Fatal Smile - Beyond Reality

Year of Release: 2002
Label: Megaforce / Stars On The Rise
Catalog Number: SOTRCD003
Format: CD
Total Time: 43:22:00

Formed back in 1994, Fatal Smile has gone through numerous demos and line-up changes until they finally landed a deal with Swedish based GMR Music Group. The complete line-up is; H.B Anderson (Vocals, ex-Scuderio), Y Unutmaz (Guitars) Markus Johansson (Bass) and Robin Lagerqvist (Drums).

With a name like Fatal Smile you might think you are in for some smooth AOR, but surprisingly this band has plenty of balls. Guitarist Y Unutmaz delivers a fine performance laying down some heavy Sabbath-like chords and on top you got H.B Andersson's classy mid-ranged vocals and a solid rhythm section. References can be drawn to bands like abovementioned Black Sabbath, Lion's Share, Dio, Talisman, etc.

The songs vary from dark, gritty, tough and groovy songs like "Butterfly," "Bad Kharma," "Beyond Reality" through mid-tempo melodic rockers in "Scene Of The Crime," "The Saviour" and more up-tempo affairs like "Warfear" for example.

There are two - three average tracks which lack better melody-lines, but the remaining tracks are all very good. Musicianship, vocals and song-writing are top notch. Even the production is excellent and with those crushing riffs all over, you simply can't resist reaching for the volume button to crank it up.

Fans of harder edged heavy rock and melodic metal can safely pick this one up. Although the wait has been long, Fatal Smile certainly deliver the goods. On a final note the band has a cool website which is worth checking out.

Similar To: Black Sabbath/Lion's Share/Dio

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]
Tracklisting:
Bad Kharma / The Saviour / Butterflies / Circle Of Fire / Warfear / Beyond Reality / Xcuse Me / Scene Of A Crime / Crush On U / No Love

Musicians:
Yüksel "Y" Unutmaz - guitars
Markus Johansson - bass
H. B. Anderson - vocals
Robin Lagerqvist - drummer

Discography:
Beyond Reality (2002)
Neo Natural Freaks (2006)

Genre: Melodic Metal

Origin SE

Added: December 18th 2004
Reviewer: Bjørnar Bevolden
Score:
Artist website: www.fatalsmile.nu/
Hits: 2641
Language: english