Torok - Addiction of Fools  
  Genre:  Heavy Metal
  Release Date: 2007
  Label: Sugar Shack Records/Nightmare Records
  Band Web Site: http://www.torokmusic.com

Formed in Eden Prairie, Minnesota in 1993, Torok began their fight in the local heavy metal scene under the name Tongue & Cheek. They released their self-titled debut album Torok in 1995. They followed up with Silence in 1996 and Binge & Purge in 2001. The nucleus of Torok since their formation has been vocalist Bryan Erickson and axe man Michael Torok. After experimenting with different styles of hard rock and metal on their first three releases, the band decided to go back to the roots of heavy metal on their newest release, which is 2007’s Addiction of Fools. Loaded with hook-laden hard rock melodies ala Van Halen and Whitesnake, this album will be sure to delight fans of old school, good time, get loud heavy metal the way nature intended it to be!

The lineup of the band consists of vocalist Erickson and guitarist Torok, drummer Tim Davis, bassist Bill Holmberg and keyboardist John Jankowski. Numerous special guests also took part in the recording including guitarist Todd Duane, vocalist Mark Westlund, bassist Ken Olson, drummers Tom Croxton and Brian Waterman, and keyboardist Tim Temple. Addiction of Fools was recorded at Sugar Shack Studios East and West and produced by Erickson and Torok.

Many people worked hard on this album to make the music, so it is easy to see why they wrote inside the liner notes, “These songs are a labor of love. Play the fucker loud!” Well, we will be happy to play the album loud so we can listen to it in all of its stereophonic glory! Let’s hit it!

Unleash your inner beast with the opening track “Wolf Within.” It begins with a mid-tempo riff rock stomp fest straight out of the 1980s and it doesn’t let up. The vocals of Bryan Erickson are simply awesome and so are the bluesy hooks courtesy of axe men Torok and Todd Duane. A great way to open up the album! This song really sets the tone for a kick ass rock and roll record!

On “Full Moon,” the fun continues with another mid-tempo riff that will burrow into your consciousness and it will not let go until you are either dancing or head banging, or both at the same time! The soulful vocals of Erickson howl as if the full moon is truly on the rise at this moment. Great track!

I love the drumming on “1,000 Reasons” as it sets the perfect background for the meaty bass licks and yet another insanely catchy riff courtesy of Torok. Another mid-paced rocker that kicks ass and takes names, The party is rolling now! I never felt this way before…no, wait…I can feel this way again if I just hit the repeat button!

From the good-time atmosphere of the first part of Addiction of Fools, things take a shift for just a little while on the title track. The amazing vocals of Bryan Erickson soar emotionally like an eagle above the mellow piano melody, which is played to perfection by keysman Tim Temple. Not the hard rockin’ good times of the previous songs, but still, a stellar power ballad that deserves a look.

The gentleness is ripped away from your face by the epic melody and savage but melodic riffing of “Infamy.” Drummer Tom Croxton kicks the axes and bass in the ass with his precise bashing, and the vocals of Erickson once again top everything off with perfection! This guy is one hell of a vocalist and this is probably one of the strongest songs on the album. Temple even plays a Hammond B3 on this track…AWESOME! I love the Hammond organ! OLD SCHOOL RULES, BABY!

And just when you think it can’t get any better…it does! “Do U Harm” features a slinky and groovy guitar attack matched up with those powerful vocals…I can’t stop raving about how killer this vocalist is. The solid ball of rock rolls on!

I got a hankerin’ for some old school blues jams, and the Torok boys are more than willing to throw down on “Y.” Simple, direct, funky, groovy…this track just oozes with soul and is funkier than James Brown’s trousers. There’s nothing like a good old fashioned blues jam! I love this track!

“Breathin’” continues to show that Torok knows how to lay the down the noise, the funk, and the jams. This track is yet another virtual groove machine powered by the engine of Torok’s killer riffs, Erickson’s awesome vocals, and one hell of a rhythm section! Well done!

The riff that begins “The Burden” is one of those classic guitar riffs that never fails to work in a great rock or metal song. On this song, there is no exception to the rule as it works its way into your soul. The only burden you will have is trying to get this song out of your head…but when it is this kick ass, how is it a burden?

Well, sadly, the final track, which is entitled “Forsaken,” means that our blues powered heavy metal journey with Torok is about to meet its end. What this track and almost every other track on this album has proved is that Torok, beyond a shadow of a doubt, has the art of writing a killer hook and a great riff down to a science. Maybe they should start a college course on how to write the perfect hook, and if they did, I’d sign up in a second!

In conclusion, I know that while this album is entitled Addiction of Fools, the discriminating fans of old school heavy metal who will surely turn out in droves to buy this album are truly not fools. Far from it, in fact. Torok has brought new life to good time/grab a few beers/blast out the car windows/denim and leather/big hair/long hair/the way God intended it to be heavy metal. So, I think this album will be an addiction for long starving fans of just plain fun kick ass metal, and those people are not fools in the least.

But then again, maybe some fools will buy this album, and by doing that, they would be fools no more! And if you don’t buy it…well, you’re a fool to miss it!

Review written by: Matt B.         
Date: June 5, 2009             
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5