W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P. (1984)

Once considered one of heavy metal's most outrageous bands, W.A.S.P. have unfortunately never escaped the fact that the fans want 1984 back and not concept albums. W.A.S.P could ever have been considered a completely serious outfit but they had songs good enough to sit them alongside the early Ozzy records as well as other bands such as Twisted Sister and Motley Crue, who also, during the early '80s courted controversy with their slightly satanic lyrics and theatrical image.
The American's were fronted by Blackie Lawless, whose raw screams made W.A.S.P. the horror freakshow they've always been, despite numerous band changes. As a debut album, wrapped in its hellish sleeve, it's a fiery rock 'n' roll stomper that mixes a glam-rock attitude all the while attempting to create a bit of controversy, with songs such as 'On Your Knees', 'L.O.V.E. Machine' and 'The Torture Never Stops', whilst 'I Wanna Be Somebody' and 'School Daze' bring to mind Twisted Sister and their art of rebellion which at the time appealed to school kids across the world eager to leap into the fiery pits of metal and go against the grain of society. Of course, back then, such actions were treated with contempt by teachers, parents and governmental groups alike who feared the growing power of heavy metal.
W.A.S.P. leered in the face of run-of-the-mill life and music and stamped on the '80s, giving live shows that would cause a stir as naked women were splashed with fake blood, skeletons hung from the ceiling and Blackie sporting a buzzsaw crotchpiece, all in the name of rock. Of course, by this time metal was very much a way of life so this tried and tested formula always worked, but as metal moved on bands such as W.A.S.P became lost by the wayside, but when looking back on great times within the genre this record is one of those gems that never fails to ignite the flame, and track 'Sleeping In The Fire' never fails to do so.
8/10