Whether it is due to the day-job of Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho, or their weird roots and route, stumbling into being a “proper band” by evolving from a high-profile covers act formed by former Stuck Mojo six-stringer Rich Ward, rightly or wrongly (and the answer is wrongly, by the way), it took 2017’s breakout anthem ‘Judas’ (from the album of the same name), a bona-fide fists-in-the-air voices-to-the-sky classic anthem, to put a stamp of credibility on the twenty-year labour of musical love of Ward and Jericho and push them headfirst through the glass ceiling and into the next level of mainstream consciousness.
See, Fozzy had previous form prior to ‘Judas’ – the ripping Chasing The Grail is a quality uptempo metal album, while 2014’s Do You Want To Start A War? laid down a successful template for the current iteration of the Fozzy sound, following on from the commercial success of hit-track ‘Sandpaper’.
So, eighth album, and first for new label Mascot Label Group, Boombox is the first time the eyes and ears of the world are on Fozzy with any serious sense of expectation, and the first time it appears there is any real external pressure on the five piece, who now include new rhythm section of PJ Farley and Grant Brooks. And the band take it all in their stride. While the release may have been pushed back, it is over two years since lead off single the catchy ‘Nowhere To Run’ was released, any issues of scheduling or pressure are not reflected in the tunes.
Following a confident and assured opening three track salvo of hooky chunky rhythmic guitar swagger in the Skillet, Shinedown ballpark and hooky choruses, ‘Army Of One’ is a more reflective track, showing an awareness of the need to mix up the recipe; different ingredients are also welcome in the latter day Disturbed meets 5FDP spit-and-singalong ‘What Hell Is Like’.
The aforementioned ‘Nowhere To Run’ is a rockier punch, as are the catchy electronic-splashed ‘My Great Wall’ and ‘Omen’, both carrying stronger hooks than most of Jericho’s opponents, while ‘The Worst Is Yet To Come’ adopts some of the deeper melodies of a more metalcore styled chorus. All through, Boombox is topped with Jericho’s Ozzy-styled and a/effected vocals; the mid-album cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s ‘Relax’ – which, relax, is pretty faithful and better than you think it’s going to be – could be a bonus track from Ozzmosis, as the frontman delivers his best recorded performance to date.
Fozzy live in that sweet pop metal spot that is right at the chunkiest end of rock but doesn’t really cross over into the “heavy”. They do sound quite a bit like Ozzy’s solo stuff (No More Tears and onwards), and there’s nowt wrong with that, and it is a niche and a pocket they’ve bedded down well in over the last three albums, in particular. Ward and Jericho are in the zone, writing a collection of songs for their audience to bang a fist and sing along to, so turn the Boombox up and rock out.
Buy the album here: https://amzn.to/3vBlpWt
7 / 10
STEVE TOVEY
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