468. Fozzy / Happenstance. 2002. 3.5/5

Following on from their debut release, Happenstance takes the band a step further, with four original songs mixed in with another six cover versions of great heavy metal songs. No doubt, after some positive vibes coming from their first album the band saw the potential to push things further with their line up.

The album starts off well, with the introductory "Whitechapel 1888" kicking into the excellent original songs duo of "To Kill a Stranger" and "Happenstance". These songs show that Fozzy did have the ability to stand on their own feet without relying on the song catalogue of other bands to do so. "To Kill a Stranger" had some exposure through the WWE marketplace as well, which was a bonus for the band.
Following these come three fantastic versions of three great songs - a scintillating tracking of Judas Priest's "Freewheel Burning", plus Black Sabbath's "The Mob Rules" and Scorpions' "Big City Nights". Great stuff. The band's original "Crucify Yourself" is followed by two more covers, W.A.S.P.'s "L.O.V.E. Machine" and Accept's "Balls to the Wall". The fourth original on the album, "With the Fire" follows, before the album comes to a conclusion with the classic Iron Maiden track "Where Eagles Dare".

What sets this album apart from their first disc is the doubling of original efforts, which are probably of a better standard than those on Fozzy. The continuing great standard of the cover versions here also paved the way for the band to really show off their wares with a full blown album of their own material, which would be the next step in this band's evolution.