The Second Great Awakening

If there was ever a band more perfect for Ozzfest, it's Fireball Ministry. The Los Angeles act obviously prays to the god of Ozzy Osbourne. The Rev. James A. Rota II's vocals sound remarkably like Osbourne's, with touches of Pantera and metal-pop. Soaring vocals hit soprano notes on one line and growl the next. But "The Second Great Awakening" is so over-produced that it strips away the rawness. The paltry introduction is something that any generic heavy metal band would use -- overemphasized drums and cymbals with guitar screeching. "The Second Great Awakening" is exactly that, a virtual book about heavy metal with chapters on each great band: Iron Maiden, Judas Priest ("Rollin' On" flat out steals from "Breaking the Law"), Pantera, and of course Osbourne. There's nothing new here.