The wait is finally over! After years of collaborations with high profile artists, FANALO, the acclaimed guitarist and artist from France, is finally coming back with his self-produced solo album ‘Fanalo’. The self-titled album promises the listener a fusion of genres, and delivers exactly that and more.
There is no doubt about FANALO’s talent, as we dive into his guitar mastery from the very beginning of the album. ‘Tribes’ is a spectacular opener, that combines African native instruments and vocals with powerful guitar riffs, that are present throughout all tracks and are a real staple. ‘Hate 4 Sale’ is a completely different story, leaning more into clear vocals, but still keeping up the upbeat melody, reminding the listener of songs from the 90’s, the time when FANALO crashed onto the music scene. Using the typical keyboard sounds from that era brings the whole song together and really makes it to stand out.
Moving on, the songs ‘Why’ and ‘New Found World’ do not feel as energetic as the first two, but bring us a pair of catchy choruses and breathtaking guitar solos, that really showcase the artist’s talent. Being written in a real classic rock style, the songs sound amazing and feel like a little break, before ‘Moon’ starts playing. Containing many sound effects and actual voice tapes from journeys to the moon, the atmosphere of the album changes and the listener feels like they are about to start jamming in the space. Having a thoroughly pompous ending, the track is very well made and is absolutely a highlight of the album.
‘STC’ and ‘Die to Live’ continue the trend of hard rock, which suits FANALO’s vocals and expertise, as he worked as a sideman guitarist for Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal during his solo project in the past. The eighth track on the album is called ‘Rebirth’, and dives more into experimental territory by exploring more ethereal sounds, making the name of the song fit perfectly. With no vocals, the focus is on the instruments this time. We have the usual guitar riffs and drums, complimented by keyboard piano, that are piercing the track together flawlessly.
The last two tracks, ‘Isolation’ and ‘Rise’, are going back to hard rock, giving us well executed vocals, meaty riffs and energetic solos, departing us with the album in a no-nonsense fashion.
‘Fanalo’, the solo album, is a perfectly balanced mix of genres that stays stuck in the
listener’s mind long after they finish listening to it. His terrific multi-talent is
remarkable, from executing great guitar riffs to giving us a God-worthy electronic
piano experience. Not many artists would be able to combine so many elements
together and still make their music sound perfect, but FANALO is an example of
someone, who can do it effortlessly.
Score: 7/10
'FANALO' will be released on February 28th 2025 via Klonosphere Records.
Words: Katerina Stepanikova
Photos: FANALO
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