Detailed Reviews [Faith2Fist - 2008 - "Revolutions"]

Prolusion. FAITH2FIST is a band based in Georgia, USA, and “Revolutions” is their second outing, released 10 years after their debut album "Introduction".

Analysis. Musically the band belongs to the retro section when it comes to style, although with no distinct influences as such to their sound. On the CD-Baby website, Yes, Blue Oyster Cult and Jethro Tull are listed as reference points for this release, but personally I only could sense some vibes from Uriah Heep and Black Sabbath on some of the tunes here. But no dominating influences from any of the bands mentioned are really present, and although the scope in musical styles for bands that may be influences here are wide, the style on this release is consistent and uniform. Symphonic keyboard textures are the central element in the compositions on this release. Sometimes dominating, and always present, filling out the soundscape, the keys soften the atmospheres and enhance the melodies explored on the album. Undistorted guitars, acoustic guitars and mandolin are used most times as well, and are the instruments most central in conveying the central melody lines. Effective drums and bass guitar are the foundations of the tunes, keeping pace and underscoring the guitars and keyboards. The songs are relatively simple in structure, following a standard verse-chorus format, with some soloing in the middle. No complex structures here and no change of pace and style every two seconds; instead the band chooses to explore the main melody, only adding some variation when needed, the main focus being on conveying mood, melody and atmosphere. The instruments and vocals come across as clear, but the composition of the soundscapes here doesn't quite gel – the vocals tend to be drowned out drown a bit and the drums tend to dominate a bit too much.

Conclusion. This album should appeal to fans of '70s melodic hard rock.

OMB: June 4, 2008