Just under a year ago Fomento had recorded an album called “Either Caesars Or Nothing” – the reaction of that self-release seemed to have convinced Coroner Records to offer the band a record deal. As a result the album was repackaged, a couple of tracks added and is now given a proper distribution. (A review of “Either Caesars…” - version 1 – had also been reviewed in this webzine: http://www.powerofmetal.dk/reviews08/fomento_review.htm ).

So, how does the album sound like this time around? Short answer: good enough. Long answer: I don’t have the previous version to compare it to the one at hand (intentionally, so as to minimise bias) but the impression I get is that the band here seems to have tried to spice the songs up. The feel of anger conveyed by Thrash-style music with Hardcore-style vocals is still there. Cool stuff if you’re into this genre of music but if you haven’t yet heard the band just don’t expect to be knocked off your feet. ‘Cotard’s Syndrome’ and ‘Burial At Sea’ are the newer additions and don’t propose any major deviation from what had already been recorded.

Lyrics seem to indirectly suggest feelings of loyalty – whether it’s loyalty towards Hardcore/Metal ethics or loyalty towards the band’s Roman heritage. This attitude is likely to cement the perception of the band as an exponent of the Hardcore genre. One song, called ‘The End Of The Republic’, points an accusing finger (or maybe raises the middle one) at the controversy surrounding contemporary Italian politics.

It would be interesting to see where Fomento go from here. Meanwhile those Hardcore fans that couldn’t get hold of “Either Caesars…” the first time around…well, I guess you shouldn’t have that problem now.