This past weekend Knoxville hosted the International Metal Show at the

Electric Ballroom. With little interest, I scanned the list of acts looking

for one particular band named Chastain. Their new CD, Sick Society,

was on the list for me to review this week, and what surprised me was

seeing a pop-metal band still burning the torch of its waning peers. Grunge

almost seems too taboo for most. It’s not correct to say “alternative”

anymore. Everyone has become more musically eclectic, and few will actually

discuss that such a time as the “pop-metal era” ever existed. Even the

heavy metalheads will shun any link to the “hairspray, pyrotechnic

wonders.”

Think back to our relative past to such acts as Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot

and, dare I say, AC/DC. The sound you might recall will give you a glimpse

into what I first heard of Chastain. In the press release, it announced,

“This CD teams the legendary guitarist (David T. Chastain) with a new

revolutionary voice (Kate French) to create a seriously heavy recording.”

This may be disappointing to fans, since David’s best contribution to the

disc was mixing studio recording tricks with metal guitar-school chords and

scales. Don’t forget the standard heavy bass and drum lines.

The “revolutionary” new voice I heard from Kate French sounded like Lita

Ford with cramps. To me, metal singers sound almost all alike, but this is

what David had to say about her: “I think she will blow people away when

they hear her. She can sound so intense like she just stepped out of hell

and the next minute sound like a quiet Geoff Tate. Plus, add the fact that

she’s extremely good looking, and I think we added the perfect vocalist.”

Did you catch that “extremely good looking” part?

Sick Society has twelve full songs with cuts like “I Know the

Darkness,” “The Price of War” and “Destructive Ground.” Reading the lyrics

made me think Chastain was bent on political activism. Dave states, “It’s

hard to comprehend that as we approach the 21st century, there are still

numerous wars and that the so-called human species still kills one another

with great frequency and lack of remorse.” He added, “What can you expect

when you can probably see one million people killed on normal TV in your

lifetime and not even see one female breast!” His comment pertains to

normal broadcast channels. Think what would happen if Chastain ordered

cable! Oh, that might be the concept for the next album.

Guitarist magazine says “Chastain will leave you frothing at the

mouth and begging for more.” I say it will leave you upset and sick on the

floor. So, my best advice is to pass on Chastain’s Sick Society and

check out what else is new. If you’re really on a metal kick, go check out

old Black Sabbath. I even hear Ozzy has a new one out. Mmmm….