Customer Reviews

Redemption

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have always been a huge fan of Flaw, in my opinion they were the most underrated band of their time. After 2 fantastic albums the band made a sudden decision to disband. Chris Voltz then formed a new band called Fove.Bolt.Main, this band managed 1 album and them a Live CD before deciding to break up. The good news for Flaw fans is that Flaw is getting back together (although there are a few members missing). Chris made the decision to go out solo as well as front the new Flaw.

I have to give Chris props for trying to branch out a bit here. This CD is definately a far cry from the emotional "screaming" we knew and loved from Flaw and FBM. Sadly, for someone like me who was going into this CD expecting the "old" Chris, you will be let down. The fact that there is no Parental Advisory on the front was a hint (don't get me wrong, CDs can be great without the F-Bomb, but it does makes you think).

Honestly, "Sometimes" and "Dear Life" are the only tracks that feel like true songs to me...and I think that they are REALLY good. The other tracks are not. Chris just doesn't sound right on this CD. Like I said, I am glad that he is trying something new, but I hope that he sticks to his hardcore roots now that he got this soft stuff out of his system. Chris has an amazing voice, whether it be one of my favorites from Flaw (One More Time) or one of there movie soundtrack-worthy songs (Only the Strong Survive) Chris has always impressed me with his wide range of abailities. I guess it may just be me, maybe I am afraid of change; I didn't like the new Korn album or the new Linkin Park either ya know.

Bottom Line, to support Chris please check the CD out, but don't plan on it getting much playtime in your car's CD Changer.

The first solo debut album from the amazing Flaw/Five Bolt Main vocalist Chris Volz is definitely a good one. It has a fair mix of both heavier and softer tracks (although predominately softer). In fact, if this was the first time I had ever heard his music before, I think I would have been extremely impressed with it. The one problem though is that this album cannot fairly compare to both of his previous masterpieces that he did with Flaw. The lyrics and vocals are very strong and he is still my all time favorite rock music vocalist. But there is something missing here. Whether it's the band Flaw or their producer David Bottrill who works some studio magic to make him sound incredible, I am not yet sure. A lot of people say this album is too soft, but Flaw's softest material was always my very favorite material that they did. Yet with this album, the songs are soft in more of a "bluesy" or "jazzy" type of way. None really capture the same solemn atmosphere as former Flaw masterpieces such as "My Letter" or "Wait For Me". The only song on this album that comes close to matching up with the very best softer material from Volz is the song "Sometimes". This song is easily one of his greatest songs and if there is any one song on the album to buy it for, it's that song (which channels a very strong Phil Collins vibe). The rest of the songs on the album are great in their own right, but none really had me thinking "wow!". Overall though, the album achieves the full purpose of a solo album because it, indeed, is letting us hear a completely different side of Chris that we never could have heard from either Flaw nor Five Bolt Main and I most certainly do appreciate that. It is a very good record that all of his fans should definitely check out because as long as you aren't expecting another Flaw album, then you will probably still be pretty pleased with it.

i have listend to chris since flaw and this album is great in its own way im glad he can break from 2 bands and go solo flaw and five.bolt.main (f.b.m) were good so if your already a fan BUY THIS if your not a fan (yet) get flaw and f.b.m and this new solo album KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK CHRIS GOOD LUCK RE-MAKEING FLAW come to NEW ZEALAND

Don't buy this expecting Flaw or Five.Bolt.Main. This is his solo project for a reason. I think it's a good start to his solo career as it's radio friendly and still from the heart as you'd expect from Volz. I'm not going to break down each track for you, but I liked most of the tracks and was disappointed that "Send Her My Love" was not included.

I've been an avid listener of Flaw & F.B.M. and have to agree with every one else...If your thinking this is going to be anything like either band then you'll be sadly disappointed.

Reguardless of the band Chris Volz has one of the most unique voices in rock music (right up there with David Draimen & Maynard James Keenan). One of the main differences with this album from Flaw & F.B.M. is they lyrics aren't so dark.

