Napalm - Zero To Black (1990)

You can tell by the cover this is something that wants to appear a bit different. In fact Napalm (misleading band name) are the closest thing I've heard to a hybrid of Mordred, Anthrax and possibly Mindfunk. Certainly unfair to call it thrash metal and to restrictive to call it funky or alterno. It certainly has a thrash edge ('Time And Time Again') with a few chugging, albeit not overly heavy riffs and even a few chanted vocals, but this is quite refreshing and not annoying in the slightest which was my biggest fear all those years ago when I heard the funk label in the same breath as the band name. 'Teenage Illusion' is a full on deep funky bass groove with buzzing riff and soulful vocal. Most tracks have an ability to bleed in to quite memorable choruses which are backed with jerky, scratchy rhythms. 'Gone' could easily fit onto Mordred's superb 'Fools Game' record and 'Alternative Life Of Style' could pass for Anthrax. 'Zero To Black' (their second opus) rises above the mediocre in that it appears loose, care-free and sincere in its intention to vary. The only down side being the rather weak vocals, but you'll soon forgive Napalm and find yourself grooving along to this well-diced platter of funky thrash.

7.5/10

Fungo Mungo - Humungous (1992)

Released on Island Records Fungo Mungo (another woeful, childish cover), although not as irritating as Psychefunkapus and the rest of the funk metal brigade, are still a scrambled bag of mixed nuts. 'Shut The Fuck Up' - oh, I wish you would sometimes. All my nightmare's came true with the invasion of funk metal and what little talent there was out there got completely smothered by this kind of stuff. This is like Vanilla Ice trying to be 24-7-Spyz, failing miserably. This is novelty music, a few soul chants, a bit of silliness, a few cop sirens and scratches and enough funk bass to make a porn soundtrack. Fair dues, Fungo Mungo (another atrocious name) are more bearable than most, but this playground fad was never going to last, and yet it's quite tragic that this kind of alternative 'rock' wiped out '80s hair metal for quite a while, and yet when looking back, I'd rather listen to Poison than this trash.

5.5/10

Psychefunkapus - Skin (1991)

This is the band's second record...another appalling cover, and it's straight to the bath tub of bubblegum funk. Psychefunkapus have one of the worst names in music and to go with it they play that irritating, grating style of spastic funk metal which gave us the talents (!) of Scat Opera, FFW, yawn...I can't even list them. Summery, stupid, migraine-inducing, face-pulling, cartoonish, made up funk metal. Silly clothes, swirling colours, and stoooopid track titles such as 'Surfin On Jupiter' - gimme a break! Totally bereft of class, charisma or brain, it's no wonder funk metal lasted as long as Hubba Bubba gum in the mouth. Included on this blog because funk metal was very much part of metal in the late '80s and early '90s, and however tragic it was, I was there!

4/10

Attacker - Battle At Helm's Deep (1985)

Blessed with dodgy, fantasy artwork, Attacker are on to a surefire winner with this raging metal fest. one helluva fiery metal rendezvous, the amateur cover hiding a dungeon of dastardly cuts, from 'Satan's Blade', to 'Downfall' to 'The Hermit'. All delivered in true metal warrior style, interwoven with clanking riffs and orc-skin drums. Certainly makes you wanna scream into the night and air guitar until the sun comes up. More fire than a dragon's arse.

7/10

Carnival Art - Thrumdrone (1991)

A genuine oddity that appears innocent yet trickles from the speakers like some no quite as strange offspring of Primus, and to a lesser extent Mr Bungle, especially if the track 'Mr Blue Veins' is anything to go by. The band look like nice boy students fronted by an '80s hair metal guy, and yet the odd jerky rhythm and slightly deranged circus twiddlings makes me wonder just what possessed them! Kinda creepy, or maybe that's just my take on things, but I'm quite enjoying the melody of the choruses, 'Octopus', 'Drop Dead', 'Hammer & Nails', a funk-ridden carnival of strangeness, yet delivered with a smile. Is it for real ? Lacking the ultra sinister in-joke formula of Mr Bungle or even the cartoon leer of Primus, but striving, I feel, to create similar in-jokes and elastic oddness.

