FICTION SYXX – Talk · Dark · Secrets [2020 reissue]

“Tall Dark Secrets” is the debut album from FICTION SYXX – the band formed by songwriter and vocalist Mark Allan Lanoue (Chasing Karma, Biloxi) released by MelodicRock Records in 2017, now being reissued 2020 for a proper re-vamp.
The band is completed with multi-talented musicians in JK Northrup (King Kobra), Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder), Eric Ragno (Joe Lynn Turner, Graham Bonnet) and the extraordinaire Rory Faciane (one of the most requested session drummer around) plus stellar Melodic Rock guests such as Jimi Bell (House Of Lords), Bill Leverty (Firehouse), Steve Brown (Trixter), Lee Small (SHY, Lionheart) and more.

Musically this a classy mix melodic rock with a a little progressive orientation, with opener ‘Given Sight’ being a perfect example with loads of keyboards, nifty guitar solos and Mark Allen Lanoue’s vocals topping it all off in style. The band here remind me of Saga, and like that band, the keys and guitars lead the melodies and solos.

‘Play On Words’ is immense. The guitar solo shreds and then those keyboards come swirling in, add in a hook filled chorus and you have a winning combination.
Eric Ragno really does get free reign on the keys and he comes up with fantastic ‘air keyboard’ moments throughout the course of the album. I love it!
The mellower moments work well including ‘Where We Belong’, a little bit of Styx in this one and that’s no bad thing. Another great keys solo on this one.
They do drop in the odd straight ahead rocker in the shape of ‘Your Promised Land’.

‘Tow the Line’ is one of the tracks that features a bevy of guest musicians, because why crank it to 10 when 11 exists, right? Guitarist Bill Leverty (Firehouse) brings an original element to the song, as he always does on this mid-tempo brooding composition, that builds into an arena anthem. As with every Fiction Syxx song, the guitars can’t help but be prevalent, as the keyboards are.
‘Demon in My Window’ goes into that supernatural space of ghosts and spirits and evil presences again. It’s on these kind of dangerous, slower songs that Tony Franklin gets to steal the air a bit more, and he’s Tony Franklin, so he’ll do so. One of the highlights on the CD.

There’s a bit of mysticism and numerology to the band, as you can tell by the Yin and Yang inspired cover art, but musically, this is classy stuff.
Lanoue wrote very interesting songs, and owns a throaty, warm, extremely relaxed vocal delivery. You never hear him stretch or even strain; it just flows. Knowing keyboardist extraordinaire Eric Ragno is in the band, well, you are going to get some otherworldy keys, and then some.
Getting Tony Franklin and JK Northrup involved was a good move as both add their vast musical experience to the sound – listen out for a few of those Franklin funky bass runs.

Really hope that Fiction Syxx becomes an established band – and I think so, there’s already the second album in the making.
“Tall Dark Secrets” is an impressive debut album, mixing Melodic Rock with light progressive elements all served with an excellent musicianship
Highly Recommended

01 – Given Sight
Mark Allen Lanoue – lead & backing vocals
JK Northrup – guitar, backing vocals
Tony Franklin – bass
Rory Faciane – drums and percussion
Eric Ragno – keyboards
Backing Vocals – David Cagle
Lead Guitar – Jimi Bell

02 – Play On Words
Mark Allen Lanoue – lead & backing vocals
JK Northrup – guitar, backing vocals
Tony Franklin – bass
Rory Faciane – drums and percussion
Eric Ragno – keyboards

03 – Tow the Line
Mark Allen Lanoue – lead & backing vocals
JK Northrup – guitar, backing vocals
Tony Franklin – bass
Rory Faciane – drums and percussion
Eric Ragno – keyboards
Lead Guitar – Bill Leverty

04 – Welcome to My Nightmare
Mark Allen Lanoue – lead & backing vocals
JK Northrup – guitar, backing vocals
Tony Franklin – bass
Rory Faciane – drums and percussion
Eric Ragno – keyboards

05 – Demon In My Window
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Lee Small
JK Northrup – guitar, backing vocals
Tony Franklin – bass
Rory Faciane – drums and percussion
Eric Ragno – keyboards
Lead Guitar – Thorsten Koehne

06 – Larger Than Life
Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Carl Sentance
JK Northrup – guitar, backing vocals
Tony Franklin – bass
Rory Faciane – drums and percussion
Eric Ragno – keyboards
Lead Guitar – Steve Brown

07 – Where We Belong
Mark Allen Lanoue – lead & backing vocals
JK Northrup – guitar, backing vocals
Tony Franklin – bass
Rory Faciane – drums and percussion
Eric Ragno – keyboards
Backing Vocals – Richard Kendrick

08 – Your Promised Land
Mark Allen Lanoue – lead & backing vocals
JK Northrup – guitar, backing vocals
Tony Franklin – bass
Rory Faciane – drums and percussion
Eric Ragno – keyboards
Backing Vocals – David Cagle

09 – Spirits Collide
Mark Allen Lanoue – lead & backing vocals
JK Northrup – guitar, backing vocals
Tony Franklin – bass
Rory Faciane – drums and percussion
Eric Ragno – keyboards

10 – Time to Heal
Mark Allen Lanoue – lead & backing vocals
JK Northrup – guitar, backing vocals
Tony Franklin – bass
Rory Faciane – drums and percussion
Eric Ragno – keyboards
Backing Vocals – Karl Cochran
Lead Guitar – Christian Wentz

11 – Children of the Night
Mark Allen Lanoue – lead & backing vocals
JK Northrup – guitar, backing vocals
Tony Franklin – bass
Rory Faciane – drums and percussion
Keyboards – Stefan Prescott
Lead Guitar – Andy Lee

Mark Allan Lanoue (Chasing Karma, Biloxi) – Vocals, Guitar
JK Northrup (King Kobra, XYZ) – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder) – Bass
Rory Faciane – Drums, Percussion
Eric Ragno (Joe Lynn Turner, Graham Bonnet) – Keyboards

Guests:
Jimi Bell (House Of Lords)
Bill Leverty (Firehouse)
Steve Brown (Trixter)
Christian Wentz (Circle II Circle)
David Cagle (Liberty N’ Justice)
Karl Cochran (Rated X, Farcry)
Carl Sentence (Nazareth, Don Airey)
Thorsten Koehne (Edens Curse)
Lee Small (SHY, Lionheart)

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music.apple.com/us/album/tall-dark-secrets/1537728032