Fair Warning
Go!

It’s difficult to pinpoint the coordinates of A.O.R. It used to be identified with chart music, but that's no longer the case. A rock genre aimed at mature listeners? Perhaps. Indeed, as the years go by, melody plays an increasingly important role to my ears. What is certain is that it’s not a plastic or content-less genre, as many define it. This is demonstrated not only by the technical qualities of its performers but especially by the meticulous attention to detail, sounds, and arrangements. And anyway, beyond any genre or definition, music is what matters, and Fair Warning has left us an authentic gem of melodic hard rock with this “Go!”.

The album, self-produced, was released in 1997 by Gun Records and is the third work for our Teutonic knights, who needed to confirm the remarkable insights of their self-titled debut and the subsequent “Rainmaker.”
Despite the period being unfavorable for this genre, Fair Warning managed to garner widespread critical acclaim and satisfactory sales results, especially in Japan. Besides, the Land of the Rising Sun has always been receptive to this kind of sound and even today is a lifeline for many bands that otherwise would end up forgotten.

Fair Warning’s songwriting has matured. A blend of power and melody, energy and romance. The technical mastery well above average of the musicians merges with a moment of fertile creativity. Guitars that know how to scratch and weave, amidst solid riffs and highly emotional solos. Soothing keyboard backdrops sneak in when needed. The inspiration has reached its peak, the notes flow pleasurably, and it’s impossible to stop this harmonic flow that imprints indelibly in the mind. The splendid voice of Tommy Heart seals it all, with his passionate tone and vocals that climb where few can reach. The album contains 13 tracks, all potential singles. Had this album come out a decade earlier, it would have been hailed as a miracle. It moves from overwhelming hard rock rides like the single “Angels of Heaven” or the epic “Sailing Home” to refined mid-tempo tracks like the dramatic “Eyes of a Stranger” or the heartbreaking “Man on the Moon”. But as you can easily guess, the album’s strength lies in the ballads. “All on your Own” travels on romantic atmospheres and is characterized by a sugary refrain that you’ll find yourself humming without even realizing it.  The inspired final guitar solo is noteworthy. The two final tracks, finally, are among the best that A.O.R. has offered us. “The way you want it” begins with a liquid guitar arpeggio and then leaves space for a moving performance by Tommy, who sings to us “If this is love / the way you want it /Take it all, make it live / and let it shine”. Yes, a more saccharine text cannot exist. But think about hugging your woman (or your man for the lovely ladies), and then we’ll talk. “Love song” is the fitting closure for an emotional album. A ballad steeped in airy melodies, starting acoustically, gaining pace, and ending with a majestic crescendo, drawn by the furious cries of the guitar.

No, Fair Warning doesn’t offer us anything new. Just a concentration of their class, a great melodic taste, and a lot of passion. The best you can ask from this genre. Call it whatever you want, but this is MUSIC.