6/10

Castle Blak - Babes In Toyland (1986)

8 tracks, a cover of 'Black Diamond', and a sound reminiscent of early crusty Crue dabbling with Van Halen. It's a bit of an odd one this. Cereal box drumming, some decent guitar works, chanted choruses, and proper metal from the Heavy Metal records roster. Hailing from San Francisco, Castle Blak (quite a good band name) keep it pretty simple, 'T.G.I.L.' and 'Throw The Book' probably my favourite's on this quite brash and ballsy record. Not much else to say really, it's metal. Buy Dr Mastermind instead!

6.5/10

Satan - Court In The Act (1983)

Am I the only person who thinks that Satan is a cool name for a band ? This creaky New Wave of British Heavy Metal band weren't in the habit of breaking any boundaries with their stuffy, basement metal, and many have scoffed at such gloom. Sure, the intro sounds like something from a dodgy horror film, and those vocals appear drowned out by the fuzz of nothing, but I can still dig this sort of antique sounding material. 'Trial By Fire', 'Blades Of steel' and 'Break Free' are all pretty uneventful, 'Hunt You Down' and 'No Turning Back' as stale as that crusty roll you left in the bread bin, but this stuff can be endearing, especially when purchased on vinyl back in the day. Not a complete bad egg, I still visit this experience once in a while even if it's just to stare at the cover to pretend that the Devil himself is behind that moniker. Mind you, putting the actual record on is a far less rewarding experience I have to admit.
6/10

Cobra - Warriors Of The Dead (1985)

Bring on the traditional metal. Classy '80s fantasy metal has always been my thing, especially when the craftsmanship is of this quality. This is coated in battalion imagery and armour-plated and riddled with sharp guitars and seething vocals which never let up. The title cut gallops like a metallic stallion and 'Wildest Dreams' confirms my belief that this type of stuff when experienced by the young and innocent kids of yesteryear, could have been life changing. Cheesy to some, even dated, but bands like Cobra were of their time and of great musicianship, proving more depth to the cauldron than just dungeons and dragons. Most of the tracks come it at three minutes apiece, and by the time 'We Rock You', 'Stand With Me' and 'On My Knees' have passed, I'm sure you'll be eager for another spray of Cobra venom!

7.5/10

Freak Of Nature - s/t (1993)

I loved White Lion and their lush career, their beautiful ballads, and Bratta's stirling guitar work, but silken-voiced Mike Tramp clearly felt it was time to move on. With the advent of alterno-metal and grunge, Freak Of Nature was formed, and yet there was never any hint of success for this talented guy and his new outfit. FON were a slightly more funky, groove-based act, bereft of hair metal ballads, instead came a psychedelic tinge and tie-dye hue. The swaggering 'What Am I', the rattling 'Turn The Other Way', and funky 'People', which wouldn't seem out of place on a Living Colour album - all softened slightly by Tramp's subtle tones. Long gone are the rodeo cliches and AOR dramatics, Tramp seeing FON as a natural progression into avenue of colour and vibrant vision. Shame it wasn't to last that long.

7/10

Catfish - Neighbours & Dogs (1993)

Whaddya mean who ? Catfish hail from Vancouver, and slipped in on the end of the alterno-metal fad and like countless others (and I say this countless times) faded rapidly into obscurity. This is a loose sounding record, not exactly sugary, but elements of groove-based sleaze I guess but of much creation. Can't really put my finger on it but slots nicely alongside Six Was Nine, Soul Tattoo, Naked Planet, as being from such an obscure field that such bands never even got out of the starting blocks. Some nice, catchy melodies, charming in its outlook, a few nice ballads, bits of funk and alt-rock...hope you can find it! Comes complete with an annoying cover which seems standard for these type of bands.

