Rock Eyez


 
REVIEWS ARCHIVE
A B C D
E F G H
I J K L
M N O P
Q R S T
U V W X
Y Z #
BACK TO CD MENU

UNSIGNED BANDS:
To submit your
material for
review contact rockeyez@comcast.net

Get Firefox!



BACK TO CD MENU
Chasing The Dream
BAND:
ALBUM:
YEAR:
GENRE:
REVIEWER:
WEBSITE:
Facebook Site:

Skull Fist
Chasing The Dream
2014
Heavy Metal
Mark Balogh
www.skullfist.bigcartel.com
https://www.facebook.com/skullfisted

Rating:
4.0  Stars

     

SKULL FIST is a young band out of Toronto, Ontario and they are spearheading the NWOTHM (New Wave Of Traditional Heavy Metal) movement along with bands like WHITE WIZZARD, CAULDRON, STEELWING and others. This younger generation is continuing to fly the flag that was raised by the likes of the legendary JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, DIAMOND HEAD and many other original NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) bands. As those heroes grow older there needs to be bands to take their place in the future and this younger generation is turning out some seriously good music as they stand next in line.

“Chasing The Dream”, is the bands second full-length record and second release with Noiseart Records and it hit the shelves in January of this year.

Opening the record is “Hour To Live” and it takes no prisoners from the start. The speedy double-bass beat is downright thunderous as Jackie Slaughter’s vocals serve notice with a high-pitched shrill. I really like the tone of Slaughter’s voice as it reminds me of a young Russ “Dwarf” Graham of fellow Canadian act KILLER DWARFS. It’s melodic yet much more unforgiving in its delivery.

“Bad For Good” is worth the price of admission alone as this is one of the better-crafted metal songs I’ve heard in a while. It’s got the sound of 80’s melodic metal at its heart but doesn’t sound dated in any way at all. It’s equal parts melodic and accessible yet still heavy and has me hitting the repeat button a lot!

The title track “Chasing The Dream” starts with Slaughter letting out the scream of a banshee and then gallops on with a SAXON-like heaviness. The band has some great riffs and overall guitar tone on this record. This is solid classic metal at a high level. The following track “Call Of The Wild” has some great dual guitar sounds ala THIN LIZZY meeting up with JUDAS PRIEST in a dark alley.

There is just something that gets the juices flowing when you hear metal done in the traditional way but also has a melodic vein running through it to make it extremely instant. The double-bass attack of “ Sign Of The Warrior” is another speedy affair similar to the opening track while “You’re Gonna Pay” has a MAIDEN like appeal in the guitar sound at the beginning and is faster-paced and with extended full-on traditional metal soloing. The break slows down a bit before quickly turning up the pace again and it makes for a great ride to the end. WOW!

There is no letdown in sight as “Don’t Stop The Fight” comes roaring in again with the fast double-bass drum sound and Slaughter’s vocals taking on a slightly more vicious tone and the heaviness reaches breakneck proportions. If I had one complaint of the record I’d wish for a little more variety from one song to the next. The songs are great on their own but when you get one speedy affair after another it can leave your head spinning and heart pounding, but then again maybe that is SKULL FIST’s aim!

“Shred’s Not Dead” gives Slaughter a breather, as it’s an instrumental tune in the usual tradition. It’s nicely done but nothing that will knock your socks off either.

Closing the record is “Mean Street Rider” and you get more of the same as the band turns in another traditional metal song with anthem style backing vocals but the guitar interplay during the solo breaks keeps things interesting and shows a cool side to the bands sound that hasn’t been heard to that point. I like it for sure.

SKULL FIST have turned in a solid NWOTHM record as it is with “Chasing The Dream” but I can’t help but feel that maybe if it featured another song or two with a varied style to help change up the breakneck tempo that we’d have a real monster on our hands. There’s always next time so keep an eye on these guys for your traditional metal needs.


Band Lineup:
  • Jackie Slaughter– Vocals & Guitar
  • Casey Slade – Bass
  • Jonny Nesta – Guitar
  • Chris Steve – Drums

 

Track Listing:
  1. Hour To Live
  2. Bad For Good
  3. Chasing The Dream
  4. Call Of The Wild
  5. Sign Of The Warrior
  6. You’re Gonna Pay
  7. Don’t Stop The Fight
  8. Shred’s Not Dead
  9. Mean Street Rider

 


JOIN US ON FACEBOOK


Share


Rock Eyez Ratings
Best
Worst

Ratings effective 4/13/05

Rockeyez.com © 2005 - 2007. The contents of this site may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of Rockeyez.com.
Site design and layout was created by Carlos Rodrigues. Site Maintained by Stickman-Radio.com