FATAL SMILE – World Domination

It has been almost 2 years since Neo Natural Freaks came to MER’s headquarters where it managed to make quite an impression. Indeed, the band from Sweden did produce 10 Glam Rock songs in the vein of Mötley Crüe with a joyful Pretty Maids finishing touch that actually made Fatal Smile well known to the Metal community. So, after a period of time the Swedes return with their third full-length release that is entitled World Domination.

Fatal Smile, after having concluded their USA tour supporting W.A.S.P., are currently on the road with Doro promoting their new album. The Swedes look very confident on-stage, presenting their music with the proper Rock ‘n’ Roll-in-your-face attitude that fits like a glove.

The album sounds a little bit different than the previous in terms of heaviness and even in speed. Of course, the sleazy sound and the party feeling is everywhere keeping those Mötley Crüe influences in the frontline. “S.O.B.” enters with a heavy guitar rhythm that explodes during the really catchy bridge and fitting chorus lines. Blade proves that he has the throat to handle both the Heavy and the Glam Rock songs while his on-stage Coverdale influenced performance will eventually establish him as a very good front man.

The album comprises groovy rockers like “Primed & Ready” and “Run For Your Life” where some Zakk Wylde guitar influences may show up especially in the Y’s vibrato. Songs’ like “Fatal Smile,” “Eve Of War,” and “Out Of My Head” prove that the band has found a more personal sound and attitude that keeps a safe distance from the striking out influences that were dominating in Neo Natural Freaks. This does not mean that it became too difficult to spot their “heroes” in terms of musicianship and even on-stage performance, but it means that Fatal Smile managed to mix all these elements and present them through their own perspective that gave birth to this very good album.

The band had the privilege to work in the studio with Michael Wagener who has done his part with band like Metallica, Ozzy, and Mötley Crüe. These guys brought the guitars in the front by giving them a more aggressive sound while maintaining the “dirty,” straightforward attitude with the Glam Rock foundations.

The bottom line is that Fatal Smile have progressed and made the most of the positive feedback they got with their previous works. This very good album combined to their “hot,” sweaty, and definitely relentless on-stage performance can establish Fatal Smile in the reactivated Hair Spray scene. Until that day, every fan of this sound can definitely enjoy the band’s attempt for “World Domination.”