PART A: Being a lead guitarist is one thing. Being the lead guitarist for one of the biggest Metal bands around, Savatage, is another thing...but this is not quite our case here. We're talking about Chris Caffery's first solo effort in trying out his abilities as a singer as well! Yup, Chris decided it was time he did something personal as well, except for playing with Savatage (unofficially since 1987 - he left, then returned in 1995 forever), the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and contributing on various artists' releases (other times as a co-writer, a couple of guitar solos, whole projects etc).
Faces is his debut solo work, together with keyboardist Paul Morris (Rainbow, Doro), bassist Dave Z (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, ZO2) and his partner from Savatage, drummer Jeff Plate (who's been in Savatage since 1994 and also is a part of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra).
What we've got here, though it's been characterized as Melodic Heavy Metal by Black Lotus Records, is more of a compilation of various elements, various genres - relatively close to each other. Faces, as the numerous different musical aspects Caffery presents on his album. This album is a personal expression of all the feelings that had been locked up inside all this time, this is a 'personal statement' done by Chris Caffery in terms of music. If the whole album could be translated in plain words, it would probably be hey, I'm a musician! I'm not just a guitarist, I freaking know how to sing too!. And yup, Chris surely knows how to sing. Not only does he know how to just sing, he's got an ageless raging teenager inside him singing behind that microphone!
16 tracks on just one CD simply means (to me) that Caffery must have one hell of a lot of things in store to share with us. His voice reminds me a lot of Jon Oliva's vocals (late 80s) in a way that there are moments I feel it's as if I'm listening to some unreleased Savatage songs! An example of what I'm saying are the songs Fade Into The X and Mold. On the other songs the similarity is relatively weaker. Well as the album is entitled Faces, it doesn't entirely go like that. Pisses Me Off is a really...pissed off song, really heavy (down tuned riffing throughout the entire track) and full of anger. Faces is a real speeder; I wouldn't call it Power Metal, I'd probably call it really fast Heavy Metal because of Chris's raging vocals. And if you're tired of all this blasting rhythm, of these full of anger vocals well...there are also softer tracks like "Music Man, full of soft melody and warm emotions.
The entire album proves its title's absolutely correct! Faces is a multicolored painting, a plate filled with delicatessens set to satisfy all sorts of hunger related to Hard Rock/Heavy Metal (with a delightful tone of melody).
A great start in the singing business for Mr. Caffery, a great album to buy for all those who've loved his guitar hammering with Savatage or elsewhere and a surely interesting new aspect of his to explore!
PART B: And then...you got God Damn War, the bonus CD extraordinaire! Yup, it may have taken me some time till I reviewed the bonus CD but hey, it's not my fault. And I'll also tell you what. There are some things that are better done late than NEVER. That's things of value and since we're talking about music I'll start this second part of my Chris Caffery review by saying that this Bonus CD is a real treat by Chris to all his fans...This is an entire CD (unlike the usual Bonus stuff being on other releases); this could have been a completely separate release. But as I know Caffery is a quite creative person, a musician that has a lot of emotion inside him that needs to get out...which simply means that he's on a songwriting creative frenzy! And that's good for us people and you know why? It means MORE quality music by this awesomely skilled Heavy Metal musician!
So, nine more tracks for us all. An entire album by itself, God Damn War is obviously Chris' feelings about a war that's going on nowadays - you know what I'm talking about. And it's not just that - it's more than that! It's our entire planet going berserk! That's what concerns Chris as much as it concerns most of us people living on this troubled planet. We're all at war, at war with each other. You press the play button, the title-song starts playing and the choppers come flying over your head...Awesome rhythm, awesome energy this song's got. You move inwards with Caffery as the war closes in on you...Fool, Fool, Edge Of Darkness...heavy riffs will rip you apart, awesomely blending in with his unfolding, full-of-rage vocals. Saddamize will bring you inside a Greek taverna as Chris drops in for some local raki (heavy alcohol) and asks when the people there think the war might end...
And as Caffery's concerns unwrap and this bonus journey continues, songs like I, Amazing Grace (obviously an understatement, especially with the gunshot in the end), Piece Be With You, Beat Me, You'll Never Beat Me (in a similar vibe as God Damn War) and Curtains drive all of us to one conclusion: It's a pity Chris Caffery hadn't done anything solo all this time (the past), but it's good he did that now rather than never because his music is Heavy kick-ass f*ckin' Metal 100% (the present) and I'm sure there's still a lot of great stuff to be expected by him from now on (the future.