Sometimes, being involved in a popular band just isn't enough to satisfy the hunger within. In Chris Caffery's case, being in Savatage AND Trans-Siberian Orchestra may be great, but the man has so much more he wants to accomplish. Hence the arrival of Caffery's first solo album, titled Faces, a varied collection of songs that manages to show all the different sides, or "faces" of this talented musician. Not only does Chris manage to display his technical prowess on the guitar, but he unearths a strong set of pipes as well with some surprisingly inspired vocals.
Fans of Savatage know the guy can play guitar-check out his mixture of speedy yet chunky riffs and blinding solos on the title track, a song that kicks along at a steady gallop similar to Symphony X. The kicker though is the gut-wrenching lead vocals of Caffery, who sounds a bit like a combination of Jon Oliva and Zak Stevens. On the melodic cruncher "Fade Into the X", heavy, insistant guitar riffs meet catchy lyrics, turning the song into one of the CD's most memorable tracks. For added fun, Caffery throws in a jaw-dropping, classical based solo and some HEAVY riffs on the middle section just to keep things interesting. Even after just the third song it's apparent that he had a lot of fun putting this project together. While the lyrics to "Pisses Me Off" sound nothing like a man who is having a good time, ("Daytime pisses me off, it starts me off on the wrong footrace, and nightime pisses me off, it puts me back to the fucking place, and the face that pisses me off, she leaves a sour aftertaste , you see my life pisses me off, I'm fucking sick of the human race, it's killing me, it's killing me, it's killing me, it's killing me!") it's such a joy of a song to listen to because quite frankly, I'm sure a majority of the people in the world right now feel the same way the guy in the song is feeling. Add in some super heavy riffs and you have a barnburner of a modern metal tune that you can easily relate to due to the current nature of the lyrical content, as Caffery bashes terrorists, rappers, and other hot topics.
Of course, we all knew he could rock hard, but some of the most mature pieces on the CD are perhaps the more commercial, mellower songs, such as the yearning and melodic "Remember" , or the engaging "Music Man", a perfect sing along piece that has as much in common with early Skid Row as it does good old fashioned Southern Rock ala Lynyrd Skynyrd. Filled with lush acoustic guitars, piano, and gorgeous layers of vocals, this tune seems primed for a release as a radio single. Fans of Savatage's more symphonic and moody numbers will love "Never", an emotional piece that contains Caffery's most impressive vocals on the CD, as well as a virtuoso extended guitar solo filled with technique and passion.
Grinding metal can be heard on the chugging "The Fall", while "The Mold" is a raging nu-metal thumper that has all the anger and attitude of the multitude of today's new bands, but with a heavy dose of guitar star power thanks to Caffery's intricate staccato riffs and blinding solo fills. To remind folks that he is a guitarist first and foremost, "Preludio" kicks off with 2-3 minutes of unaccompanied guitar solos before breaking into a jazzy-Van Halen-ish little number that eventually segues into the brontosaurus stomp of "Abandoned."
Mention must be made of the support cast on Faces, which is Paul Morris on keyboards, Jeff Plate on drums, and Dave Z on bass. Plate should be no stranger to Savatage/TSO fans, and his drum work is just as impressive here, and he forms a killer rhythm team with Dave Z. Morris adds the right amount of symphonic flavor when needed with piano and synths, especially on the CD's slower numbers.
Chris Caffery has hit a home run with his first solo CD, and those interested in hearing Faces should be aware that when the CD is officially released on September 24, 2004 on Black Lotus Records it will come with a bonus 2nd CD containing the 40+ minute God Damn War CD, an even more bruising collection of songs about the current state of the world at war , that will please fans of vintage Savatage as well as the Chris Caffery/Jon Oliva project Doctor Butcher. Chris, you've stepped up to the plate and hit the big one-well done!
Track Listing
1) Alas
2) Faces
3) Fade Into the X
4) Pisses Me Off
5) Remember
6) The Fall
7) Music Man
8) Life, Crazy Life!!!
9) The Mold
10) Bag o' Bones
11) Evil is as Evil Does
12) Never
13) So Far Today
14) Jealousy
15) Preludio
16) Abandoned
CD2: God Damn War
1) God Damn War
2) Fool, Fool
3) Edge Of Darkness
4) Saddamize
5) I
6) Amazing Grace
7) Piece Be With You
8) Beat Me You'll Never Beat Me
9) Curtains
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