Released on Chavis Records in 2002
THE BAND:
Stevie A. Durrand –lead vocals, guitars
Graham Mcload – guitars, vocals
Paul Lague –bass, vocals
Davey Harkness –drums, vocals
TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1,.) “Cry for Help/I’ll be there”-The first half of this track is an
instrumental intro. Leading into the song “I’ll be there”. “I’ll be there”
kicks off with a vocal laughter section. The vocals to this track, I found
interesting, mainly because Stevie’s lead vocals of the verse are over lapping
with themselves. This recording technique is very unique. The drum rhythm is a
simple laid-back double bass pattern. The vocal lines over shadow the guitar
arrangements. There is a real solid bass line through the track this is
apparent while listening to the song with headphones. The chorus has a huge
vocal hook that is very reminiscent at times of Kelly Hansen of Hurricane. All
in all this is one of those tracks where everything seemed to click together.
2.) “Forever once Again”-This track opens with a real solid guitar intro and
lead scale. There is a small break and pause between the intro and verse. The
lead guitar scale for the intro turns out to be the main guitar riff of the
verse. There are huge harmony patterns through the pre-chorus. The main chorus
of the track is very laid back and melodic. There is a minor solo after the
first chorus of the song. The track has a real strange breakdown section right
before the major solo of the song. The major solo is two solos connected
together, and sounds like it is two different guitarist, but in reality it is
just one.
3.) “Rescue Me”- This first ballad kicks off with an acoustic guitar pattern.
The vocal lines kick off with Stevie singing a few “ahh’s”. There is a real
cool acoustic solo underneath the first verse. The acoustic solo plus the vocal
line really set the mood for this track a lot. The song picks up a lot through
the chorus. The backing vocals of the chorus where turned down just a little,
so they have this very distant feeling to them. During the second verse there
is a very small lead vocal overdub. There are small keyboard arrangements in
the track to fill in some of the dead spots. The solo is nothing but pure
classic melodic metal. I really liked the way they slowed down the ending.
4.) “Holding on to Your Dreams”- This track opens with a huge harmony vocal
section. At first glance you think this is going to be a laid-back rocker. But
right after the vocal section the guitarist slaps you in the face with a huge
guitar arrangement. Lyrically this track is well arranged. The bass player
really locks into a real solid groove but there is so much going on it’s almost
inaudible.
5.) “No way out”- This track kicks off with a drum and bass pattern intro. Over
these two patterns is a small lead scale. There is a second lead scale when the
main intro of the song kicks in. For the verse the guitar arrangement is a very
simple plucking pattern. The chorus has very classic sounding eighties vocal
harmonies. The track has a real laid back bass line. Vocally Stevie really
shines on this track.
6.) “Better Coming”-This track opens with a real laid back eighties style
intro. The vocal arrangement has a real late eighties secondary metal band
sound. There is a couple real cool double bass drum patterns during the verse
arrangement. The solo for the song has that typical eighties feel to it.
7.) “I need you”-This track opens with a real laid back acoustic guitar section
and lead scale. The backing harmonies give the song a very subtle feel. At
times the musical arrangement reminds you of Saigon Kick. There is a lot of
acoustics picked up through the micing for the acoustic solo.
8.) “Long Way to Heaven”- This track kicks off with a drum and bass pattern
intro. There also is a huge eighties lead scale during the intro. There is a
lot of great backing harmonies scattered out through out the track. After the
first verse there is a minor guitar solo. The major solo is after the second
chorus. The track also has a very classic early eighties breakdown section.
9.) “Paying the Price”-This track opens with a standard blues/metal intro. The
intro has a huge lead scale. The main guitar arrangement has a
acoustic/electric type sound to it. There is a huge chorus within this track.
The bass line is done with a solid groove style. Like a lot of the songs on
this release the backing harmonies are nothing but huge. The solo was done with
an effects pedal, in such a way where it sounds twined.
10.) “Heart on my Sleeve”-This track opens with a huge bass line. Vocally the
vocal arrangement of the verse has a very ‘Hurricane’ sound to them. On the
backing vocals of this track you can really tell they looped Stevie’s vocals to
make the backing vocals real thick.
11.) “Fuel that feeds the Fire”-This track opens with huge lead scale type
rhythm. For the opening of the verse the band really bring the song down.
There is a little lead scale during the pre-chorus. Once again the backing
harmonies are huge. The track has a real solid bass line.
While reviewing this release Cry Havoc was picked up by
Century Media
Group with plans of distributing it. This is great news because this
after hearing this release Cry Havoc deserves to be picked up by a major label.
If you’re into any style of eighties metal than “Fuel that feeds the Fire” is a
must have!!