Reviewed by Si Bibby

Contagious have been around for quite a while, getting the odd mention in the US white metal fanzines while striving for a deal with a label. It paid off last year when Regency Records signed them and now we can get an earful of the finished product on this their debut album. I could spend hours just criticising the album cover, but I dare say the band were as uninspired with it as I was so I'll head for the music.  Style-wise Contagious are hard rock-come-boogie metal with some very interesting changes in places.  Lyrically there is nothing too complex, with titles such as "Fighting The Good Fight", "Building On The Rock" and "Hebrews 13:8". Despite some nice chord progressions and fairly average vocals, here comes a budding Malmsteen in Scott Sifton. The lead work at the start of "Building On The Rock" and the solos "Backslider" and "Turn" are just ridiculously good.  Musically it's not your basic "let's thrash it out stuff", check out the intricacies in the middle of "Hebrews 13:8" and the last track "Children Of The Father". Contagious aren't going to turn the world upside down, but if you ignore the cover, lacklustre production and sometimes plain vocals, you'll find some decent music

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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