 F5
A Drug For All Seasons
Deadline Music 2005
www.f5theband.com
Read the David Ellefson interview
2005 / 2004
What’s the 4-1-1?
F5 was spawned shortly after David Ellefson departed from the heavy
metal band Megadeth. Their debut album (which has been in the works
for over a year now) is promised by the band “To be heavy,
but always melodic”.
Genre
Hard rock / modern rock / melodic metal
The Good
A spine tingling riff kicks off “Faded”. Vocalist Dale Steele has
a great rock voice, edgy yet melodic. I’d compare him to somebody, but
he really has his own tone. Guitarist’s John Davis and Steve Conley create
more killer riffs on “Dissidence”. The song as a whole has great
rock radio appeal. “Fall to Me” delivers with a Middle Eastern flair
that is eventually drowned by a wall of distortion. If the catchy riffs of “Bleeding” don’t
grab your attention, then the lead guitar licks surly will. Steele invokes all
of his emotion and pain into the chorus.
Driving riffs, pounding drums, and meaty
bass lines dominate “Dying on the Vine”. More of Dave Small’s
drum skills can be heard on the building intro to “Hold Me Down”.
This song is one of those ‘screw the establishment’ anthems. It’s
not until the final track “Forte Sonata” that Dave Ellefson really
lets his presence be known. The track is simply a somber 12 string bass solo.
The Bad
The cover of Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians’ “What I Am” just
doesn’t come off well. The verses work pretty well, but it’s the
heavy distorted choruses that really don’t work. Did I mention it’s
a cover of Edie Brickell?
The Verdict
If I didn’t tell you that Dave Ellefson from Megadeth was involved in
the project, you wouldn’t know it. F5 do not resemble Megadeth in any
way. In fact, A Drug For All Seasons stands on its own as a solid
modern rock album. The riffs are heavy and catchy, the vocals are smooth and
fiery, and the
songs don’t drag on forever; making for one easy to swallow album.
Did You Know?
This CD contains an enhanced portion that chronicles the making of the album.
Rating:  out
of 5
Related Reviews:
Megadeth - Greatest Hits: Back to the Start
Megadeth - The Complete Remasters
--George Dionne
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