FAKE? - SONGS FROM BEELZEBUB

When INORAN left FAKE? late last year, fans feared that the band they'd grown to love would never be the same. However, vocalist Ken Lloyd promised them that he'd continue to write songs in the same vein and that the next album would be just as good as anything produced previously.

Fast forward to now, a few days after the release of Songs From Beelzebub, the first post-INORAN album. I managed to get my paws on the disc for a couple of listens and I can safely say that Mr. Lloyd has kept his word.

The album is chock-full of house samples, distorted guitars and electronica beats; it sounds a lot like their older stuff. Some of it is a little heavier than what we're used to, but that only makes it better. They have also added some new, refreshing elements that show signs of experimentation. Money Money, for example, has been injected with pure 80's technotronica. You’ll hear it in its intro and throughout various parts as it meshes with the rock you've come to expect from Ken n' Co. Another perfect example is BABY BLUE AND THE TWO HEADED MONSTER, a track that is basically a tribute to 50's & 60's Rock-n'-Roll ballads. It's very cool and very different (except for the part near the end where it pulls a 180 on you and turns into hard rock). Devil Got My Soul also breaks the mold by slowing things down to an Industrial, Nine Inch Nails-like pace. Fans of the genre will be pleasantly surprised, while Fake? purists will probably sit on the fence for awhile before announcing a verdict.

As you can see, mixing in new and different elements can help take a band in interesting directions. However, not all change is good. Bus Stop 74 is the only track I found myself skipping, laughing at how "hip" it was trying to be. It's 3 minutes of wasted CD space, a song that goes nowhere. Although composed of the same elements found in other songs, it fails to mix them up well enough to grab the listener’s attention.

Overall, Songs From Beelzebub will please fans, who will find that even though INORAN has left, the guitars and guts have remained. It's 100% pure FAKE? and most of it sounds like stuff off their other releases, which is reason enough to buy this release. The new elements I mentioned add to the good vibes and have helped to create an album that will help push the band into a new, prosperous era.

OVERALL RATING: 8.5/10 for being a strong new release that clearly indicates that this outfit can survive even after losing a major player. One track happens to be a dud, but that is easily forgiven as the rest is most-excellent.