Engine

Engine is Ray Alder from Fates Warning's solo baby. Joining him are Bernie from Agent Steel, Pete from Face to Face and Joey Vera from everywhere else. With the names involved (except for maybe the Face to Face guy) you'd expect some progressive, flashy power/speed metal, so why am I sitting here listening to this watered down Korn nonsense? Down-tuned new jack metal is the order of the day — no real dynamics, no memorable riffs or choruses, half-assed playing, but Ray is really singing his short & curlies off isn't he? This album, while featuring some names, is no different from the 18 million other bands from the U.S. that probably formed around the same time these guys got together. Engine is remarkably nonessential listening.