VAN HALEN — Fair Warning (review)

Album · 1981 · Hard Rock

5/5 · 2016-09-10
Unitron

Fair Warning is the fourth studio album from hard rock/heavy metal band Van Halen.

Despite not being as commercially successful as the band's preceding albums, Fair Warning is certainly a favorite among both fans of the band and metalheads. Fair Warning is easily Van Halen's heaviest album, and it just never lets up with the punchy heavy metal/hard rock featured here. However, there are some surprises at the end.

"Mean Street" and "Unchained" are classics, nothing better than some direct heavy rockers that punch you in the gut with riffs. "Dirty Movies" mixes metal shredding with funky syncopation, and a vocal performance from Lee Roth that I'm sure influenced Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. "Sinner's Swing!" is just what the title suggests, a raunchy hard rocker that has a swing as well as infectiously catchy vocal melodies. The last two songs, "Sunday Afternoon in the Park" and "One Foot Out the Door", sound like nothing else the band has done. The former is a dark, almost doom metal, droning track which goes straight into the strange punk-metal and fantastic soloing of the latter.

All of the band members are in absolute top-form here. Eddie Van Halen conducts some of his best shredding and riffs, and David Lee Roth is as charismatic as ever with his vocals. Alex Van Halen's drumming is powerful and punchy just like the riffs, and the underrated Michael Anthony provides some of his tastiest bass licks. Just take a listen to the bass in "Dirty Movies", "So This is Love?" and "Push Comes to Shove". Speaking of the latter, Eddie really shows his virtuoso skills with guitar playing.

Fair Warning features a bit of a dark atmosphere, as opposed to their usual fun sound. Fair Warning is a perfect mix of darkness and fun though, giving it nice variety despite only being just over 31 minutes long. It's one short wild ride, and one of the best hard rock albums I've ever heard along with Women and Children First. If you love punchy heavy rock/metal full of killer riffs and bass licks, check this album out. Hope you found this review helpful, feel free to comment!

more than 2 years ago
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siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I still haven't heard 3 but I like Gary cherone from Extreme

Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Thanks, the Lee Roth albums are my favorites (except for Van Halen II, I agree that is one of their worst) but I do really like For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and Van Halen III. I don't get why the latter is so hated.

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Great review! Yep, one of my faves of theirs. Love the first, Women And Children First and the first one with Sammy Hagar 5150. 1984 is ok but uneven. Diver Down and Van Halen II are my least favorite but they have some good tracks. After 5150 i think they got weak