Slavior - Slavior

Year of Release: 2007
Label: InsideOut Music
Catalog Number: SPV 79352 CD/IOMCD 271
Format: CD
Total Time: 56:51:00

The trio of Mark Zonder, Gregg Analla and Wayne Findlay have come together under the Slavior banner, and their debut is high energy set of songs - 11 tracks in all. Zonder is probably well known to readers of these pages, being the ex-Fates Warning drummer, but the other two members are new to me, even if the artists they've played with aren't (if by name only) -- Analla sings with Tribe of Gypsies and Seventhsign and Findlay has played with M.S.G. and Vinnie Moore.

I say high energy, but the production seems a little dull which creates distance between what's going on instrumentally and what the ears hear. I found I kept having to turn the volume up to hear this - whether that was a production problem on the promo version only, I don't know. I hope so, because it's not like InsideOut to release subpar stuff production-wise. I'm going to assume I'm right, because otherwise it's like listening to it underwater.

Production aside? I have to say, overall the whole thing fails to excite me. It rocks, it's heavy, it's thick, with drums as the most prominent element, and has a very modern metal sound, but? it doesn't really break out of sounding just like another modern metal band. And doesn't give me the "ooh, gotta play that again" thrill. It's not bad, it's just not spectacular. For the most part we get the current trend of rap/hip-hop and metal, though the former is kept to a minimum and is muted. I don't listen to the hybrid myself, only brushing it by happenstance? but this matches those brief snatches and conforms to what I'd expect from that style.

The prog-metal-fusion piece "Another Planet" is where Zonder demonstrates his fine skill on the skins, and drums are very much present throughout the disc; acid-treated vocals give this track a rawness... made all the more raw by Labrie-like soars and in-your-face rap-like bile. I need a cool glass of water to rewet my throat after listening to his. The "quick take" - Dream Theater meets Red Hot Chili Peppers meets Planet X? a DT feel can be heard also in "Shatter," the second track in, which reminds me of Dream Theater a bit, mostly the vocals of bassist Analla, but also in the shimmery, watery arrangement that I associate with Dream Theater, at least "classic" Dream Theater. And the Pepper flavor ripens in "Give It Up," a full-on funk metal track that is a nu-metal take on the Pepper sound.

Except for the rap/hip-hop styled elements, the often dreamy "Swept Away" is pretty good and could be a highlight. And the balladic "Altar" is pretty nifty, proggy melodic rock in its way. Findlay's guitar playing on "Altar" mixes lacy and delicate phrases during the verses, and heavier (though not heavy), more direct phrases for the choruses. "Dove" brings in bouncy a reggae rhythm, without losing its modern metal edge? I've not heard a lot of Linkin Park -- okay, only ever "In The End" -- but that's who came to mind. The closer "Come Alive" is pretty cool and interesting and standout track, one that mixes its melodic metal with some Metallica like elements. Too bad a closing fiery guitar solo from Findley is lost in the fade out. But an atmospheric, sparkly, outro is both moody and interesting ? it wouldn't do as a full track, but a 2 minute "add-on" to "Come Alive" is just right.

But tracks like the opener "Origin;" "Deeper," despite its classic 70s rock/funk groove meets Seb Bach stylings; "Slavior," despite it's repeated and catchy refrain, which has "hit" written all over it for the nu-metal crowd; and "Red Road," despite the fact that it begins as if it's going to a gentle ballad and winds up a power ballad, all manage to give you the feeling you've heard it before?not quite ho-hum, it's metal after all, but?

My hightlights: "Another Planet," "Altar," and "Red Road." And my overall assessment - a solid, close-to-but-better-than average modern metal release that may be plagued by poor overall production and is plagued by not bringing anything new to the table.

Tracklisting:
Origin (3:57) / Shatter (4:43) / Swept Away (5:09) / Altar (4:44) / Another Planet (5:01) / Deeper (4:25) / Dove (4:55) / Slavior (5:40) / Give It Up (4:49) / Red Road (5:55) / Bonus Track: Come Alive (7:27)

Musicians:
Mark Zonder - drums
Wayne Findlay - guitars, keys
Gregg Analla - vocals, bass

Discography:
Slavior (2007)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin US

Added: September 16th 2007
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: home.earthlink.net/~waynefindlay/
Hits: 2574
Language: english