6.5/10

Intricate - [va:l] (1993)

I hate bands who have album titles like this. it may mean something to them, but to us it's all jargon not required in a genre of already too much self-indulgent attire and opinion. Even so, Intricate are somewhat of a remote space oddity, a combo floating in the cold wastes of cyber-thrash cosmos, a place where not many people dare to tread. However, don't let the cold steel of its glare, or the frozen touch of icy fingers put you off because this German outfit are quite a find. Mind you, those of you seeking a slab of sugary hair metal or red-hot funk had better look elsewhere, because this inhospitable vacuum is way beyond the stars above and instead loiters like some piece of wispy gas in a stratosphere yet formed. Intricate are pretty technical, remote, alien, isolating. In fact, those of you who like your thrash cold and extraterrestrial will probably get a kick out of this, although this has a more crushing, effective bite. The band name says it all, and the album title distances as it intends. Put the heatin' on!

7.5/10

Ram Jam - Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Ram (1978)

Not sure if that title sounds mystical or just stupid! Either way, Ram Jam (responsible for the one hit wonder of 'Black Betty') turn about face and construct this heavy metal record of some note. This one passed me by, probably because of too many rainy afternoon's listening to Black Sabbath, but this is pretty heavy, groove-based and slightly sexual rock 'n' roll ahead of its time. A one-off record of snake hips and dark corners, highlighted by Scavone's vocal delivery. Under stated to some extent, casual, effortless, at times dense and oaken with an air of mystery. Not in league with Satan by any means, 'Turnpike' is more of a song to drink yourself to death to, but 'Wanna Find Love' and 'Just Like Me' are lost classics and will leave the listener feeling overwhelmed, if slightly confused as to what happened to these guys. Such albums are sent from above to make their presence felt oh so fleetingly. However frustrating that may be, it's best to hear 'The Portrait...' as a one-off than see the band spiral into a career of bad records and awful imitations. Very good '70s rock.
8/10

Omen - Warning Of danger (1985)

RIP metal vocal god JD Kimball, whose soaring vocals saturate this album, making it a wondrous heavy metal outing. Omen inspired so many later thrash and black metal acts with their mystical approach to metal. Those razor-sharp riffs and barbed-wire drums resulting in underated classics such as 'Ruby Eyes (Of The Serpent)', and the more eerie 'Don't Fear The Night'. Mesmerising metal for the masses back in the '80s, and sure to ring out as distant roars of thunder for many decades to come. Never forget this type of metal, because it formed the foundations to all that we hear to day. Great stuff.
8/10

Angeles del Inffierno - Diabolica (1985)

I haven't got a clue about Spanish heavy metal, but if I'd have heard this when I were a lad, then I'd have been setting fire to plastic skulls way into the small hours. This is quality heavy metal, and don't be put off by the Spanish lyrics, because if you like your guitars loud, your music mystical and your leather tight (okay, maybe not the last one!), then this is for you. Imagine a power metal Dio, cool, heavy riffs ('Con Las Botas Puestas'), anthemic ('Fuera De La Lay'), and some great solo's ala Priest ('Prisionero'). Raise your fist and yell indeed. And what an album cover!

7/10

Joan Jett & The Gits - Evil Stig (1995)

What a skin piercing punk album this is. This project came about when one time Gits vocalist Mia Zapata was mysteriously murdered, and so in her honour, The Gits wrote a collection of cuts for her, fronted by the ever-young Joan Jett. What we get is a roller coaster ride of melodic punk 'n' roll, full on attitude, anthems, and gob in the face. Reminiscent of The Distillers in slightly more mellow mood, 'Sign Of The Crab' is a clunking punk stomp, but it's Jett's sexy rasp which steals the show. 'Drinking Song' is raw, primal, 'Spear & Magic Helmet' fast and furious...the only slightly commercial track, yet one of my fave's being 'Bob (Cousin)'. I'm sure Mia would be more than proud of this effort by her former band mate's and the sultry Jett. So, if you like your punk a little more fleshy, then check out 'Evil Stig' for some rollicking good, spiky fun.

