Maximum Metal Rating Legend

F5 - A Drug For All Seasons - Deadline Records - 2005

Track Listing 1. Faded 2. Dissidence 3. Fall To Me 4. A Drug For All Seasons 5. Bleeding 6. What I Am 7. Dying On The Vine 8. Hold Me Down 9. Defacing 10. X’d Out 11. Look You In The Eyes 12. Forte Sonata

F5 is the new group that features Dave Ellefson, former bassist for Megadeth and for those who wondered if his next endeavor would be any good I am happy to say yes indeed it is. I admit that I approached this CD with some hesitation because I had never heard of any of the players that made up the band; yet I trusted the fact that Ellefson would not associate himself with something that would be sub par. He is one of the top bassists in Heavy Metal music and his collaborations with Dave Mustaine in Megadeth are numerous. F5 is a great Hard Rock band and from the start of the CD you can see that they kick it right into gear with a nice blend of Melodic Hard Rock music. “Faded” begins the introduction to the band and it’s a fine and driving number with an almost technical drum sound. Vocalist Dale Steele has a good voice and shows a good amount of range across the record. The guitar work of Steve Conley is admirable and works well with the rhythms that Ellefson is setting up on bass. Lining out the group is John Davis (guitar) and Dave Small (drums). Together you get a very nicely laid out album that fans of Melodic Hard Rock can enjoy and while supporters of Ellefson might expect a secondary version of what he did with Megadeth you can be rest assured that he does not give us this. Tracks like “Dissidence” and “Drug For All Seasons” are among my favorites and while I have heard that this album appeals to fans of Disturbed I felt that this group has more in common with Soundgarden and others along those lines. “Defacing” also delivers as perhaps the heaviest and fastest number on the album and there is also a nice bit of guitar work on “Look You In The Eyes”. Overall this was the case on most of the record and it is clear that the group took some care in the composition of the tunes. Good job guys. They also do a cover and this was a song that surprised me most of all. The track "What I Am" was originally recorded by Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians and this is not the type of track that you ever expect on a Hard Rock/Metal record. They did fine with it and of course it has a heavy edge far different from the original.

It’s a very easy CD to find yourself getting into and it’s a great return to standard and effective Hard Rock music which has been absent far too long amidst most newer bands. They are either going over the top thrash or power which made me find this a refreshing change of pace. A booklet with lyrics is included and there is also a bonus video cut from in the studio with the group. I recommend this for those fans of Dave mostly and for those that enjoy some solidly produced Hard Rock. This music sounds good when played loud in the stereo and I expect it comes across the same way in the live sense. Be on the lookout for F5.

Rating: 7.5/10

Official Web site: http://www.f5theband.com

Ken Pierce 01.01.06