Fools Faith | Sinister F

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by Franco Cerchiari
Staff Writer

As can be imagined, a follow-up to a band’s previous astounding release is heard for the first time with a certain amount of trepidation – expectations are, indeed, high, and the thought comes, “ … oh God, please be as good as your last CD.” Fans are fickle. Let them down once, and it’s tough to get them back. Then there are times, that from the opening bars of track No. 1, a sigh of relief come that this, indeed, could be every bit as good as what was heard before. Case in point: Sinister F, which is Fools Faith’s follow-up to its incredible 2007 CD, Undone. Wicked as hell and jammed packed with one excellent track after another, Sinister F should, indeed, pick up a new legion of fans for this quartet, while, at the same time, bring a sigh of relief to those fans who already have heard of this great band.

Beginning in almost hushed tones, the musical bar intro of the opening track, “Across the Sky” comes in stages; first comes a thumping bass drum with some truly sinful guitar licks, then synthesizers are piled on. The music builds and swirls in intensity until the track blows wide open into a perfect hard rockin’ track. It’s difficult to refrain from reaching for the volume control during the intro, knowing that the track is about to rock hard. When the track opens up, hearing it loudly always is better. Also listen closely to the head-nodding acoustic guitars in “Change of Direction;” they are reminiscent of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.”

The CD’s title track, “Sinister F,” with the lyrics “… she’s got something that keeps me coming around again … she’s such a demon, I hear her screaming in my head …” follows the “Hell Yeah” opening. The metal refrains of “Possession,” with melodic vocal harmonies singing about “… did the devil take your soul …” are outstanding. The bluesy “Wait For Me,” the drums of “Break Me,” the genuine and honest feel of “Won’t Be Home (Tonight)” and the mid-tempo “Ordinary Man,” are filled with enormous, expansive vocal harmonies, lush guitars and excellent piano accompaniment. The guitars just prior to the solo become down tuned, loud and bottomless with an almost Sabbath feel. As the guitar solo fades, keyboards are given a chance to shine for a solo that, again, gives way to a second guitar solo, which continues until the fading end, adding an undercoating beneath the vocals. Note must be given to Chandler’s loud single strike of the hi-hat that is sprinkled throughout “Ordinary Man;” it’s done without warning but is used well to accentuate a feel.

A time or two, some notes perhaps are not as clear as they should be, but this is of little significance because it doesn’t get in the way of the overall sound. Taken as a whole, the music comes across as cohesive, and each band member plays off each other well. The guitar licks are masterful. The guitar is not just an instrument in a band, but quite possibly THE instrument that, when used properly, will bring out everything good about a track.

Fools Faith has done it again. It’s metal, with traces of progressive and hard rock, and there is not a bad track to be heard. The release of Sinister F has given this Connecticut quartet the credibility it needs to prove to the metal and hard rock world that it can keep up with the “big boys.”

Granted, it sadly has become a given that bands such as Fools Faith, Big Cock, Mass, Fatal Smile and Pretty Maids NEVER will be heard on mainstream American radio. And that is a shame. While the drudgery heard from mainstream acts always will be a part of the American radio landscape, hopefully, someone, somewhere will dig deep into the depths of the rock world and give Fools Faith (and Fatal Smile, etc.) a chance to make their music part of conventional radio play lists. Until that day comes, it is, indeed, a blessing to be able to write reviews about releases such as Sinister F, while shouting loudly to conformist radio, “Wake up, guys, and give this a spin. You just might be pleasantly stunned, and so will your listeners.” Will American radio make that change? Probably not, but to Fools Faith, keep up the work you have done thus far. Sinister F is keeping up the tradition of your superb work heard thus far. We, as your fans, are the important ones. Thank God that you guys never seem to never forget that.

Genre: Metal / Hard Rock

Track Listing:
Across the Sky
Forgotten
Break Me
Change of Direction
Sinister F
Wait For Me
Possession
Ordinary Main
Won’t Be Home (Tonight)
Lies

Band Members:
Joey Dia – vocals
John Gallicano – guitars
Andy Kadin – bass, keyboards
Marc Chandler – drums

Label: Sick Day Records

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.8/10