The future of Hungry Daze sounds like 1980s. In this alternate timeline, groove metal or metalcore things never ever happened. And by the sounds of this, life was way, way merrier.

Hungry Daze hail from Italy, Turin area, and 'Back to My Future' is their debut album, filled with old-time hard rock & heavy metal. From times when the previous one started to get heavier. The album begins with a darker, heavier mid-paced song, where balls-to-the-wall riffing and shrieking guitars meet airy hard rock licks for catchy outcome. The song carries loads of energy, and vocals in vein of Bruce Dickinson from early 1990s which occasionally channel Joey Belladonna of Anthrax sound very good for these metal music educated ears.

But the surprise comes with the second song, which is quite a lighter good-time roller with some cool lead guitar melodies and faster pace. However, the vocals are a bit chirpier, and lose some of their edge and personality, becoming more like regular power metal voice. More surprises are coming with th next one, 'Rock Paradise', which heavily borrows from Zakk Wylde's guitar style and David Lee Roth's 'Paradise's chorus. I am able to take it as a funny tribute; 1+1 is Hungry Daze. The album also contains a couple of softer, if not quite ballad-ish songs, cover od Saxon's 'Motorcyce Man', and a dark 'n' crunchy closer which has some absolutely corking vocal lines.

The vocals are varying and skillfully sang by Roberto Bruccoleri, known from his work with power metallers Projecto. He is able to change with the vibe of music (sure, there's some Ian Gillan-ism, too). Guitarist Francesco Russo (ex- Shadows of Steel) goes from Zakk Wylde's heaviness to airiness and cheeriness of Joe Satriani and does some magic soloing and shredding. The bass guitar played by Roberto Tiranti (ex-Vanexa) is adventurous with solo bits and tricks added. Marco Biggi's drumming is solid all around.

The production by Pier Gonella is well-rounded, but at times lacks of power (e.g. snare). It has modern power to it, bringing hard rock and metal together, but not utilizing triggers or such, and therefore sounding organic throughout.

Even though listener will find many, many familiar bits (you can add loads with ones mentioned here, but not much of Deep Purple, after which the band was named) on this album, Hungry Daze manage to sound themselves. It fluctuates from dark to joyful, like life itself, and ends up being a cool debut album.

Rating: 7 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
02/26/2021 10:10