FarCry : Optimism

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by Mark Allen
Staff Writer

You don’t have to roam to the distant ends of the earth to find pure, undiluted melodic hard rock. Just look no further than FarCry, the band that dropped their critically-acclaimed debut back in 2009. The band’s second album, Optimism, is finally here and you can rest assured that FarCry have not screwed the pooch, diddled the dog, or messed with their winning equation in any way.

FarCry has about as much interest in attempting a cutting-edge recreation of the wheel as a cannibal has in a well-done porterhouse. Instead, their goal is simple, honest, and heartfelt: play straight-up melodic hard rock and play it well. The album falls short of being a classic, but it is definitely a high-quality offering, so the band can consider their mission accomplished.

While the band as a whole is a tight, cohesive unit, a sizable chunk of credit for this mission accomplishment rests squarely on the shoulders of guitarist Pete Fry. As he fires off a string of fret-burning fusillades, you may find yourself wondering if he wears endothermic gloves to keep his fingers from bursting into flames. His style has more sizzle than cold water on a hot griddle but remains refreshingly free of the showboating wankery that sometimes mars the likes of Malmsteen. No disrespect to the rest of the band, who handle their duties quite capably, but it is Fry’s incendiary licks and scorching solos that elevate this album from standard-issue melodic hard rock to something that merits your attention.

The album starts off with “Satisfaction,” the kind of boilerplate rocker that has cranked your cochlea a hundred times before. The chorus is serviceable but suffers from a “been there, heard that” malaise and unfortunately this is not the last time this particular malady will plague the album. Lest you be confused, it must be clarified that none of the choruses are bad—they are all catchy enough in a generic way—but only a handful reach beyond the obvious hook for something a bit more special.

“Nothing You Can Do” provides hints of heaviness, the rhythm section punching out some welcome aggression while singer Mark Giovi matches their hammer-it-home intensity by lacing his voice with attitude. The chorus once again falls prey to formula, but some well-placed backing vocals provide it with some much-needed backbone.

“At First Sight” is the album’s first true highlight, a catchy, up-tempo, foot-tapping head-bopper that Bon Jovi would bite the balls off a wildebeest to call his own. It is followed by another butt-kicker in “Now That It’s Over,” which brings a darker edge to the proceedings with a brooding verse that builds to a nicely-done chorus that really showcases the band’s overt ‘80s influence. These two tracks combine to provide a nice back-to-back knockout blow to the eardrums. Then, after a couple more average tracks, FarCry unleashes their best song of the album, “Too Hot To Hold,” which comes charging out of the gate with the pedal pinned firmly to the proverbial floor and races pell-mell to a ripping good chorus.

FarCry has surefootedly sidestepped the dreaded sophomore slump by serving up what melodic hard rock fans want to hear. While some of the choruses could use some sharpening, it is entirely possible that you will be so engulfed by the terrific guitar tapestry to even notice. With good albums like this being released, fans of the genre have reason to be optimistic not just about the future of FarCry, but the future of melodic hard rock in general.

Genre: Melodic Hard Rock

Band:
Mark Giovi (vocals)
Pete Fry (lead guitars)
Angelo Mazza (rhythm guitars)
Ronnie Parkes(bass)
Tommy John (drums)

Track Listing
1. Satisfaction
2. Over and Over (Again)
3. Nothing You Can Do
4. Better Than This
5. At First Sight
6. Now That It’s Over
7. Free
8. Best of Me
9. Too Hot to Hold
10. When the Lights Go Down

Webpage: www.farcryband.net

Label: Kivel Records

Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10