Reviewed by Matt McChlery

Ian Bel, from Norway, has been involved in the music world for a number of years and has founded his own indie record label, UNO Records. Son of a classical pianist and folk musician, it is no surprise to see that music making flows in Ian's veins. 'Fake Factory', Ian's third CD, is a concept album based on his views of the media industry as expressed in Bel's book. The satirical "Devil's Daughter" makes some strong points about materialism and greed, while "Sin" deals with the ideas of repentance and forgiveness. "Teenage Vision" is the song from this album that has achieved many accolades and awards which includes reaching the top 10 New Songs chart in the USA on independencemusic.net, and twice being certified as an International Top 40 by The International Association of Independent Recording Artists (IAIRA). 'Fake Factory' contains a heavy pop-rock mix of sounds that often strays to minor keys while the driven guitars and fast paced rhythms cement the album together. If you prefer a lighter song or a change of pace every now and then, don't hold your breath, as 'Fake Factory' throws you from one tough concept to another. An intellectually challenging album.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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