Band : Idols Are Dead

Album title : Mean

Label : Scarlet

Distributor : Suburban

Release date : 18/02/2008

Release : CD

This Bologna based Italian Thrash Metal act was founded by former Electrocution (one of the most interesting Italian Death/ Thrash bands from the '90s) and Folder (a hyper-active Nu-Metal Crossover band with 2 full-length albums and a mini-CD, plus hundreds of concerts which have even brought ' em to Austria and the UK, to their active) members Mana (vocals) & Luka (drums) in August/ September 2005.

The line-up was completed with the addition of guitarists Alley-X and Ico (both with long-time experiences in Metal as well) , and long-time bassist friend Maxx C. (who'd played in both Electrocution and Folder). Their aim: mixing their old-school influences of such legendary acts like Metallica, Slayer, Testament, but above all Anthrax ...with a modern edge to bring forth a remeniscence to such contemporary bands as Atreyu, Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine, and Trivium.

And I have to say it's all very well done indeed. The music has a catchy melodic feel thanks to a certain degree of repetition in both the music an, above all, the vocals. For those who weren't taking attention, that's vocals in plural, because the clean backing vocals àre equally as important as the lead ones! All of 'em without any Latin trace of accent, which is a rare thing in Italian newcomer bands...but then this newcomer band is at least partly made up of people who can already call themselves vetarans in a way! In spite of the influences and intents mentioned, it's Guns 'N' Roses "It's So Easy" which the band chose to cover...and they made a very good job of it indeed, staying somwhat true to the vocal dilivery (you know, that deep backing voice which is so typical of the song) while sériously spicing up the music itself!

I have some mixed feelings about the band's longevity, because to make it on an international level, they àre gonna need the necessary backings from both endorcers ànd label. The first to enable the band to take time off from daytime jobs, the second to hook the act up with with possible festivals and interesting international Thrash acts for touring purposes...you know, to get the band known to a larger audience. No matter how they'll do on the European...and more international market, why not...I'm sure this act is gonna make a blitz in their home country! Because this ainùt so side-project but an act to be taken quite serious. Having recorded the album earlier in 2007 with (according to the band) one of Italy's best recording engineers/ producers (Gabriele Ravaglia), the boys won first prize (beating no less than 2273 other bands) in the Heineken Jammin Festival Contest, which secured 'em an opening spot (in support of Mastodon, Stone Sour, Slayer, Iron Maiden, and more) on the main stage of the Heineken Fest. Yeah...Italy can now proudly say they have a truly good band that can stand their own against the earlier mentioned acts! Convince yourself by surfing to myspace.com/idolsaredead and listening to the 3 mp3-files (album openers "This Is Not The End" & "Let's Do It" , plus the G'n'R cover) posted there.

95/100

Tony.