Record Exchange Boise

Reviews:

The Reverend James A. Rota draws inspiration for his latest round of fire-and-brimstone sermons from His Holiness Ozzy Osbourne's Sabbath and early solo recordings, cutting a wide swath away from the studio slickness that torpedoed Ozzy's '90s work. Though only guitarist Emily Burton remains from the original lineup (new acolytes Janis Tanaka and John Oreshnick fill out the rhythm section), Fireball Ministry's sound doesn't stray far from the melodic metal template established on its 1999 debut. In fact, three standout tracks from Fireball Ministry's inconsistent 2001 disc FMEP - "King," "Choker" and the epic "Maidens of Venus"-have been reworked with a minimum of fuss on The Second Great Awakening.

If only Rota scrawled his satanically-fixated lyrics as enthusiastically as he shreds; his most evil-sounding couplets ("He tried to be defined/ But all the children whined") feel transparent and most of his coy references to he-who-holds-the-
pitchfork wouldn't draw a red flag on the 700 Club. Yet beneath all of the Grand Guignol theatrics lies a reverent-at times, even slavish-approximation of the late '70s stadium rock sound. "Flatline" is a straightforward power-pop ballad with more driving guitars, while the organ vamp that powers "Maidens of Venus" confounds expectations. And "Master of None"-which employs archetypal echo effects on Rota's vocals-would merit inclusion in Ozzy's own pantheon of greats. Still, The Second Great Awakening ultimately might not pass muster as a higher sacrificial offering; it's going to take something a lot more sinister for The Dark Lord to rise off the couch and make his presence felt.