FOX [Mark Fox] – 2012 (2012)

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Swiss born Mark Fox was best known during the past decade as lead singer of hard rockers Shakra. After he left the band in 2009 to concentrate on this solo-career, spend two years writing songs and assembling his own group.

“2012” is the name of the debut album by FOX, produced by Mark together with veteran Chris von Rohr (Krokus guitarist & producer). So expect a Hard Rock CD with the typical Euro sound in the vein of his previous band Shakra, Gotthard, Casanova and obviously… Krokus.
But Fox is more ‘melodic’ hard rock oriented, and this doesn’t means the band lacks power and attack.

The album opens with the contagious melodic rocker “Problem Child” which has a stomping catchy chorus. Curious to note is that the main melody is a rip-off of a song recorded by Italian Zucchero Fornaciari in the eighties. Anyway, it’s a really good track with a commercial approach.
Fox love for the ’80s continues on the next track, “Beds Are Burning”, a cover of aussie’s Midnight Oil classic. A pretty cool version where Mark Fox’s raspy vocals fits like a glove.
The best of “Raise Your Hands” is the marching refrain and fine rhythm guitars, but in my opinion the groove proposed by the song isn’t developed in its full capacity.
The first ballad arrives with the German sounding “Nothing Without You”, formulaic but effective. I prefer much more the other slow tune on offer, the acoustic “Home Again”, released as single last year in their hometown where found considerable airplay.

The midtempo rocker “Black Sunday” adds a good climax to the album, while “Flashed” has a subtle Led Zeppelin vibe, reminding you Kingdom Come earlier works.
“Anytime” returns to the classic hard rock pattern much in the sonic style of the old Skakra. On this kind of songs is where Fox really rocks, this is the style that best fits the band’s potential.
The Americanized “We Are All” has an anthemic intention all over, but as said above, this band works better when they go for the European Hard Rock style.
Last track “Down Down” has a groovy uptempo pace, shifted down in the middle for good effect, and then the band ends in full throttle.

As said, FOX is musically and sonically rooted – similar to Shakra – in the Euro Hard Rock genre, although the band adds some classic hard and American stylings to the mix.
“2012” works better when the band goes purely for the Euro style. Anyway, the CD flows nicely, helped by the good musicianship and Mark Fox’s rockin’ vocalizations.
Correctly produced and recorded, “2012” is a really pleasant listen. Nothing ground-breaking (and doesn’t predicts the end of the World as the cool artwork suggest), just a likeable piece of European Hard Rock.

01 – Problem Child
02 – Beds Are Burning
03 – Raise Your Hands
04 – Nothing Without You
05 – Black Sunday
06 – Flashed
07 – Anytime
08 – Home Again
09 – We Are All
10 – Sell It To Me
11 – Down Down + Hidden Track (bonus track)

Mark Fox (ex-Shakra) – Vocals
Franky Fersino (ex-Gotthard, Krak) – Guitar
Tony Castell (ex-Krokus) – Bass
Reto Hirschi (ex-Treekillaz) – Drums

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