Customer Reviews

Small Deadly Space

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Rob Halford's project, Fight, are back with their second (and last) studio album after War Of Words. And while I find this album very different, I also think it is very good. The songs on here are catchy, with a good groove (the last one starts a little ballad-y, but they're all good). However , the tempo is slowed down significantly from the first album, which was much more of a thrash album than this. I give this 4 stars (heck, I could even go 4.5) as it is a very good metal album, but not just great. If you are a fan of heavy metal, specifically Rob Halford, you will probably enjoy this album.

It is a shame more people didn't get into this band. I was skeptical when I heard Halford had a new "thrash" band 1)I was never a big thrash fan 2)I thought Priest went totally downhill after their incredible period of British Steel/Point of Entry/Screaming for Vengeance. I first heard their debut album, FIGHT, and I was immediately hooked. Then this, their follow-up, is totally excellent. In these days where metal bands have record scratchers (give me a break!) we need to go back to true metal. Both Fight albums are a perfect mix of heavy guitars and awesome drums (Scott Travis, Priest's drummer, has to be one of the best metal drummers ever) while maintaining excellent lyrics and melodies, song after song. If you liked Priest in their heyday I don't see how you couldn't really get into these two albums. I am totally psyched to discover they also have an EP, Mutations, which I just ordered from Amazon. It's just too bad that Halford abandonded this totally kick-A band to go industrial/techno. I pray he will come to his senses and re-form Fight...

When I bought this CD back in 1995, I wasn't overly impressed and didn't give it much of a chance. Now, 14 years later, and years removed from any lingering hang-ups about Judas Priest, I just happened to give the album (which now resides on an external hard drive) a spin while I was working on cleaning up some images on my computer. I was astonished by how much I like this album. No, it's probably not the most imaginative album I've ever heard, but every song works on its own (unless you demand nothing short of a revelatory experience - in which case I'd say go to church, ya demanding heifer). All I know is that this album kept my feet tapping and my head bobbing - something I didn't give it a chance to do in 1995.

When I think about what Heavy Metal has become since, this album was probably prophetic. I can't tell you how many modern bands sound to me like copycats of Fight nowadays to my ancient ears. Whether that's due to the natural evolution of the genre or something more significant, I couldn't say. It just seems to me that when I hear a lot of what's going on in Metal these days, I'll now be thinking "Halford did that 14 years ago".

In short, I owe Rob Halford an apology. When I first heard "A Small Deadly Space", I dismissed it. Unlike some of the folks here, "The War of Words" is the reason I never gave "A Small Deadly Space" much of a chance. In spite of a couple of terrific songs ("Into The Pit" and "Nailed To The Gun"), this album's predecessor was mostly a load of noise desperately hoping it was relevant. I didn't like it for the same reason that I didn't like Judas Priest's "Ram It Down" or "Painkiller". Now, many years removed and possessing a fresh perspective, I'll have to say that "A Small Deadly Space" holds up very well. If you're anything other than a hormonal teen-aged boy who mistakes speed with energy, you'll enjoy this CD. This album is for people who'd rather have a little weight to their Metal - a steak as opposed to an energy drink. If nothing else, like me you owe it Halford to give the man his due. This album kicks the crap out of much of what followed it.

While "War of Wars" is about the exploration of Rob Halford's voice, "Small Deadly Place" is more about the exploration of instrumental side of music. So, even though I bought it for Rob Halford's voice, I found myself muttering, "My, aren't they good!" on the drumming and guitar riffs many times over. And I am not even into guitar riffs.
The title song "Small Deadly Place" is awesome. "I am Alive" is also great. "Human Crane" is innovative and "In the World of My Own Making" is even more so in punctuating and accentuating the emotive piano-accompanied vocal with the assault of heavy riff. I was surprised first time I heard it but it is quite effective.
Good, solid, innovative album, overall.

This album clearly shows an improved Fight with more input from the band (with some personnel changes from the first album as well).

Better songs, better performance..... nuff said!

The first album, while very good, shows Halford trying to fit into the current speed metal scene (early 90's). Good songs, but trying too hard to fit in.

This Fight album (A Small Deadly Space) shows Rob Halford being Rob Halford (closer to what we saw in Judas Priest).

There's a reason why Judas Priest (and Rob Halford) stand out in this genre. Quality! Most of the other bands in this genre, I do not care for. They're all flash & balls and no substance.

Rob Halford (Judas Priest, Fight, Halford) is all substance. The true Metal God.

A similar annolgy can be drawn with Ozzy Osborne. Most of the bands on the Ozzfest lineups (with the exception of the superb Iron Maiden) I can't even stomach to listen to, but Ozzy (whether solo or with Black Sabbath) stands head and shoulders above the rest with tons of substance and quality.

Rob Halford and Ozzy Osborne are two of a kind in a land of posers and wanna bees...

Halford shows he's still the best and the guitar work just creates a rhythmic pounding pulse that keeps your head bobbing up and down. "Small Deadly Space" "I Am Alive" and "Legacy of Hate" are my favorites.

Keep rocking Rob!!

buy this album, that's all i have to say, i saw these guys open up for metallica a few years back and they stole the show....hard grooves and great vocals.

This is a very solid album, but War of Words is just awesome. I still listen to this album to this day. It has some great songs on it. It sounds a little bit more original and modern, and it sounds a bit less Pantera-esque. Some songs actually sound like a cross between Pantera and Judas Priest. Highly enjoyable, but I recommend War of Words above this any day of the week. There's not really a weak song on this album, but I need another "Into The Pit" or "Nailed To The Gun". Solid release but not as [good]as War of Words.

This is the second full length album by Judas Priest singer Rob Halford, and their third and last overall release. Again, death metal type heaviness on a number of tracks, though still with the occasional ballad. IMO, this is just as good if not better, than War of Words. Key tracks are: I Am Alive, Never Again, Human Crate and A World of My Own Making. I would highly recommend it. After this, Halford formed a techno- metal album Two Voyeurs with Marilyn Manson guitarist John Lowery, though they only had one album.

This is another masterpiece by Fight, featuring the Metal God, Rob Halford! Rob's vocals here are just plain incredible, from his signature peirceing banshee wail, to a menaceing half growl. It's a bit heavier than their other album and it does have tinges of thrash and maybe a bit of grunge from what I hear, but who the hell cares! It's flippin FIGHT! One of the greatest bands in the history of metal! If you don't have this album than get it, and if you don't Rob will find you and scream so peircingly that your face will melt off. Have a nice day! :)