Full Motion Animation cd review

Full Motion Animation
RPG
Dreamstate Records

     Take musical influences covering all genres, shake them up, mix them in a blender and out spits a band called Full Motion Animation or FMA for short.  The band is led by singer John Lane, who displays a wide vocal range where he can snarl with the best of them and then switch to a soothing balladeer on the drop of a dime.  The riffing guitar work of Keith Bell provides fretwork that contains alot of catchy hooks and melodies.  The rumbling bottom end of the songs is courtesy of bassist J.D.  His presence is definately felt on the heavy songs and his playing has a kind of a funk groove to it on the slower material.  The backbone of the rhythm section is the heavy hitting drums of Donnie Taylor.  He is a heavy hitter and you feel that slamming punch come through in the songs.

     "Maternal Instincts" is a slamming track that rumbles its way to a melodic bridge and back again.  Think Disturbed like vocal growls that give way to a powerful vocal delivery backed by a crunching musical rhythm and you get the picture.  "Biding My Time" switches gears to feature a borderline semi-electric/mid tempo verse that gives way to an uptempo classic metal sounding guitar hook during the chorus.  The "swirling air" melody and the mood that the soulful vocals provoke on the ballad leaning "Intentions" could drive this song to be a huge radio hit.  The guitar solo is dead on and I think this song can strike a nerve within alot of people out there.  "BDYN (Breathing Down Your Neck)" moves along like a jackhammer snapping necks and clearing anything in its path.  This song will get the blood pumping and the head bobbing to the punching feeling that the song evokes.  The upbeat "Could of Been Me" features a heavy rocking rhythm and groove with a driving beat that creates one giant hook that pulls you in and doesn't let you escape it's grip.  I can see where fans of the hard rock sound of the late 80's will eat this song up.  "Because I Don't Compete" could be FMA's answer to any ballad that Elton John wished he had written.  Backed by a piano (courtesy of ex-FMA bassist and current Altered Ending guitarist/singer Tony M'Lady) and a jazz sounding guitar in certain parts, singer John Lane nails down a great vocal effort in this epic song.  The fog lifts and the thunder rolls as we reach the pinnacle of RPG.  "Trudge" is a mid-tempo buzzing rocker that tugs and pulls like a drooling chained dog trying to break his leash - not going for the quick snap factor but using his power to slowly break the chain.  Vocal harmonies abound throughout the whole cd and they reach their peak on this song where they really have an Alice in Chains vibe to them. 

     When it comes to deciding what seperates a good release (which you might listen to every now and then) and a GREAT release (which you will listen to on repeat and will find a nice home in your cd player) is the diversity factor.  FMA covers alot of musical ground on RPG.  Everything is covered here from slow, mid-tempo, to breakneck speed songs.  There is something here for everyone.  I highly recommend you spend your hard earned cash on Full Motion Animation's RPG - you won't be disappointed.  On a side note - if you should purchase the cd, let the cd play for a few minutes after the last track is over and there will be a surprise waiting for you.

For more information check out www.myspace.com/fullmotionanimation and www.fullmotionanimation.com

Chuck M.