Review : FOZZY – “Chasing The Grail”

Fozzy – Chasing The Grail
released January 26, 2010 on Riot Entertainment

Fozzy‘s much-improved fourth release, Chasing The Grail, is their second album of all-original material, and “Under Blackened Skies” opens in fine form. It’s the first of many tracks to feature Rich Ward’s consistently beefy riffs and the reliable drumming of Frank Fontsere, who really comes into his own on “Pray for Blood”. Complete with blastbeats, it may be the heaviest track here. Also be sure to listen for Annihilator‘s Jeff Waters busting guest guitar solos on “Martyr No More” and “God Pounds His Nails” (though non-commercial outlets may want to avoid playing the former, as it was both the first single and a theme song for the 2010 WWE Royal Rumble).

Fozzy endured many factors working against them. Having pro wrestler Chris Jericho as a frontman drove a wedge between metal audiences; many chose not to listen by virtue of his background alone. Main songwriter Rich Ward also founded Stuck Mojo, a band that helped trailblaze the now-often-reviled rap metal genre. The band’s original mock past came complete with silly pseudonyms and “stolen” songs (which were actually covers), which gave an air of illegitimacy. Their now-defunct ‘Arthur’ mascot paralleled the porcine imagery in Stuck Mojo‘s hit single “Pigwalk”, and that band also went to the wrestling well in multiple ways for their album Rising. Too much of Fozzy‘s history felt calculated at worst, and residual at best.

But clearly, Fozzy now seeks to expand. Nowhere is this more evident than their first foray into epicness with “Wormwood”: a six-part, 14-minute progressive powerhouse. Former guitarist Mike Martin lends both his fingers and throat to the track, delivering death grunts opposite one of Jericho’s most passionate performances to date.

Sure, there are shortcomings. The vocals are frequently auto-tuned, ironically sounding much like Ozzy Osbourne, from whom the band originally adapted their name. “New Days Dawn” is marred by Ward’s strained falsetto and the worst lyrics on the album (though it ends stronger than it begins). “Broken Soul” – their first attempt at a ballad – just misses the mark altogether and feels totally out of place. However, Fozzy is learning more about themselves and what they hope to accomplish. I predict future albums will further branch beyond the boundaries that once confined them.

FCC OK
Try 1, 3, 6, 8, 12

01. Under Blackened Skies
02. Martyr No More
03. Grail
04. Broken Soul
05. Let The Madness Begin
06. Pray For Blood
07. New Days Dawn
08. God Pounds His Nails
09. Watch Me Shine
10. Paraskavedekatriaphobia (Friday The 13)
11. Revival
12. Wormwood

Rating: