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Metal/Prog Metal CD Reviews

Fight A Small Deadly Space Review by Gary Hill Much of this album is pure metal, however there are sections that show much progressive influences. Rob Halford`s vocal work here is based in the lower end of the register, rather than showing the high end pyrotechnics that he exhibited in Judas Priest. The track In A World of My Own Making is a very wonderful piece of music with solid progressive leanings. The musicians on the album are Brian Tilse, Jay Jay, Mark Chaussee, Scott Travis and Rob Halford. This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: The Early Years Volume 3 at garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-The-Early-Years .

Track by Track Review

I Am Alive A very hard rocking metallic verse gives way to a quite melodic chorus. This song combines straightforward metal sounds with prog-metal and alternative modes (in the mode of such bands as Alice in Chains).

Mouthpiece This fast, straight-ahead metal cut is fairly quirky at times.

Legacy of Hate Legacy of Hate is a fairly straight-ahead metal number with Priest leanings. The lyrics point up the cycle in which hatreds are passed from parents to children.

Blow Out in the Radio Room A straight-ahead rock and roll intro leads to an intriguing modern alterna-metal song structure. The guitar solo is in a more traditional metal mode.

Never Again Never Again is more solid metal, again a bit Priestish.

Small Deadly Space This is another number that is set in the straight-ahead metal approach. The leanings here are also rather Judas Priestish.

Gretna Greene Much as the previous two tunes, this track shows Priest influences in a solid heavy metal format.

Beneath the Violence This thrashish metal track is a solid cut.

Human Crate A pretty, picked segment begins the number, and a gradual build up brings the piece into more traditional metal territory. It is a bit Sabbathesque. Much of the arrangement to this number is quite intriguing.

In A World of My Own Making Very darkly beautiful piano and vocal strains begin this piece, the most interesting one on the album. The intensity gradually grows before moving into a slow (and very emotional) metal mode. This piece has the texture of the most creative of vintage Judas Priest, but more up-to date. The piano based segment returns, eventually, bringing a dramatic slowing.

Hidden Track This is a very aggressive metal piece, that is hidden in the space after In A World of My Own Making.

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