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In case you don’t know Syrym is a Bay Area based band made up with former Babylon A.D. members Ron Freschi on guitars and Jamey Pacheco on drums, along with vocalist Jeffrey Winslow and bassist Rich Talley. Back in the day I was split in my opinion on Babylon A.D. I loved their debut album but “Nothing Sacred” had a few good songs but nothing special. I really wasn’t sure what to expect with this album. Much to my surprise Syrym has a pretty damn good album on their hands. Let me say first that Freschi’s guitar playing on this disc all the way through is outstanding.

“Foul Mouth Blues” gets us started with a heavy throbbing groove from the rhythm section of Pacheco and Talley with Winslow singing in a slow almost growl. Freschi’s solo here is the first of many impressive solos on this album, a good way to open the album up.

The guys pick up the pace a little bit more on “Warpath”, once the song kicks in it has a great hard driving groove. I think you’ll find it very hard to resist playing a little air guitar or drums on this song.

“Torn in Two” finds us getting a little more heavier but still maintaining the ability to sing along with the band. Freschi puts on another great display of his guitar skills.

While the first three songs remind me a lot of early Lynch Mob songs “Ugly on the Inside” drifts more in Babylon A.D. territory and it is easily one of the best songs on the album. It has great sing a long chorus and the whole band sounds in sync with one another. I hope this song finds it way to radio

“30 & Dirty” has a sleazy groove to it that hearkens back once again to Babylon A.D. and you can’t help but want to tap your foot along to it.

“Foul Mouth Blues” was a good song to open the album but “While America Sleeps” would’ve been a great song to open this album up. If Freschi never got to flex his guitar playing muscle on any Babylon A.D. albums he definitely does with Syrym, he definitely earned my respect for his playing here.

“What I’m Trying To Say” is a ballad that not only closes the album, it completely changes the direction of this album. It is a pretty emotional song about a parent trying to explain to their child that the parents divorce is not the child’s fault. Acoustic guitars and piano fill this song and it has a very Journey like feel to it. Another very good song.

As far as the rest of the album is concerned “Brokedown”, “the Sky is Falling”, “Alive in the Real World”, and “Bring It On (Go Down Fighting)” are all good songs with “Bring It On” being my favorite.

Any fans of Lynch Mob, Babylon A.D., or Lillian Axe will find plenty of reasons to love Syrym, but fans of heavy and melodic late 80s/early 90s rock will also find plenty of reasons to pick Syrym up.  Definitely worth the price of admission.

You can purchase this disc from CD Baby.com, or through iTunes.  For more information on Syrym, check out their myspace page, or website.

Rating: Out of 10

Track Listing:

1. Foul Mouth Blues
2. Warpath
3. Torn In Two
4. Ugly On The Inside
5. Brokedown
6. The Sky Is Falling
7. 30 & Dirty
8. While America Sleeps
9. Alive In The Real World
10. Bring It On (Go Down Fighting)
11. What I’m Trying To Say
12. What I’m Trying To Say (Reprise)

Syrym is:

Ron Freschi – Guitars
Jeffrey Winslow – Vocals
Jamey Pacheco – Drums
Rich Talley – Bass