Free Reign-Heavier Than Metal

DC Rightside Music
2011

Having a band with the tag "heavier than metal" makes you think that they might be pretty "Hell Bent For Leather" HEAVY. Free Reign are only heavy if you consider their weight. If you don't know the gimmick is that the band features some Dallas Cowboy players (and a member of the Miami Dolphins) playing heavy metal music. I get the fact that you listened to Metallica, Iron Maiden and Slayer growing up and now listen to stuff like Avenged Sevenfold/Disturbed and figured why not make your own music. What I don't get is why musicians like Puddle Of Mudd, Twisted Sister, Rob Halford (Judas Priest), Vinnie Paul (Pantera) and Zakk Wylde are singing your praise? Well, maybe I can see Puddle Of Mudd being believers as they shouldn't even be considered metal. But the rest? Granted it isn't awful and I've heard much worse so far this year. It's simply nothing special. If it wasn't for their gimmick (which is getting them endorsement deals which is also crazy) Free Reign would be just another sub par band trying too hard to prove their the new thing or the real deal and being shrugged off. Thankfully I heard this one from a friend and didn't buy this from all the hype because I would have felt ripped off. Pass this one by.