Review Summary: This is Fozzy's time to shine.
Fozzy's break through album was arguably 2005's 'All That Remains', this album was the first with an all original bill of songs. The song 'Enemy' even managed to receive moderate air play on some radio stations across the USA I believe.
However several years later, they released what I believed was their crowning moment, 'Chasing The Grail'. 12 songs packed with varying musical direction throughout. Sin & Bones is similar to Grail in that respect, as the album showcases different sounds, making it hard to pigeon hole Fozzy to a specific genre.
After a brief intro at the start of 'Spider In My Mouth', Fozzy waste absolutely no time in getting down to business here, a thumping riff kicks off things nicely, with a melodic chorus, before exploding once more with pounding drums and guitar to match. A concert opener for sure.
By the end of 'Spider In My Mouth' it's clear that Fozzy have returned and they mean business. The album has a couple of song's similar to 'Spider In My Mouth', in the sense that the guitar riffs come at you hard and heavy. 'Blood Happens' showcases this example perfectly with heavy drums and riffs throughout the song and a vocal growl of 'Blood Happens' in the chorus from lead guitarist Rich Ward. This song has a fast paced short but sweet speedy solo in it.
'Sandpaper', the lead single and it adds a bit of star power to the album as M. shadows from Avenged Sevenfold makes an appearance on this one. He liked this song so much that he actually helped to write and sort the structure of it when he was sent a demo of it. This song features a harmonized chorus from both Jericho & shadows and was a no brainer for a lead radio single (especially given the aforementioned star power).
So onto the other side of things, this album also has a mellower and progressive side to Fozzy. 'Inside My Head' is one of those mellow songs. It seems here that the lyrics ('Can you help me kill the sounds inside my head') are a reference to killing some sort of demons from the past. This song has a soaring chorus.
On 'She's My Addiction', Fozzy go all 80's rock N' roll on us. The track sounds like the brainchild to Guns N roses & Janes Addiction. This is not the first time that Fozzy have given the nod to older artists, if your familiar with Fozzy then you will know they used to be a cover band. However the influence is once again shown here with 'A Passed Life' & 'Shine Forever', both songs sound like they were influence by Iron Maiden & Black Sabbath respectively (If you listen to the deluxe version of this album you'll get a bonus track called 'Fairies Wear Boots', which is a Black Sabbath cover).
Earlier i briefly mentioned the progressive side to Fozzy (Which we have seen before on 2010's 'Chasing The Grail' with fourteen minute final track 'Wormwood'). This side is brought out once again with the final track on 'Sin & Bones' titled 'Storm The Beaches'. This song is twelve minutes long and much like 'Wormwood', it is quite frankly an epic number. The song fluctuates in style throughout, just like a good progressive number should, from thunderous riffs to, keyboards, solos, melody and meaningful lyrics. This song is about D-day and end's the album perfectly, this song will probably never be performed live, so it will be one of those gems that fans refer to and say 'Man i wish they played that song live' When referring to songs from past albums.
Recommended tracks;
'Inside My Head',
'Storm The Beaches',
'Blood Happens'.
