No Fear
Our Saying

Here we are again, talking once more about young talented individuals who have yet to receive the recognition they deserve. This time, I'm taking you to Sicily, a hot land not only meteorologically (or volcanologically) speaking, but also musically. Specifically, the Sicilian metal scene is truly noteworthy, especially in the area around Catania or thereabouts.

No Fear, Siracusa, classic story: four young guys pick up instruments, release a demo, and later a self-produced album. They have a decent following of fans who praise them and go around playing wherever they can, waiting for fate to change the course of their story. This "Our Saying," now dated 2000, is a great effort for these guys who at the time had an average age of about 22/23 years. We're talking about relaxed heavy metal, good people and good music, songs filled with excellent melodies, good lyrics, and decent instrumental parts. To be honest, this album shouldn't be considered purely heavy, but I find it difficult to place it in a precise category between hard rock, power, and classic metal that descends from NWOBHM. You may have realized that the genre remains in that vein. "Born From Fire" with its classical guitar interlude, "Virtual Life" with a very long solo in Van Halen style, and the title track "Our Saying" with a truly intriguing riff accented by artificial harmonics, represent the essence of No Fear. Great skills from vocalist Dario, capable of truly remarkable (melodic/power style) surges, and brilliant riffs from Peppe’s guitar, fully supported by the rhythm section. The production and artwork are decent.

In short, an excellent album which, despite my outright approval, presents a few flaws. First, for the proposed genre, the songs should be a bit more unrestrained and allowed to unfold in a more progressive way that would not be out of place (given the technical skills of the members), and a touch of the underground should be added to the music more decisively. The songs last an average of 3, 5/4 minutes and are all strictly melodious. Too immediate. Second, I would strengthen the impact of the bass and drums, which, while performing their duty, could be made a bit more impactful and edgy. Third, (and perhaps the most evident aside from the two points above which could very well fall under the usual de-gustibus) the album cover reflects an already exploited idea, too obvious not to notice. The chess game with death, which immediately brings to mind an issue of the famous Dylan Dog comic. Too banal, it detracts from an overall brilliant album. Ultimately, they pass, great effort and great album, make yourselves known.