7.5/10

Omen - Battle Cry (1985)

If, like me, you still exist in a void of '80s metal, and get more from goblins, dragons and elves than the commercial shite which has drowned a majority of the airwaves since the early '90s, then Omen will be for you. Respected in the thrash field for many years, Omen is metal for that fuckin' metallic time warp. Warrior steel, blood on the battlefields, and visions of mountains and hidden treasures. there once was a time when these ingredients were very important in making a decent heavy metal album, and that's why 'Battle Cry' is a stomping, dragon-slaying platter to put lead in your pencil. 'Be My Wench', 'Die By The Blade'...yeah, it all sounds corny and is adorned in so much armour that it's hard to hear anything else above the clamour of clanking, but step aside sceptics and revel in the vocal attack and the power and fury of Omen's brand of metal thrashing beef. Quality.

8/10

Buckcherry - All Night Long (2010)

The party boys are on a roll, it seems like only a few months back that '15' was on the stereo, and then 'Black Butterfly' hit quickly, and suddenly 'All Night Long' lands on the doorstop. So, we do we get this time ? Well to be honest it's rather predictable rock 'n' roll, what else can the boys do mind you ? The title cut could be a sequel to 'Crazy Bitch', 'It's A Party' is as basic as it is anthemic, and the token half-ballads are thrown in for good measure. However, whilst Buckcherry never fail to shake the foundations, it's now beginning to grate just ever so slightly. Todd's vocal rasp can be infectious on the right track ('I Want You') but the tattooed love rock doesn't always go down a treat. It's fair to say that Buckcherry have a filled a hole which bands such as Guns 'n' Roses left, and when clearly more talented bands such as Beautiful Creatures remain obscure, it will always be down to Buckcherry to remind us that whiskey drinkin' rock 'n' roll is here to stay...the only problem is, we could do without Buckcherry so frequently. Maybe the guys should have taken more time with this record, but then again, there's always that fear that when a band is away a fan base may decline. Even so, 'All Night Long' is a solid rock record, and you can't really expect anything else.

7/10

Love Battery - Confusion Au Go Go (1999)

Love Battery suffered the grunge metal curse. Clearly far talented than most of the Seattle bands who made it big, Love Battery slipped by the wayside, yet despite their ability, still got lumped in with the dirty trend. Put simply, Love Battery were a cool, fuzzy rock 'n' roll band, hints of Nirvana, entwined with the Rolling Stones, a bit of Mudhoney, some punk, even Mother Love Bone I guess, all resulting in an accessible psychedelia. I much preferred their earlier works 'between The Eyes' and 'Dayglo' but 'Confusion...' deserves its place for its raw-edged rock 'n' roll. 'Dead Boys' has an indie buzz about it, the title cut a dreamy edge and one small step a psych, cool go-go feel. 'Monkey Brain' and 'Snipe Hunt' have a harder edge.

Certainly a cult band and proof what a negative effect the grunge scene actually had, because so many more talented bands suffered at the hands of the sickly trend.

6.5/10

Lita Ford - Wicked Wonderland (2009)

Holy shit Lita, what happened ? Lita Ford was the sexy MILF most metalheads wanted just two minutes with! Of course, most of us headbangers had to be content with her rather middle of the road rock records. However, after a huge hiatus (her last album being 1995's 'Black') Lita is back, and this time she means business. She's teamed up with her husband, and one time vocal rock god Jim Gillette, who, if you don't know, could once shatter glass with his high-pitched pipes. Bizarrely, the couple haven't spat out a mediocre or any way predictable rock record, and I'm sure that after hearing this many of Lita's fans are gonna either be pissed off, or simply drowned by the heaviness as well as bloated production, because 'Wicked...' is almost like a Gothic theatrical show put to record. The dynamics are immense, the layers impossible to unfold, and as for cheesy hair metal ballads...not a soul in sight. This is dense, over-produced metal for the modern day, and not only has Lita upped her vocal delivery, her husband's contributions, almost on every track, will even please the more extreme metal fans out there. However, some, including myself, will see this record as a messy, confused affair...sure, Lita seems to be back to top form and certainly wants to play ball with the major league teams, but 'Wicked...' is so far removed from her original sound it's almost impossible to grasp any of it. I'm not going to knock progression, but where tracks such as 'Crave' might well have existed as stripped down metal, they are now existing as labyrinths of sound.

