FOOLS FAITH - UNDONE only $12 USDFormed in the spring of '95', Stamford Connecticut based Fools Faith is a rare find in a musical world of mediocrity. Combining the best of "80's Metal" with elements of today's sound, Fools Faith finds equal ground unparallel by today's standards.Signed to Escape Music (under the moniker of "Aftermath") in the winter of 2002, their debut release "Natural Destruction" in 2003 was a critical success unmatched in their genre. With blistering guitars and tight vocal harmonies leading the way, Fools Faith has made a name for themselves by providing what so few are able to achieve, old-fashioned hard rock the way it was meant to be played. Following the release of Natural Destruction, the band set out to prove that not only were they a force to be reckoned with, but also were indeed the real deal where musicianship and quality songwriting were concerned. Featuring Vocalist/Rhythm Guitarist Joe Dia, Keyboardist/Bassist Andy Kadin, Lead Guitarist Bill DiNapoli, and last but certainly not least, Drummer Marc Chandler, Fools Faith crushed audiences throughout the NY/NJ/CT area with explosive playing that left those in attendance hanging on for dear life.In the Spring of 2005 Fools Faith saw not only the departure of Lead Guitarist Bill Dinapoli but also an untimely split with their label Escape Music. Undeterred by their losses, the band pushed forward more determined than ever to find comparable replacements even though the choices were slim in the ever-decreasing Connecticut musician scene where Guitar players are concerned as well as with the music industry in general. As luck would have it, session player and friend of the band John Gallicano made his services available for however long necessary and in the Fall of 2005 was asked to become a permanent member of the band. While still sticking to their roots, they have taken things a step further with an album of diverse material which leaves one unable to categorize them into a specific genre. With strong melodies, pounding rhythms and vocals unmatched in today's musical climate already setting them apart from their contemporaries, Their sophmore release "Undone" has already confirmed in the U.S. what many across Europe already knew, Fools Faith is setting the standards for what many have forgotten; how to successfully rock "old-school" style while blending the sounds of today.
Here's a video a new friend made for us.
Here's a new video the same friend made.
Fools Faith are back in the studio!
Here's a little taste of the drum tracking session.
Reviews:
‘Undone’ is the new album from the American band FOOLS FAITH. The Connecticut based band has been around since the mid-nineties and was signed to Escape Music, only then they called themselves Aftermath and released the well-received ‘Natural Destruction’ record in 2003.
The band's back with a new name, and thankfully they stick to their roots, whilst moving forward adding more progressive dimensions to their structures such as on the excellent ‘I’.
Soaked in keyboards ‘I’ features solid guitar work and complex arrangements that often come over in the vein of Rush.
‘Welcome To My Life’ is also a seriously good song; it’s catchy and well performed. The song starts off acoustically then it builds in a dynamic composition with great guitar work from Bill DiNapoli. Frontman Joey Dia really gives this song 100% and the background vocals also honour the song. I can’t think of who this track reminds me of, its pure melodic, but with a little more fire in its gut compared to the norm. This is seriously a good catchy song with a great production sound, which begs the question, why are Fool’s Faith not signed to a major label??
The quality continues with the melodic ‘Hey You’, I love the keyboards on this making me think of Bon Jovi, Mystery Bloom, Spock’s Beard and Saga, impressive catchy song. ‘Child Inside Of Me’ is more commercialised melodic heaven reminding me of Aftermath and Arcara with its punchy catchy chorus.
Fool’s Faith gets the big thumbs up, solid performances from everyone, great production and an album that simply works on every level; good to have you back gentlemen.
Nicky Baldrian
Fireworks Magazine UK.
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"As if taking their cues from early metal and hard rock pioneers like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Savatage and Saigon Kick, mixed with the symphonic metal of Domain, Kamelot and Blind Guardian, Fools Faith has found a strong foothold in the metal scene. Formed in 1995, Fools Faith released their debut CD Natural Destruction, under the moniker Aftermath in 2003. But it was while recording 2007’s Undone, that the band saw the departure of original guitarist Bill Dinapoli along with an untimely spilt with Escape Music. However, as is evident by listening to this release, the boys refused to be beaten and after recruiting session guitarist, John Gallicano the boys with renewed passion, returned to the studio and the result IS nothing short of a blistering, wicked metal attack on our senses.
Track 1 “All or Nothing,†grabs you by the throat, and like the punches of a pride fighter, come at you hard and fast. What makes this song so excellently written is the escalation of sound. Starting with nasty, heavy guitar power chords coming from one speaker, and three-note guitar riffs coming from the other, does then the heavy use of the snare and bass guitar fill in the background when suddenly they all rock hard together, with a wall of sound that fills your ears and makes your head bang. As a way for the listener to concentrate on the great voice of Joey Dia, do distorted guitar chords and the bass guitar of Andy Kadin take a brief backseat. A guitar solo from John Gallicano that is reminiscent of such metal masters as Kirk Hammett, KK Downing and Domain’s Axel Ritt, is nothing short of superb. Suddenly his solo stops and accapella vocals are front and center. After using the trick of tuning down does the song then utilize vocal harmonies; more power chords and riffs until the song abruptly ends.
