When I first started reading about Impellitteri's new cd Crunch, I heard that fans of Korn and White Zombie could identify with it! I was taken back by the thought of one of my all-time favorite power metal bands selling out to the trend of "mall-metal" that has swept the U.S. in recent years. Well, now with Crunch finally released the question at hand is "Can fans of those type bands identify?" The answer in my opinion is "I hardly think so!!!!" Thank God! Nothing against those types of bands or their fans but Chris Impellitteri and Rob Rock have long set a standard that can really never be equaled. Ok... The music has changed a bit but not that much. On all tracks Rob is still singing with all power metal glory intact! He has however incorporated a few select lines and sections (sometimes just a word at the end of a phrase) where he now utilizes a lower range and it is done in a very tasteful way. Musically Chris is playing with more "crunch" guitar style (thus the name of the cd I am assuming). The guitar lines at times are a bit more choppy but just as fast as ever!!!! The first 3 tracks really are not any different than the music Impellitteri has always been known for, true classic metal. The biggest changes can first be noted on the track "Wake me up" where the keyboards make an eerie appearance droning out a Rackets and Drapes like background that sounds right at home along side Rob's powerful voice and Chris's shredding. Yep, Chris is still the fastest shredder I have ever heard with the possible exception of Malmsteen. The buzz also had it that this would be Impellitteri's "heaviest" album. That is probably pretty close to being the truth as you can hear in the last track "Fear No Evil" which is obviously the track that is supposed to appeal to White Zombie fans because Rob has a lower almost Zombie like tone in his voice and it is Impellitteri's "heaviest" song to date. BUT In my opinion "Fear no Evil" comes off sounding more like something off of Testament's cd Low!!!!!!!! The lower tone of Rob's vocals reminds me quite a bit of Chuck Billy from Testament on this particular track. Chris absolutely crushes all boundaries with the heavy chugging guitar riffs that slam you against the wall and kicks you in the head in this track which is also musically similar to Testament. There are a couple other odd surprises like the "turntable scratching" in the track "Wasted Earth" and the reappearance of those creepy keyboards in "Slay the Dragon" which also sports some Ken Tamplin like harmonies. (it's freakin amazing how Impellitteri can put these sounds all together and actually make it work!). There are two instrumentals and Chris's fluid guitar work shines like a diamond as always. Lyrically they deal with a lot of different topics like Y2K and how nothing happened (in the song "Turn of the Century") and the lures of Satan (in "Beware of the Devil"). This is not one of their most bold efforts but is in no way secular either.
10/10
Other coverage for this album
Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by D_ListerOh my my my! This is the Impellitteri CD I've been waiting for! Let me start by saying I've always enjoyed the work of this band, and of course I've always respected Chris's ability to play leads at that break-neck speed. Still there was some element in their music that kept me holding at the statement of "They are a really good band" instead of "They are an amazing band." This CD takes that…Dead Zine 2002Reviewed by hyperspaceI just got the Newest Impellitteri CD in the mail! It is so much better than the last CD. It is heavier, yet still Impellitteri. The guitars are much crunchier than I've heard in a while. Still true to the 80's metal banner, this disc updates the sound somewhat. Rob Rock even has a very small distorted vocal part on one song. I'd swear I even heard a little thrash influence on one song as well.…Similar sounding releases
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