When it comes to thrashing pop-metal, few know more than Serj Tankian. His first signing doesn’t disappoint his vision. In the image of Tankian’s own System of a Down, Fair To Midland blast a back-bending collection of distorted rock with a fury familiar to their label owner’s audience. Fables From A Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True, their major debut, is a launchpad of far-seeking alt-metal that survives its trip through the troposphere.
With the opening slam on "Dance Of the Manatee", Fables From A Mayfly… is introduced a high-strung whirlwind of alt-ballads and protometal. Vocals intertwine throatiness and wailing that mixes anger with angst. "Kyla Cries Cologne" opens a little more relaxed as a piano dances around a tommed-out drumbeat before it crashes in with heavily distorted guitar. "April Fools And Eggmen" is slightly more melodic with more distinct Tankian-esque vocals. "Wolf Descends Upon the Spanish Sahara" has no reserve and thunders in without warning at all. There’s no lack of energy or determination on Fables From A Mayfly… as Fair To Midland put every ounce of energy they have into their post-monster rock.
As a label owner, Serj Tankian has done his legacy a favor in signing Fair To Midland. The Texans drop heavy lines of guitar and pounding drums behind a curtain of controlled, yet enraged, vocals. Fables From A Mayfly… is a solid major debut as it keeps the nu-metal movement interesting.