FOZZY

I remember, upon learning that at the helm of the FOZZY project stands a certain Chris Jericho, better known to fans of no-holds-barred fighting than to the music world, I couldn't help but recall a recent trip to the circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, where a chimpanzee in a ridiculous bowler hat hammered out virtuoso jazz parts behind the drums. Needless to say, it was with nagging skepticism that I slid the new disc from the gorilla-like male from the United States into my player. Songs rattled off like machine-gun fire, and -- yes!!! -- I was forced to admit I had been wrong: the aforementioned Mr. Jericho is not only capable of masterfully pummeling opponents in the ring, but sings rather decently too. If the first track rather shamelessly hints at territorial proximity to the great AEROSMITH, the subsequent volleys bring to mind other, perhaps not as legendary, but in the last couple of years quite significant gentlemen of the American scene -- SUM 41. And indeed, "All That Remains" sounds smooth and without excess, in the fashionable noise range that has colonized rock radio airwaves. Upbeat music for youth parties -- nothing more. The only strange thing is FOZZY's transformation -- as the press release notes, the band used to play Ozzy Osbourne covers. Then again, these days even Ozzy is right at home on MTV...