FASTER THAN FATE: Pandora’s BOX

by Leigh Silbernagel in Editorials, Musician Reviews, Opinion Posts, Reviews, Song Reviews, bands to watch

This band has shown consistently strong song writing skills, as well as ample stage presence.  Drawing forces from punk-hardcore-alternative, the result is a unique and innovative sound, remarkable and unforgettable.  Despite time and distance, one can not forget the sounds of Faster than Fate.

Van Halen’s ‘Eruption,’ Metallica’s ‘Orion (Instrumental)’ and now Faster than Fate’s ‘Pandora’s Box.’ Some of the best songs do not need lyrics, proving the immortal words of Hans Christian Anderson to be true: “when words fail, music speaks.”— A quote that I learned of through a member of the Bensalem PA based quintet.

The song ‘Pandora’s Box’ is one of the most impressive songs I have ever heard.  It is the marriage of two opposing forces- two types of musical styles so different, that no one would believe that they could find a harmonious balance: classic metal styling’s in minor key tonality, specifically a and d minor, serious dirty electric guitar riff age with a killer solo meets “you either love it or you hate it” experimental trance Indie—which any one with a clue in the music business will tell you is the future of music.  The juxtaposition of the two is what makes this poignant and euphonious.

The title comes from the Greek myth of Pandora: the woman who brought evil into the world by opening her box.  So now imagine a modern day Pandora, who opened her heart, and imagine the pain and suffering that comes with unrequited love. Imagine also a conversation between two former lovers breaking up, where the line between love/ loyalty and pain / disgust with one another so small that it disappears: to love the person that you hate, and to hate the person that you love more than anyone or anything else. All of the pain of that situation is encapsulated in this song- and only through the use of music as the medium. Imagine Downtown Philadelphia meets Upper West Side New York. How would the two find common ground? The answer is in New Jersey. Or to put it another way, imagine the quintessential Philadelphia Indie music Boy and the classic throw back to hard rock-New York Metal girl (think DIO with big hair and a mini skirt) had a baby- and it’s Pandora’s Box. I was the inspiration for this song, and it is my baby. –leigh Silbernagel