There probably aren't many of you who will remember this record from the metal heyday. I first saw the cover in a magazine review but it took me many, many years to finally get a copy, and wasn't disappointed. To look at, 'Dr Mastermind' looks like it may sound a little like W.A.S.P. as Dr Mastermind himself poses on the cover in leather and spikes amidst a sea of leering ventriloquist dummies, an album cover certainly to stir the darkness within. Soundwise it's a real slab of heavy metal thunder, thanks to the clattering drum assault of Deen Castronovo and the amazing guitar shredding of Kurt James who throughout the record dazzles with unexpected velocity. Dr Mastermind is a bit of a dark character, somewhat a chimera of Blackie Lawless from W.A.S.P. and the archetype '80s metal singer, but this record makes a heck of a rumble, a heedy mix of Twisted Sister circa 'Stay Hungry', Motorhead, particularly on opener 'Domination', and also W.A.S.P. at their rawest. 'The Right Way' is rather anthemic, fists to the air kinda stuff but the dense blanket of guitar twiddling makes this record far more engrossing than many image-based artists who've gone before, the hellish 'Man Of the Year' breathes fire through the smoke, featuring some thrashy outbursts, and a kind of theatrical stance along the lines of Lizzy Borden. Nine tracks of quality heavy metal that will leave you wondering why Dr. Mastermind remains only a dusty relic of a time that should never be forgotten.
7.5/10
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