"My first encounter with FDJ was when I attended a Type O Negative concert. FDJ were the special guest band, and they played an absolutely blistering set...a set which blew away the band which followed...big-name losers, Coal Chamber. During Coal Chamber's set, I left for a bit until Type O came out. That's when I got to meet FDJ. They were really nice guys...wanted to interact with the fans as much as possible. I hung out with them for a bit and I was sold. I bought this CD immediately upon its release, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. Their live show was better, but this recording is one of the best albums I've heard in years. So give five nice guys from Tennesee a break and buy their album...crank it to 10...it'll blow your speakers...and you'll say "thank you.""
Amazing... This album absolutely rocks!
jmichael718 | the Eastern U.S. | 03/09/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Full Devil Jacket are one of the best hard rock/metal bands I've heard in a long time. I bought their EP, "A Wax Box...", in December, and I loved it, so I bought the full length album the day it came out. It's amazing. Great dynamics (they get real heavy on some songs, but know how to lay back and play more melodic and soft when they need to on others.) Good song writing. The vocalist has a strong voice and the guitarists, bassist, and drummer play very tight. I recommend this to anyone who likes heavy music, especially if you're into bands like Staind, Godsmack, or Tool."
If You Like This Band
Matt | KY | 11/04/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If You Like This Band Check Out Day Of Fire. It has the same lead singer Joshua Brown. The album rocks"
Full Devil Jacket Fail To Disappoint...4.5 stars
M. Jarrett | New England, USA | 11/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Full Devil Jacket's debut ep A WAX BOX... was a hint of promise for a group that truly indulged it's love of metal, with "Stain" leading the way and making waves at radio. Now that they were in the mix, it was only a matter of time before a full-length debut was completed, and hence we have the self-titled debut, a truly metal monster machine complete with 11 tracks that, while familiar, are nuggets of pure alterna-metal. There are influences for sure here and you'll hear them in the music, but they blend the best elements to showcase a fine collection.
"Wanna Be Martyr" kicks the album off with an adrenaline rush of guitars and the growl of singer Josh Brown, whose vocals show a hint of Phil Anselmo influence, but he has a voice his own, and sometimes he really shows genuine emotion, but he can hold it down, and does for most of the album. Guitarists Jonathan Montoya and Mike Reaves can play fairly well, and the best elements come together on the melodic and bittersweet "Where Did You Go?", where drummer Keith Foster and bassist Kevin Bebout provide an above average rhythm section. On "Where Did You Go?", Brown's vocals ache with pain, it's one of the best songs on here...plus it was a minor radio hit. Elsewhere, "Stain" is straight up metal, going right for the jugular and beating you into the wall with its relentless metal machine. The slow grind of "Mainline" howls, but it's also got a bit of melody to integrate into its standard alterna-metal chug. "Monster", like "Where Did You Go?", is another melodic, painful winner that does show emotion, but the industrial machine sound ending gives the song less punch in the end, but most of it is quite strong. "Now You Know" is a thoroughly catchy song, and was the strongest radio presence for Full Devil Jacket. Closer "Cardboard Believer" blends metal, melody, grace, and anguish into one tight package, while "Mr. Wiggly" breathes like the monster it is, screaming, demonic vocals and full sonic assault crunch. Throughout these 11 tracks, Full Devil Jacket play and can certainly mean it throughout most of the album.
So while showcasing a fairly strong, cohesive collection of hard charging metal, the band isn't afraid to show it's sensitive, melodic flair every once in a while. FULL DEVIL JACKET shows great promise...it's just a shame that they broke up...but with this album, they certainly gel into a great alterna-thrash unit. (Word is Josh Brown has a new band, Day of Fire, that is mostly Christian rock...check it out)"
It's a real shame.
Ross Reynolds | Seattle | 10/04/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It was really disappointing that this band broke up after only one album. They had a great sound, a lot of potential. Maybe their style wasn't so original, but they just did it differently than everyone else, and I think, better. This album is great, all the way through. It's got a little bit of hardcore, little bit of numetal, and a little bit of grunge. Plenty of variety here, from the crunch of "Fastblack", to the brutality of "Mr. Wiggly", to the gentle acoustics of "Where Did You Go". All the songs are different, and all the songs are good. Josh Brown sings with passion and tons of power, and his lyrics aren't bad either. Not whiny, not commercial, and even intelligent. A rarity in today's music. Everytime I get to the last song, "Cardboard Believer", it nearly brings me to tears. Being the last song on the album, it's almost like it's the last song they ever did, and it just reminds me we'll never hear from this great band again.They may be gone, but they won't be forgotten. If you like bands like Staind and Godsmack (which I don't, actually), you owe it to yourself to buy this. I saw them open for Type O Negative a couple of years ago, and it was a great show. I'll never forget it, and I'll never forget this band. Good luck guys, in whatever you do."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
