METAL FATIGUE

This may be partly due to unmet expectations on my part, but Metal Fatigue just doesn't do it for me. It's short, it doesn't feature much fast or legato playing from Holdsworth, and there aren't many good melodies. It's definitely on the jazzy side, but unfortunately it's the crystal clear, sanitized kind of jazz. If you like a little edge to your fusion--as I tend to--then you are unlikely to be impressed by Metal Fatigue.

Highlight: Devil Take the Hindmost. That's right, one highlight, and no more. Half of the songs are vocal pieces--which is fine, if there are good melodies or a good vocalist or two (neither of which are to be found on Metal Fatigue)--and the rest are relatively meandering pieces where little happens, and if something is happening, it's just one musician getting the spotlight, which means there is little actual fusion taking place.

Fortunately, no fusion is necessary when Holdsworth is cutting it loose, and Devil is that one song on Metal Fatigue. It's fast, it's beautiful, and it's emotional--in other words, that's what I was hoping more of the album would be like.

Metal Fatigue adds to the Holdsworth enigma: Why does someone who I enjoy listening to play have to little music that I really want to hear on a regular basis? Maybe I've overestimated playing ability and underestimated songwriting ability in determining who my favorite musicians are at any given moment. Either way, Metal Fatigue leaves much to be desired.