Year : 2014
Style : Hard Rock
Country : United Kingdom
Audio : 320 kbps + front
Size : 133 mb
Bio:
Formed out of the ashes of Toxic Federation, Fahran have the current line-up of: Matt Black, Jake Graham, Joshua Ballantyne, Chris Byrne and JR Windsor.They released their self-produced, self-titled debut album after just 6 months together, to great reviews. Whilst still retaining melodic sensibilities, the band decided that a new name warranted a change of direction, hence a much darker, heavier and far more mature sound.In the 12 months that the band has been together, Fahran have enjoyed success as the openers on the debut I AM I tour in October 2012 (ZP ex-Dragonforce's new melodic rock venture), plus supported UK rock troubadours, Heaven's Basement in Feb 2013. In addition to this, the band appeared at BT London Live in London's Hyde Park as part of the London 2012 celebrations and have made appearances at prestigious festivals such as Bloodstock and Download Festival.After suffering a set-back in the form of Bass player Alex Stroud and Singer Nick Whitcroft having to step down from the band, Fahran have only become stronger. Having drafted Josh Ballantyne (ex bass player for This Is Two) and Matt Black (ex singer for Serpentine) things are running full steam ahead.The band are currently writing songs for their 2nd album and will no doubt be playing as many shows as they can, honing their sound and performance further and beyond their years.This is a band that has worked for all they have achieved, leaving them with a seasoned gravitas. Fahran continue to forge a sound far greater than the sum of their parts that is redolent of no one and is entirely their own.
Album:
Many eyebrows were raised when singer Matt Black announced that he was leaving up and coming (and Tony Mills (Shy) endorsed) UK AORsters Serpentine to replace Nick Whitcroft in the little known Fahran. However one listen to their second album, and first with Black behind the mic, Chasing Hours, and any lingering doubts are immediately banished. The singer himself is immense here, his sharp, incisive tones perfect for the riff heavy, yet melodic fare this bunch specialise in and, truth be told, also much, much more comfortable than he ever sounded in the stratosphere shattering territory Serpentine wanted their ex-frontman to inhabit.Guitar pair Jake Graham and Chris Byrne, certainly do burn, as they fire through song after aggressively melodic song, dropping hints of Iron Maiden here, Shinedown there and Black Stone Cherry with an industrial box of fireworks up their ass exploding everywhere. It makes for a classy, yet gritty demonstration of how to construct songs with real depth and clarity, which somehow still brim over with power, might and authority. "Chasing Hours" itself is a mid-paced stomp, illustrating the light and shadow Fahran seem able to conjure at a moment's notice, while the smashingly cymbal heavy "Long Gone" allows drummer JR Windsor to confidently hammer his mark on a song that relies as much on brooding atmosphere as it does brutish force.With Fahran, this is the real territory in which they illustrate their skills, the variance in attack not just from song to song, but within each individual track suggesting an outfit far more mature in years and experience than this young group have any right to expect. Proving it's a real band effort, bassist Josh Ballantyne isn't outdone either, his unfussy, yet solid displays underpinning his more exuberant six string mates as they smash things up during "Take This City Alive", strut and pout in a Voodoo Six style on "I Heard A Joke Once" and add a heavier Thin Lizzy like groove and swagger to "Are We Free".Add to all of the above, that Fahran are an unsigned outfit where the guitar pair of Graham and Byrne sat behind the production desk (Graham also mixed the damn thing!) and the prospect of what this bunch could do with a big budget and name producer, could be off the charts. As it is Chasing Hours is a great album and Fahran another in a growing list of bands proving that the UK's Rock resurgence is in very safe hands indeed.
Line Up:
Matt Black - Lead Vocals
Jake Graham - Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals
Chris Byrne - Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals
Joshua Ballantyne - Bass Guitar/Backing Vocals
JR Windsor - Drums
Tracklist:
01. Long Gone
02. Take This City Alive
03. A Thousand Nights
04. I Heard A Joke Once
05. Chasing Hours
06. Cased In Steel
07. You Could Be Mine
08. Some Kind Of Family
09. Are We Free
10. Back To Me
11. Prison
12. Black Mirror
13. Storms We Ride
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