I like Lita Ford. She was always a nice bit of crumpet, and she rocked pretty hard...now she rocks even harder and may actually scare a few metalheads away with this unexpected foray.

7/10

Six Was Nine - A Single Senseless Word (1994)

We appear stuck in 1994, what with Soul Tattoo's ocean spray, the awfully named Six Was Nine also wade in alterno-metal waters, but this is more rewarding than 'Transcend', in fact the promise was there...only to be broken. Lush, breezy, clever, sugary, all the ingredients which eventually killed the mesmerising Saigon Kick despite towering talent. Six Was Nine succumb to the same despite a well furnished sound that's slick and memorable, bordering on hair metal at times with its peachy outlook, sliced and diced by some cool, groove-based guitars and vocalist Frank Raposo puts in a wondrous performance...but, like even the most delightfully sugary of sweets, they dissolve in your mouth, leaving a feeling of, "What if....". Certainly worth a listen, but a record way out of place as nu-metal charged through the streets and invaded our record stores like ulcers in the mouth.

6.5/10

Soul Tattoo - Transcend (1994)

Way too late off the bat, Soul Tattoo (any photo's of the cover anyone ?) tread alterno-metal waters hesitantly. This would have been appreciated more, albeit fleetingly at the right time. Fans of Liquid Jesus and I Love You will appreciate the breezy intelligence, but I don't know where I stand with it. I cringe at the band name, but half-appreciate the half-baked fusion of colour. Peppered with horns, sprinkled with variety, even the vocals are slightly peculiar...and of course, Soul Tattoo drift aimlessly in a void now occupied by no-one. Do these bands see/hear things no-one else sees ? Are they being awkward for the sake of it ? Fleeting genius to some, to others it's flaky junk out of time and place.

6/10

Into Another - Seemless (1996)

Irritating band name, neither here nor there for me, a bit like metal in the mid-'90s! A fair bit of fuss was created by Into Another, and this badly dressed 'metal' record drifts aimlessly through awkward grunge tinged with sugary melody. I just don't get it...some metal is too clever to achieve monumental status, i.e. Mind Over Four, Non-Fiction, whilst at the other end there are bands like Into Another and their alterno-rock which appears blessed with half-decent yet distant lyrics, and a Cornell-type vocal warble. I'm just too removed from this though, or maybe it's too removed from me, because when an album cover irritates, I just get a feeling the album will too. Buy it if you wish...if you can find it, but maybe my despair at mid '90s metal is justified when I hear this sort of stuff which exists out of any trend, but not in a cool way.

5/10

Frank Hannon - Guitarz From Marz (2005)

I love Tesla, but I wasn't a fan of Moon Dog Mane, but Hannon's project, 'Guitarz From Marz' is certainly refreshing. This is a cocktail of funky rock, straight up metal shredding, and many other flavours thrown in for good measure. Nigh on seventy-odd minutes, the more you listen the more you become hooked on this sugary guitar trip. Fluent and trippy ('Diamonds...'), soulful ('Re-Evolution') and downright cool ('Touch Of Magic') I'm sure that most rock fans will find something to savour here. I'm not sure how well this stuff sells but it's great to hear it, because Hannon is clearly a talented musician.

7/10

Rock Goddess - s/t (1983)

This trio of leathery ladies were formed when sisters Jody and Julie Turner were literally kids. This debut album is tits to the wall Brit rock, part The Runaways, part Girlschool with a lot of attitude, spiky guitars and well-oiled anthems. It's as sweaty as a backstage dressing room and fist-pumping too, so back in the early '80s these gals had a cult following, but due to limited ideas Rock Goddess never scaled the heights their name suggested. Even so, it's good time metal beneath a frizzy fringe, and the drummer looks quite pretty (the chick on the right of the cover) which makes a change from so many leather-clad ladies back then who looked like they could arm-wrestle and alligator into submission.

