all, not bad...!
Compared to their debut and the preceding EP, the vocals here are cleaner and the sound more defined and epic, which might take a bit of getting used to by some, but some may like it better this way... all I could is, that this bunch has some talent, but instead, of trying to call them the next “whatever”, which they probably aren’t, I’d let time, decide what they are and what they are not... I mean, everyone carves their own path, makes their own history, why not this band? All these “parallels” didn’t seem to help any of the bands that – were branded the next – AC/DC, or whatever, just because people expected too much of them and with the originals still kicking around… and putting out pretty superb albums... all it happens is that you quickly get branded a clone, whether you are or you aren’t.
“Chasing the Dream” is pretty good, sweet even, but it is rather short and not exactly “original” in its style, but at least it’s done with real conviction and the band’s talented enough to pull it off and they don’t copy a specific band... so... it’s quite likable if you like the in your face heavy metal of the 80s, on the other hand, I’d like to hear the vocals manning up a bit... “Master of Disguise” era Savage Grace, would be ideal hahaha!
SkullFist are nowhere as “g@y” as the Welsh wimps. These Canadian true metal aficionados are more in tune with a wimpier version of Savage Grace, with more nasal, adolescent vocals that seem a little “tuned” in places, although, I would not really be certain about that. Musically they offer some pretty catchy riffs and the occasional impressive lead, even double sometimes with decent enough chops. They seem to have really worked hard on the album and that has paid back and even if a few parts seem to be reminiscent of something, that seems to be dome more as a tribute rather than an attempt to rip off.
“Hour to Live” is an infectious “thunder-riding” opener, that simply comes in at a hundred miles to nullify all resistance in an instance…
“Bad for Good” is crankier and groovier, with lots more attitude and while it’s reminiscent of something I can’t quite place right now, it’s still pretty good...
“Chasing My Dream” has a nice riff and a nice chorus melody but just becomes too repetitive...
“Call of the Wild” has some pretty nice guitars ripping through it... while “Sign of the Warrior” might be as cliché as the title suggests, but is at least quite energetic and fist pumping and anthemic too! Now where’s the Clearasil!? If you get a date, you don’t want all that “cheese” to ruin your “facade”... hehe…
“You’re Gonna Pay” attempts even higher notes I guess, probably by having the singer, squeezing into even tighter spandex, but ain’t something too special...
“Don’t Stop the Fight” likewise has rather boring verses, but a marginally better chorus... and a more concert friendly character, including a fiery solo. Even though their guitarist by that name’s gone... the band has a song that’s entitled “Shreds Not Dead” which happens to be an instrumental. It’s not strictly a shred showpiece in the strictest sense – but it’s quite masterful and fun and nice – so props to them.
Last but not least, there’s “Mean Street Rider”, a rather fast and to the point rocker, with intricate guitar work that ends with a bit of an afterburner of a drum barrage :P All in all, not bad...!
Compared to their debut and the preceding EP, the vocals here are cleaner and the sound more defined and epic, which might take a bit of getting used to by some, but some may like it better this way... all I could is, that this bunch has some talent, but instead, of trying to call them the next “whatever”, which they probably aren’t, I’d let time, decide what they are and what they are not... I mean, everyone carves their own path, makes their own history, why not this band? All these “parallels” didn’t seem to help any of the bands that – were branded the next – AC/DC, or whatever, just because people expected too much of them and with the originals still kicking around… and putting out pretty superb albums... all it happens is that you quickly get branded a clone, whether you are or you aren’t.
“Chasing the Dream” is pretty good, sweet even, but it is rather short and not exactly “original” in its style, but at least it’s done with real conviction and the band’s talented enough to pull it off and they don’t copy a specific band... so... it’s quite likable if you like the in your face heavy metal of the 80s, on the other hand, I’d like to hear the vocals manning up a bit... “Master of Disguise” era Savage Grace, would be ideal hahaha!