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Fozzy - Judas review



Reviewer:
6.4

20 users:
6.6
Band: Fozzy
Album: Judas
Release date: October 2017


01. Judas
02. Drinkin With Jesus
03. Painless
04. Weight Of My World
05. Wordsworth Way
06. Burn Me Out
07. Three Days In Jail
08. Elevator
09. Running With The Bulls
10. Capsized
11. Wolves At Bay

Is Judas the album that finally replaces Chris Jericho as the go-to thought when the name Fozzy is mentioned? Seventeen years and seven albums in, and the fact that question was still being asked would mean no, Fozzy will be always be synonymous with the man behind the microphone. However, to write Judas off would be unfair, as it does contain moments that you think could finally be the spark the band need.

With the title track, the album kicks off in style; strong yet catchy, it serves as a calling card for what the band can achieve when everything clicks. The lyrics may be cliché, but possess enough self-awareness that they don't come over as obnoxious. This is carried on over to "Drinking With Jesus", which raises expectation for the rest of the album. Alas, other than "Elevator", the band don't come close to carrying forward the momentum the album starts off with.

Where the album falters is when the band show an inability to strike the balance of adding additional elements to songs that serve to enhance the tracks rather than overwhelm and drown out what are promising bases. "Weight Of The World" has the skeleton of a good song underneath the many layers of electronic samples on top of it; had the band cut back on the samples, it would have been a solid effort rather than the miss that it becomes. That said, there are songs on here that are just plain poor; "Painless" and "Wordsworth Way" are too slow and uninteresting to be saved by any amount of additional elements.

The band do feel like they're holding back, sticking in the slow lane when you know they can handle putting their foot down and letting rip. This restraint is an ever-present thought for the duration as you mentally urge the band to show off a bit more flair and character to liven the songs up a bit. I will give kudos to producer Johnny Andrews; with so many elements, he is still able to produce a coherent sound that makes each instrument audible and cohesive when put together.

So, does Judas spark the fire that could be the beacon that brings Fozzy out of Jericho's shadow? No, I'm afraid it doesn't and the wait will continue for the band to produce an album that can realize this. However, the album does show hope that they can achieve this; it's just a matter of being able to produce more of it and cutting the chaff.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 6
Songwriting: 5
Originality: 6
Production: 8

Written by omne metallum | 13.04.2020




Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.



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