Silent Fate - The Autumn Machine Review
Posted by Mitch Michaels on 10.12.2007
Heavy metal, alt rock, Duran Duran covers…what is this?
My Story
Though I review a lot of underground metal, I still wouldn’t consider myself an expert on the subject. And who could be, with the amount of new bands trying to make it out there everyday? Still, when I got this advance copy of Silent Fate’s new album, one particular thing caught my eye (or ear, rather): a cover of Duran Duran’s “Come Undone”. I’m not a big Duran Duran fan, but I did love that single. Sometimes a well-placed cover song can be the make-or-break element a band needs. Look at Limp Bizkit’s take on George Michael’s “Faith”. Or Codeseven’s excellent reworking of Don Henley’s “Boys Of Summer”. When done with skill, a cover song can be a great way to draw in new fans. Well, Silent Fate has drawn me in with “Come Undone”. Can they keep me?
Their Story
Silent Fate was formed in 2001 by vocalist/guitarist Anthony Paganini. The original lineup included bassist David Maggio, drummer Veronica Bellino and keyboardist Jamie Goldstein. Their first release was a demo EP, 13:13, which helped them gain notoriety on mp3.com. The band then recorded a full album, Silent Fate, which they also self-released through mp3.com. The music from their first recordings was an out of control mix of techno, metal, prog rock, jazz and other genres.
In 2002, after only three live gigs together, David Maggio exited Silent Fate. Rather than hire a new bassist, frontman Paganini took over the instrument and the band brought in guitarist David Krieger. Over the next two years, Silent Fate played shows around the New York area. They completed a second EP, Control, which went unreleased, though the title single gained a measure of momentum on the internet through sites like garageband.com. Unfortunately, different opinions about the direction of the band led to Silent Fate’s demise in April of 2004.
Anthony Paganini continued to write and record demos over the next couple of years, though many of them were not considered as Silent Fate material. In 2006, he decided to revive the band with a new line-up. He hired guitarist Frank “Junior” Guertin (ex-Kaffeine) and drummer Danny Lamagna, then rhythm guitarist Steve “Squich” Squicciarini (ex-Desecration) and new vocalist Alessio Campoli, all area musicians and metal band vets. The new Silent Fate went about recording new songs and re-recording some uncompleted demos that Paganini had recorded solo and with the old band.
Recently, the band completed video shoots for the singles “Whisper My Sweet Dear” and “Come Undone”. They currently have New York dates scheduled for October and early 2008.
The Album
On October 2, 2007, Silent Fate self-released The Autumn Machine, their second album and the follow-up to 2002’s Silent Fate. It is the first album since the band was reformed with new members in 2006.
The Band: 7.5
Alessio Campoli: vocals
Frank Guertin, Jr.: guitar
Steve Squicciarini: guitar
Anthony Paganini: bass, vocals, keyboards
Danny Lamagna: drums
Press had warned me that Silent Fate was a very eclectic band, and they absolutely deliver on that promise. The Autumn Machine kicks off with screaming heavy metal before taking you through light techno, acoustic balladry and even a bit of modern rock riffage. Alessio Campoli is a versatile vocalist and manages to pull these changes off without a hitch, as Anthony Paganini and lead guitarist Frank Guertin prove to be the perfect hard rock chameleons, firing off blistering solos just as easily as electronica flourishes.
Squich and Danny do a great job holding down the rhythm section, with some amazing crunchy riffs to fill out the heavier portions of the album. Band friend Billy Mira also turns in a couple of nice vocal performances, especially on “Just Like Me”.
In all, The Autumn Effect doesn’t sound like a band who has just gotten together, or even like the previous incarnation of Silent Fate. Instead, it sounds like a congregation of hard rock vets who have finally pooled their vision into something both immediate and fresh. Simply put, The Autumn Machine sounds way better than any self-produced, self-released album has any right to.
The Songs: 8.0
1. Permicide
2. The Autumn Machine
3. Whisper My Sweet Dear
4. Come Undone
5. Sadly
6. Skin
7. Create
8. Whole
9. A Slow Decay
10. Just Like Me
11. Ice
12. Black
I really can’t get over how many great songs I’ve heard from Silent Fate’s The Autumn Machine. While “Permicide” and the title track kick off the CD with roaring, screaming metal, it’s “Whisper My Sweet Dear” (the disc’s first single), a more melodic metal take, that really gets things rolling, especially thanks to a piercing guitar solo from Guertin.
The CD starts to take a stylistic turn with “Come Undone”, a cover of Duran Duran’s Top 10 hit from 1993. While frontman Campoli does a dead on impression (and the female backing vocals add the chill factor), it’s the way the band presents the song that hooks you: completely unironic and unaware that a metal band just should NOT be covering this song. More great solos by Guertin here, too.
But “Come Undone” is only the beginning of the interesting departures here. The brooding alt-rock ballad “Sadly” will take you back to the days of the Crow soundtrack, while the acoustic “A Slow Decay” will have you thinking Jars Of Clay. “Just Like Me” provides the album’s most commercial sounding single, as you can just imagine that refrain of “I’m coming around again” playing between the latest hits by Puddle Of Mudd and Staind. With all of these different highlights and vibes, you a solid album that’s also quite varied, a rarity in the indie world to be sure.
The 411: On The Autumn Machine, Silent Fate bows to no template of normalcy. There are grating screamo tracks, Brit pop covers, moody alt rock cuts and mainstream rock singles. Amazingly, Silent Fate makes this all sound fluid and believable, not to mention completely their own. With great vocals, amazing solos and a unique s=tylistic clash, this may just be the best indie release of 2007. Why aren’t Silent Fate signed yet?
