Easily one of our most anticipated releases for about 2 years now, FOZZY return with their 8th full-length this May and it is well worth the wait after the unexpected banger-maker that Judas turned out to be. In fact, you know what? I’m just going to come out and say it: BOOMBOX is the absolute BEST FOZZY record to date! Yep, better than Judas! Are you intrigued yet???
We all know “Judas” rules, okay? Whether you’re a fan of the band or of the lionheart front man who also wrestles for a living, or, gasp, maybe both then you’ve for sure heard the title track from the 2017 FOZZY full-length over and over and over again. Because it’s that good. But trust us when we say that what you’re about to hear on BOOMBOX is even better.
Is opener “Sane” the next “Judas”? Possibly, but the real grand statement of BOOMBOX is that ANY of these tracks could hit that level. It’s easy to picture Chris Jericho making his entrance with the Jericho Appreciation Society in tow at an AEW event as the barrage of riffage from “Purifier” or “I Still Burn” play out over the PA. Hell, deep cuts like “The Worst Is Yet To Come” or “Omen” could easily make the grade. And yes, “Sane” is up there in the running as well.
But I digress.
“Sane” is an epic album opener and a crunchy riff monster that fully showcases the dual FOZZY guitar power of Rich Ward and Billy Grey with “I Still Burn” following and delivering tenfold with the riffage for a swooping anthem as Jericho croons and cries out like some of the best voices of the ’80’s (Think Ozzy and Joe Elliott). “Purifier” is badass from start to finish with PJ Farley and Grant Brooks’ bass and drum rhythmic rumbling adding to the Grey/Ward chug-a-chug pummeling with Jericho belting out another instant FOZZY classic.
“Army Of One” is a sweeping power ballad in the vein of some of the greats from the ’90’s (Creed and former touring mates Nickelback in particular) and shares a little bit of that late ’80’s/early ’90’s mindset to an extent where there has to be a token ballad in there somewhere (Testament records easily come to mind around that time) to palette cleanse the relentless headbanging. Then “Ugly On The Inside” ramps up the intensity again for this playful romp with Jericho’s masterful wordplay at front and center for another infectious and soon-to-be crowd favorite chorus as Farley’s bass subtly bounces underneath.
And just when you think you have FOZZY’s 8th all figured out they hit you with a smashing rendition of “Relax” originally by Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Adding a little Glam and New Wave to their Hard Rawk bravado, the track is seemingly catered to Jericho’s broad vocal delivery and bombastic presence with “My Great Wall” buzzing bigger further in and heightening the Ward/Grey guitar prowess as gorgeous piano lines accent the overall feel.
Then there’s the sonic wallop of “What Hell Is Like” and “Omen” that both hit like a heavy gut punch. “What Hell Is Like” brings the heft for a stomping stunner that hits hard in the way that Ward’s old outfit Stuck Mojo used to complete with a vicious vocal cadence from Jericho who barks at the center as PJ Farley rattles off some tremor-inducing, foundation-rattlin’ bass booms. And “Omen” is a crunching number that’s sure to be a dark horse favorite for years to come replete with some gnarly riffage from Ward and Grey with Farley providing another low end revelation and kind of hearkening back to classic Ozzy in the way Jericho’s lush delivery meshes with the ferocious guitar tones.
“The Worst Is Yet To Come” is a soaring anthem in the Hard Rawk genre that FOZZY is easily becoming masters within as “The Vulture Club” follows next in a long line of Jericho/Ward album-closing bangers (Think “Wolves At Bay”, “Witchery”, and “Storm The Beaches” to name a few) with some nasty Rich Ward-delivered verses bringing to mind Pigwalk of all things and acting as the perfect dichotomy to Jericho’s inspired croon.
BOOMBOX arrives on May 6th through Century Media. Pre-orders are up now and can be perused then purchased in a variety of formats conveniently located here. For the latest on FOZZY, follow them across the information superhighway by clicking here, here, and here.
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