6/10

Exodus - Let There Be Blood (2008)

Original members Tom Hunting and Gary Holt decided that they would pay homage to deceased ex-frontman Paul Baloff by re-recording 'Bonded By Blood', an album, considered by some within the thrash fraternity, to be a classic album. Personally, I think they should have simply re-released the original because 'Bonded...' was very much of its time and part of that thrash movement. I see no real reason to go over old ground but I guess it was something the original members needed to do. This time round the record, now renamed 'Let There Be Blood', beefs up the original speed assault, and so cuts such as 'Piranha', 'A Lesson In Violence' and 'Bonded...' are given a new lease of life, but whether it's to everyone's joy is another matter. On its own 'Let There...' is a solid thrash album, and vocalist Rob Dukes puts his heart and soul into those old classics, but I'm not sure this was the best idea, but who am I to say.

6.5/10

Wildside - Wilside (1995)

Wildside were tragically too late for the sleaze invasion, and too late for grunge, but this record still sees the band progress into an alterno-metal groove, laced with a colour of grunge, and as 'Life In The Grid' kicks into its Alice In Chains' style sway, there's a hint of promise. This isn't just a regurgitation of what's been and passed, Wildside do seem sincere in their approach, and effortlessly take certain rock styles and blend them. 'Full Circle' is moderately funky, even with a dash of White Zombie in the vocal mix, and 'Looking To Move' reminds one of Mother Love Bone as it swoons. Whether whiskey sleaze of scented grunge is your thing, you kinda get the best of both worlds here. No points for the migraine-inducing sleeve though.

7/10

Iommi - s/t (2000)

Iommi finally prizes himself away from the blackness of Sabbath, but his riffs remain as dense as thunder. Eleven cuts at almost an hour, Iommi's record is bathed in trademark doom riffs and each track blessed with a different vocalist - something which nowadays appears popular, as the likes of Slash and Dave Grohl have experimented with similar projects. However, Iommi's rises head and shoulders above the rest simply because of those riffs from Hell. And as each of those mighty serpents writhes into action, the likes of Phil Anselmo (Pantera), Skin (Skunk Anansie), Pete Steele (Type O Negative) Henry Rollins, Ian Astbury apply their varying tones. Brian May, Dave Grohl, Billy Idol, and a handful of others also contribute but it's Ozzy's magnificent presence which caps this truly astounding album off. Riffs as dark as they ever was, 'Iommi' brings doom into the next millennium and leaves a mighty furrow in the minds of those brave enough to listen.

A black slab.

9/10

Trouble - Unplugged (2007)

Eric Wagner's distinctive drawl bellows over the acoustics of this fascinating record. Trouble being one of the only heavy metal bands capable of transforming their tracks into an acoustic set. The masters of doom metal still create skies of grey, but 'Flowers', 'The Misery Shows' and 'Rain' are given a new lease of life here, and their version of The Yardbirds 'Heartful Of Soul' is just tremendous. R.I.P. Trouble, and for those who've never experienced the band, it's fair to say that their quality and importance to the genre is monolithic. Zeppelin and Sabbath may have started it, but imagine a brooding mix of both of these leviathans and then you may have an idea of just how great Trouble are...in any style they choose to emit their stormy rock 'n' roll. 'Unplugged' is just the tip of their black iceberg of doom.

7.5/10

Exodus - Exhibit B: The Human Condition (2010)

Like Overkill, Exodus have stepped out of the '80s time warp to batter their fans with a new level of thrash. This is 80-minutes of jaw-dropping heavy metal. Metallica may have reached for the mega dollars of stardom, but the respectability must be aimed towards those bands who stuck to their thrash guns, especially as now they've emerged head and shoulders above Metallica and their U2 status and silly hair cuts and drama. 'Exhibit A...' is a colossus thrash record, hell-bent on pummelling the listener into submission with its myriad of riffs, violent structures and ravenous vocals courtesy of Dukes. Brutal, punishing and epic in its formula, 'The Ballad Of...' is a labyrinth of chaos and destruction and as vicious as modern Slayer in its pace and insanity. 'Hammer...' is slightly more melodic but personal fave is 'Class Dismissed' with its machine gun drums and fearsome guitars. Holt and Altus blaze through the tracks like no tomorrow, and as the ten-minute 'The Sun...' grinds to a halt, you'll be left clearing up the debris for a long, long time to come.

