Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Sickspeed
Title
Sickspeed demo
Type
LP/EP
Company
Independent
YOR
2002
Style
Traditional
6/15/2003 - Review by: Frank Hill
Instead of a metal sound, these songs tend to lean into the pop rock
Rich must be feeling pretty good. Why do I assume so much, you ask? Well, when musicians are in an overall good mood for a while they can have a tendency to write songs that are to, for or about women. They sound that way, at least.

If you're not familiar with Rich Ward's past, I'll note that he was a member of the rap-metal band Stuck Mojo. During his time there he had written melodic songs that didn't quite fit into the Stuck Mojo style. After the group disbanded, Rich formed the band Fozzy with pro wrestler Chris Jericho and created Sick Speed as an outlet for his newer melodic stuff.

Sick Speed's 2002 demo is definitely a different direction for him. Instead of a metal sound, these songs tend to lean into the pop rock sound of bands like 3 Doors Down or even Matchbox 20. I think Rich does these songs as well as any of the other bands, maybe even better. All those other pseudo-rock bands do the same damn thing--they strum some guitar and moan some lyrics until the chorus when they hit a few power chords and start yelling some junk that is supposed to be catchy. I hate that weak shit.

Rich has a good, smooth voice and he lets the songs carry themselves along without trying to rush to the choruses. "Back To You" is a perfect Top 40 hit and the others play out pretty well except for maybe "Matter of Faith" which to me was more a "Matter of Sleep". My only critism would be that the vocal delivery seems to be the same throughout most of the cd and the songs don't always distinguish themselves.

Why Sick Speed hasn't been signed, I don't know. Maybe it's the name?
  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: SICKSPEED
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Sickspeed demo
2002
Independent
Frank Hill6/15/2003
-

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: SICKSPEED
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE
Rich Ward pt 2Eric Compton, Troy Cole10/1/2003
Rich Ward pt 1Eric Compton, Troy Cole7/22/2003

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