Hard Roxx

 Brian McGowan

At last EZN's latest gets a European release. With 'Paraphernalia', the new Union album, and a repackaging and re-release of all three Zack Wylde efforts (with bonus tracks), newcomer Spitfire's building a reputation among melodic and hard rocks fans at a neck snapping pace. For a few years now it's been a matter of 'new album, new label' with the band, but this partnership has all the hallmarks of success. Spitfire is a subsidiary of Eagle Rock Entertainment, therefore promotion and distribution should assure availability. But most important, 'Paraphernalia' is unquestionably the band's best release since 'Strength'. 

The evocative, introductory tones of a calliope augur well... and we're not disappointed. The introspection evident on so many of these tracks is perhaps more bruisingly frank than we've come to expect, but those naggingly familiar tunes and barbed hooks that once we took for granted have returned with a vengeance. 

There's at least six tracks vying for dominance. 'Freak', 'Ain't It Funny' and 'Habit' all suggest that the band's previous lyrical intimacy has been hijacked by a slacker mentality, turning melancholy moods into a despairing self examination. But the fact that this is all wrapped up in a maelstrom of tunefully cascading rhythms, spiralling, looping guitars, and hooky choruses reinforces the view that they do their best work when the... er, chips are down. The achingly innocent lyric on 'Believe In Love' turns this all upside down. Clearly, the band still listen to their old Beatles' albums, and this one is blessed with a haunting melody, a simple, chord rattling hook and unembellished lead guitar soloing. The slender tune and sweet, nursery rhyme verses of 'Baby You're The Greatest' render the track misplaced among the tough riffs and ricocheting drumbeats, while the less is more production and double tracked vocal on outstanding ballad 'Someday' frame the this uplifting song in gentle, Lennonesque simplicity. 

Special guests Billy Corgan, James Young and Rick Neilsen add lustre to the CD cover, if not the songs, although 'Save Me' and 'No Place To Go' show clear Corgan influence. But it's Chip n'Donnie who are once again stars of their own show, ultimate survivors who, with 'Paraphernalia', might just get the last laugh of the millenium on the hacks who've written them off so many times. 

Highly Recommended. 

Rating: 9 (of 10) 

Hard Roxx