8/10

Johnnie Rotten Junior - The Death Of Harry Potter (?)

This is an odd one. Chip Z'Nuff, the Enuff Z Nuff legend, releases a stoned, hippy and dreamy album which I actually find quite hard to listen to. Whether it's the haze of pot smoke surrounding it, or those sugary, watery Beatles licks I dunno, but it's not as endearing as Donnie Vie's more tragic serenades. For me, too many ELO and Beatles steals, 'A Day In The Life' on the album opener, but it's still worth checking out for those 'Revolver' loops, Lennon rasps, hippy grooves and cloudy atmosphere's. I'm not a fan of The Kinks cover ('All Day...') at the end, but I guess this is a personal record but The Beatles nods should be kept for the Enuff Z Nuff records where they work best. Light another...and drift away. I guess the album title was simply a ploy to get more hits on the internet.

5/10

Geisha - Phantasmagoria (1987)

I picked this oddity up at a record fair and have to say, this is a fine heavy metal slab. I expected it to be glam rock, but the cover didn't really give anything away except to hint that it might be of dramatic fashion. Sadly, the album is only just over half-an hour but the seven tracks on offer surprise me pleasantly. This is straight forward metal I guess, but there;s a fire raging behind it and even a trace of darkness. For some reason it reminds me of Fastway's 'Trick Or Treat' record, all guns blazing on the guitars and Yenz Cheyenne's vocals are quite Gothic in a theatrical metal sense. 'You Got What It Takes' and the stomp of 'Shock Rock School' are typical of '80s metal...and that's a good thing, believe me. I don't know what else the band did, in fact it's all a mystery I'm quite hooked on to. Certainly worth more than the £2.00 I paid for it!

7/10

Overkill - Ironbound (2010)

Many, many years ago, I was never the biggest Overkill fan. Like Exodus, I found the vocals a grate, ad the thrash so much weaker than the big boys around at the time. Strangely, both bands have soldiered on yet surprisingly, to become leaders of the thrash...and metal pack. 'Ironbound' is finally Overkill finding their true voice, this rampant record is of extreme weight, juggernaut speed, and Ellsworth's vocals finally hit home like a razor to the skull instead of a dinner fork. This is an hours worth of solid heavy metal in its truest form, marvellously structured, pounding, fast, and eternally raging. Not a filler on offer, the band, fronted by twin-guitar attack of Linsk and Tailer, hack and slash their way through a collection of enormous cuts, some rattling in at over six minutes, which would have been pretty unheard of back in the days of '80s thrash, with Metallica being the exception. 'Give A Little', ''In Vain', 'Endless War', 'The SRC', to name but a few are titanic in construction. No longer does thrash hide within its own field, Overkill and the likes now occupy the major league alongside the likes of Priest and Motorhead, but in consistency could well overtake their heroes. Much respect must go to Ellsworth who although of the same vocal style has added greater dynamics and more attitude, his snarl backed by the stampede of the thrash the band now create.

8/10

Asphalt Ballet - Pigs (1993)

This smokes like a bitch in the frying heat! What a stonking rock 'n' roll record, a few years too late, but deserved of much recognition and praise. This act combine the swagger, style, and certainly vocal sneer of Guns 'n' Roses, with a slight alterno-rock approach, the result a cauldron of cracking riffs, refreshing vibes, and sleaze-infested stomp. 'Angry Youth', 'Save The Children' and the fantastic 'Crash Diet' know how to rock...blending a dirty, but free-flowing grunge with a more sugary metal, all the while those Axl-infected vocals make for an interesting listen. Several years before Beautiful Creatures, yet parading the same bravado amidst those sauntering guitars and swaggering beats. Asphalt Ballet are one cool band who slipped by the wayside...a familiar state of affairs with bands bands of this ilk, but don't let that deter you because as we know, it's not always about the success. Uneventful album cover hides a gem.

