Recent Reviews

November 2024

October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

[ More Music Reviews ]


Laugh at the Fakes: Dethrone the Crown
Laugh at the Fakes - Dethrone the Crown CD Album Review

Laugh at the Fakes: Dethrone the Crown

Melodic/Progressive/Heavy Metal
5.0/5.0

Website Facebook Twitter YouTube
Unsigned / Self-released
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 13.11.2014

To be honest, I was skeptical. Another band with more than two words for a name smacks of modern hard rock or metal. But with Laugh at the Fakes, nothing could be further from the truth. The band sounds like New Wave of British Heavy Metal brought forward nearly 40 years, but not before being washed through some late Eighties GnR and Nineties Foo Fighters. Sounds weird.

Laugh at the Fakes Dethrone the Crown Band Photo

Laugh at the Fakes

But it's not. Then throw in some thrashy elements ala early Metallica, and LatF becomes this massive rock n roll hybrid charged with melodic heavy metal. Basically, by eschewing normal conventions of the day, Laugh at the Fakes is kicking modern rock and metal in the nuts and then kicking their ass. They've got melody and groove, the right combination of heaviness and harmony, notably in the vocal arrangement and what appears to be a twin guitar attack. You can both tap your toe and bang your head to the groove, melody, and thrashiness of Fighting Dirty or Not Like Me. But these songs, along with Death Awaits for example, have some notable prog nuances with their shifting tempos and signatures.

In another song, Harmonica Playing Man, Laugh at the Fakes contrasts moderate melodic rock and smooth vocals in the first half with rising riff driven metal with fiery guitar solos in the second half. Sweet stuff. Some of this recurs in And I, but mostly ii moves by the riffs and leads which are in turn propelled by a frisky rhythm, and all wrapped up in rich melody and harmony. Damn. These guys are on to something very good. Laugh at the Fakes is nearly a Renaissance in contemporary melodic heavy metal in it's best sense complete with the intrigue of progressive rock. You need to check this out. Now. Some real potential to be in my top ten list of best metal albums of 2014. Strongly recommended.


Laugh at the Fakes - "Death Awaits" Official Teaser Video


CraigHartranft.net - New fiction, crime fiction by Craig Hartranft

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

In Short

Laugh at the Fakes is nearly a Renaissance in contemporary melodic heavy metal in it's best sense complete with the intrigue of progressive rock. You need to check this out. Now.

Find A Review

Alphabetical Index

a b c d e f g h i j
k l m n o p q r s t
u v w x y z #
New & Notable
Read the Lionville: Supernatural Album Review

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]