Track 2 “I†is a showcase for drummer Marc Chandler. With double bass drums, heavy cymbal use and one drum roll after another, does Marc here make this a killer, killer tune. Sounding a lot like Saigon Kick’s “All I Want†from their 1992 The Lizard release, “I†offers some great vocal harmonies.
A beautiful piano opens Track 3. “Somebody’s Someone†is a slower song, yet not exactly a ballad. Machine gun guitar riffs let you know a change is coming, when after a drum roll is the bass guitar in perfect tune with the guitar, as the two fluctuate in a kind of an ebb and flow manner. Cathederal-esque vocal harmonies, great use of machine gun guitar and keyboard riffs all make for one of the CD's highlights.An acoustic guitar opens Track 4 “Welcome To My Life†and Track 5, "My Addiction." both with a bluesy, backwoods feel that while having some interesting vocal arrangements sadly in my opinion, were not the albums strongest tracks.
“Track 6 “Hey You,†is Fools Faith cover of the Pink Floyd classic of the same name. Wow! Choosing to give their own spin on it, while the guitar solo is note for note, a definite metal edge is given to this progressive rocker.
Track 7 “Star,†is a perfect mix of keyboards, guitars, vocals, metal drumming and even in its softer moments, is a true head banger. A harpsichord-sounding keyboard mixed with an arena filling guitar solo made for an epic tune.
The title track “Undone,†( Track 8 ) has some of the finest lyrics on the entire CD. Speaking of such tragic events as the rise of the Third Reich, the horrible Holocaust, the murders of Jon Benet and Nicole Simpson, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and asking the listener “…if you could be like Superman…..what would you see, where would you go, what would you undo, now that you know…….†A song so thought provoking, so mind-numbingly intense in its message that little more is paid attention to than the lyrics. A track to be listened to again and again.
Track 9 “Child Inside of Me,†is power chords on top of more power chords, mixed with some great vocals.
A trio of synthesizers and machine gun vocal arrangements with some subtle guitar riffs open Track 10 “Wait.†Listen closely for the bass guitar adding some quick fills throughout the track and mid-song comes an explosion of different tempos, riffs, vocals & killer drumming all coming to a huge powerful end.
The closing track “It's All Over,†is a great way for the CD to end. It allows Guitarist John Gallicano, Keyboardist Andy Kadin, Vocalist Joey Dia and Drummer Marc Chandler to give to the CD their talents. Throughout each track every band member fades in and out each providing solos, riffs and fills, but never coming on too strong. What an amazing track!!
In taking a louder, stronger & tougher sounding metal approach to their songwriting than noted on Natural Destruction, this CD a tight collection of songs that will appeal to listeners of all genres of music & especially for those that love Metal with a symphonic edge".
Rating: 8/10
Franco Wissa
HardrockHaven.net
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"The band plays a fine mixture of classic U.S. arena style hardrock melodies with some progressive Metal structures and they are doing it very well. With strong lead vocals the melodies of the 11 different songs are very nice and combined with the progressive structures and instrumental parts, makes FOOLS FAITH an interesting band.
I guess the best way to describe this band from Connecticut is that they mix the best sounds from New Jersey, namely 80s BON JOVI meets early DREAM THEATER with TYKETTO mixed in here and there. Although released independently, the production is quite good and it is a pleasure listening to this CD."
Rating - 8.3/10
The highlights: "All Or Nothing", "Child Inside Of Me" and "It’s all over".
Hot New Reviews
Strutter Magazine
AngelFire.com
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"Fools Faith releases their second album “Undone†with 11 very well structured hard rock and progressive metal tracks. The elements of hard rock/metal throughout this CD reminds me of bands such as Tyketto, a little bit of old-school Bon Jovi, American Angel and Savatage combined in the progressive metal vein of Queensryche, Styx and Kansas.
"While each member is an excellent musician in their own right, there is still enough space throughout the entire CD for everybody to shine as individuals. The first song "All or Nothing" begins with a riff that reminds me of early Metallica and is easily one of my favorites from this CD. The title track “Undone†is another favorite with great vocal variations but the next track, “Child Inside of Me†is simply, in my opinion of course, the best on the album."
"This is the type of album that the more you listen to it the more you want to listen to it again. The songs are so totally different from one another that it MAKES you want listen over and over again. Pick up this gem right now."
Rating 80/100
HeavyHarmonies.com
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