Musically the CD isn't bad if you start listening to it with an open mind. If you listen to it thinking he's from Flaw then you'll be pretty let down. Redemption is far from the Nu-Metal your used to with the other bands. Don't get me rock there are a few good rockin' songs on the album.
The single "Redemption" can rock at times. "You Own Medicine" is also another great harder song. I think this album is more about the emotions than any of his other albums.

Like I stated before reguardless Chris is amazing....5 Stars from me!

so i got the chris volz cd a few weeks ago
i love it
i am a huge fan of flaw but indeed they did break up
i was very saddened by this
but i soon learned about cris volz (the singer from flaw) formed a new band, five bolt main, which i got a few weeks ago as well. i love the cds
now i hear flaw is reuniting
im excited for this
chis volz puts his heart into his music
i would have paid double for the cd
i recommend this to all

I bought the first Flaw album in 2002, didn't listen to anything but that for about 2 months. Got Endangered species in 2004 and played nothing but that for at least a month. Then just happend to come accross Five.Bolt.Main in 2006 when searching to find out what was up with Flaw, of course wound up listening to nothing but that album for a long time. So when I did a yahoo search and found this solo album, I was once again surprised. Anyways, I think its a very good album. I can't stop listening to it so far, and would definitely recommend it to any fan of Volz's previous work. Some of the other reviews said it was too soft, but I disagree. Its a good mix of several hard songs and several mellow songs. Chris definitely has talent and I will continue to buy his music whether its with Flaw, Five.Bolt.Main, solo, or whatever.

I have been an extremely vocal fan of Flaw since the debut of their freshman album 'Through the Eyes'. It was in THAT album you got a raw production where every member of the collective output performed just as efficiently and properly as everyone else. If the audio quality on that album was up to standards of today, the album would be a classic, unquestionably.

Then Flaw recruited a new drummer (if the word recruited is accurate), and two members were replaced. Endangered Species came out with mixed reviews from not only critical consensus, but also within the fanbase. That album had some extremely moving moments, and although it was not as fiery or grim as it's predecessor, it was not a blemish to their catalogue.

Then Flaw imploded. I never really cared to get into the details of the breakup, because I just accepted the fact that Flaw WAS never going to get back together, etcetera etcetera.

When Chris Volz and Five Bolt Main released their debut album I was quite optimistic, I forced myself to like the album, and even then still, I only barely, LIKED the album. A few tracks such as The Gift, Seem To Be Fine, and a few handful of others were well made.. but the album overall was a sharp, sharp, razorsharp decline. The music was watered down, and Volz seemed uninterested in the fact that he was even in the booth recording his own vocals.. It was almost nauseating.

Now THIS album comes out. and I'm only listening to it as of an hour ago. The first half of this album continues in the fasion of the Five Bolt Main album, which is NOT a GOOD thing.

HOWEVER..

this album does something that Five Bolt Main could not do on theirs, and that's come up with A FEW MODERATELY CATCHY SONGS.. Part of the problem is Volz is seemingly stretched beyond his limit, and he attempts to utilize his voice in ways that I don't think he is capable of sounding appropriate in, and that's a shame. The other half is the collective group of musicians turn out flat out shabby or cheesy performances (see guitar).

The decent songs I mentioned: Sometimes, Dear Life, and Don't Save Me all sound like ACTUAL, REAL, LISTENABLE MUSIC!!! Ain't that swell?

"Sometimes" actually sounds like some heartfelt, dramatic, well-made slow music.. Volz sounds capable. that's a good thing.

"Dear Life" is one of the catchiest songs I've heard Chris Volz on throughout his entire career, definitely the high point of the album for me.

"Don't Save Me" is a very stirring piece, something that I wish Flaw could've come up with. Volz sounds quite exceptional.

All in all I think it's the MUSICIANS that are messing things up for Chris Volz. I think he's being held back and has the potential to be so much more.

All in all, It is my sincere hope the new Flaw album turns out awesome. This album I will force myself to like as well.

Just PLEASE Chris Volz.. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get a CAPABLE GROUP OF MUSICIANS BEHIND YOU. FLAW in 2008.