“”I won’t back down, I will not bow/ I’ve come to bring you hell,”” rockers Fuel insist on the single “”Won’t Back Down,”” featured on the “”Daredevil”” soundtrack and their new release NATURAL SELECTION. The band’s recent album is a good indicator of that particular promise.
The Philadelphia-based Fuel is perhaps best remembered for their strong acoustic single “”Shimmer”” off of their 1998 release SUNBURN, and their emotionally charged 2000 hit “”Hemorrhage (In My Hands)”” from their SOMETHING LIKE HUMAN LP. Guitarist and songwriter Carl Bell, singer Brett Scallions, bassist Jeff Abercrombie and drummer Kevin Miller formed Fuel in the mid í90s. The band immediately began playing shows, released a self-funded EP, PORCELAIN, and gained both a loyal fan base and a great deal of exposure. Radio airplay, aided by phone requests and sold-out shows, led Sony 550 Records to sign the band in 1997.
That year, Sony 550 released Fuel’s second EP, HAZLETON, and in 1998, Fuel’s first full-length LP, SUNBURN, was released. SUNBURN, for the most part, features hard-pounding songs like “”Mary Pretends”” and “”Untitled,”” with ripping guitar riffs, dominating drums, angst-driven lyrics and Scallions’ puissant vocals. At the same time, the album also contains more tranquil tunes such as “”Hideaway,”” which focuses more on melodic acoustic guitars, rhythmic beats and emotionally-charged lyrics that allude to loss. SUNBURN spawned several catchy, radio-friendly modern rock tunes, including the heavily drum-driven “”Jesus or a Gun,”” the intensely electric guitar-friendly “”Bittersweet,”” and the lively and thoughtful “”Sunburn.”” However, the acoustic ballad “”Shimmer,”” which was first recorded on PORCELAIN, proved to be the gem of SUNBURN. With its serious ponderings about loss in life (“”We’re here and now/ will we ever be again/ cause I have found all that shimmers in this world is sure to fade away””), the euphonious tune quickly became a hit single and earned the band wider acclaim while propelling the album to platinum status.
After a grueling tour schedule, Fuel released their second LP, SOMETHING LIKE HUMAN, in 2000. With their second album, Fuel stuck to the same formula of layering edgier, harder-hitting songs with modern rock ballads. Songs like “”Last Time,”” “”Empty Spaces,”” and “”Prove”” are rhythmically rapid and rambunctious, displaying the angry, biting aspect of Scallions’ vocals. These are scattered amongst passionately piercing tunes, such as “”Easy”” and “”Slow,”” which find Scallions’ fervent voice transition into a more relaxed, smoother state. Once again, the more melodic and lyrical singles, primarily “”Hemorrhage (In My Hands),”” “”Innocent”” and “”Bad Day,”” were picked up by the radio and turned into notable hits. The success of the singles predictably resulted in noteworthy album sales, and the band signed up for another seemingly endless tour.
Fuel’s new release NATURAL SELECTION picks up where SOMETHING LIKE HUMAN left off. The compilation of songs is at times a little more aggressive than their previous efforts, but it does not veer too far away from their favored genre. The album is arranged in a very similar manner as the others, except there are less acoustic guitars and more knife-like electric guitars overall. The focus once again falls on Scallions’ voice, and he still delivers an eclectic spectrum of deep emotions.
With their release decorating store CD racks, the new single “”Falls On Me”” hitting radio stations, and the current single “”Won’t Back Down”” featured on most radio stations, Fuel is once again headlining a concert tour. They will perform with Smile Empty Soul, whose single “”Bottom of a Bottle”” is currently in heavy radio rotation.
If Fuel’s previous live shows give any inklings of what is to be expected, then the show is likely to be an energetic event. Scallions’ exuberant, dynamic, in-your-face rock star antics and the other players’ solid support have previously helped Fuel hold their own in large arenas against the likes of Aerosmith, but the band is most skilled at captivating an audience in small clubs. Look for them to thrill, entertain and raise hell, as promised.
The show will take place at Canes Bar and Grill on Friday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15, and you have to be 18 and show valid ID in order to be allowed into the show.
