Fat.Mo.Mac: Fat.Mo.Mac

As you listen to the opening track "Walk Alone" off of the debut self-titled release from new Swedish band Fat.Mo.Mac, you'd think you were listening to some long lost Badlands track from the late '80s, but lo and behold, it's actually a new side project from guitarist Lars Johansson of doom legends Candlemass. To say he's doing something completely different here is a severe understatement, and to fulfill his heavy blues rock/hard rock vision, he's brought along fellow Candlemass member Mats Levin (vocals), Roger Eklof (guitar), Tobbe Moen (bass), Stefan Gunnarsson (drums), Klas Gunnerfeldt (guitar), and Lennart Ostlund.

As for that first song "Walk Alone", it's a real ripper, with plenty of smoldering bluesy riffs and scorching lead guitar, not to mention powerful vocals from Levin. Johansson & Eklof fire off some tasty guitar work on this '70s/'80s hard rock throwback, and they also pair off on a few more tunes on the CD to equally impressive results. Sadly, this opening track is probably the strongest tune on the album. While nothing else here is bad by any means, much of the remainder of the album is standard run of the mill blues rock fare that catches your ear but rarely leaves you wowed. Guitar work throughout is strong, but there's a certain catchiness that seems to be missing which makes tunes such as "So Bad it Feels", "Broken Down", "Always Like That", and "Memories is all There Is" somewhat forgettable. However, "Cold Woman" has a raunchy vibe that brings to mind early Cactus or Aerosmith, and instrumentals "Kickback" and "Gear Shifter" lets the axe men dip into some tasty soloing. Closer "Get Home" has a atmospheric, slow blues feel, with Levin delivering a passionate vocal over some tasty licks and stinging solos, but you just wish it had gone on a little longer.

Overall, a decent enough album, but with so many very good newer bands popping up doing the hard rock/blues thing these days, Fat.Mo.Mac will need to jumpstart their game a bit to keep up. The guitar work is there, but the songs will need to be a little more memorable to make it all click. And, might want to consider a band name change too while they are at it.

See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!

Track Listing
1) Walk Alone
2) So Bad it Feels
3) Broken Down
4) Kickback
5) Always Like That
6) Cold Woman
7) Memories is all There Is
8) Gear Shifter
9) Get Home

Added: April 25th 2015
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Reverbnation
Hits: 1972
Language: english

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