8/10

My Sister's Machine - Wallflower (1993)

In my opinion My Sister's Machine were probably the best grunge band - with the exception of Mother Love Bone who aren't a grunge band - in fact, most 'grunge' bands weren't! Anyway, for me the bands debut 'Diva' record was a dark, stormy mini-classic, and although less melodic, 'Wallflower' is equally as engaging, hellbent on black riffs and that vocal snarl, this goes way beyond the depths trawled by Alice In Chains etc. There's even elements of C.O.C. circa 'Blind' (track two anyone ?), with the groove-based, monolithic riffage and swirling vocals. The angst and mood created by the band was probably their downfall as other acts succumbed to sucking corporate cock for the sake of a few dollars, but MSM remained cool and cult throughout. Whilst so many similar acts gradually built their aura, My Sister's Machine were born cool...and despite only existing for such a short time, their career and status is far more respectable than most of the acts within the genre. A very good record indeed...just buy it and see beyond the grunge boundaries.

8/10

Moon Dog Mane - Turn It Up (1998)

Don't get me wrong, Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon is a talented guy, but I can't dig this Southern rock shite. Predictable and just dull, only the beefy vocals separate it from so many other bands of this ilk. Maybe it's just me, but twelve tracks of boogie rock just gnaws my soul. Give me the Faces and their cock rock anyday, because this is just too swampy for my liking.

4/10

Forbidden - Trapped (1991)

Apparently this EP was never officially released, but those seeking that typical Bay Area crunch you may have become accustomed to on the bands first two records, may be a little disappointed. I'm not sure if these cuts were demo'd for the bands 'Distortion' and 'Green' projects, where the band adopted a more melodic sound, but on first listen 'Trapped' is more of a straight up metal album than a ballsy thrasher. However, this shouldn't detract from the fact that Forbidden should be respected for their experimentation. The band explore more of a melodic void, a world once inhabited by bands such as Sanctuary who combined icy metal with more moodier soundscapes. 'So Dark...' is a prime example of how Forbidden moved away from the thrash genre. This is understandable when you consider that bands such as Mordred did the same, especially as by the mid'- 90s thrash was a dying genre. 'Trapped' is worth listening to, but I have to be honest and say that 'Forbidden Evil' and 'Twisted Into Form' are far more rewarding.

6/10

Supershine - Supershine (2000)

Considering Supershine are somewhat a supergroup, consisting of Kings X main man Doug Pinnick and Trouble guitar warlock Bruce Franklin, this is incredibly uninspiring stuff. In its approach it resembles an upbeat stoner type of record, bland, tiresome, half-baked, casual and with a hint of dull grunge, stoner rock, and Southern mediocrity. Not a lot to say really, except you'd have thought that such masterminds would have created something of note, but as the tracks whimper by on dull riffs, the light on Supershine dims...very quickly.

4.5/10

Michael Moon - You (1998)

Michael Moon, aka Michael Anthony Franano, is the ex-frotnman of mystical rockers The Front, and then Bakers Pink. Both of these bands split up after one recording each. Franano went on to release 'You', a mellow, lightweight rock record of breezy ballads, piano-based melodies, and soulful integrity. Don't expect even a hint of a metal riff, but this deserves inclusion because people such as Michael made the early '90s more colourful with their alterno-rock. 'You' is probably Michael's best performance when compared to his other bands - here, his vocals are crystal clear, moving and moody. The guy can sure piece together a decent track. 'So Like Her' is bright and jangly, but does remind me of a rom-com soundtrack. Strangest inclusion is '80s Yazoo hit 'You', but overall, a short, sweet, bright and breezy record that should please more than just fans of The Front and Bakers Pink.

6.5/10

The Nymphs - The Nymphs (1991)

Another cool and yet oh so tragic act. Fronted by the enigmatic Inger Lorre, The Nymphs played a vibrant mix of goth, punk, metal, alt-rock...and got nowhere. Major label interest, but inner friction sadly caused the band to split in '92 after their debut record faded into obscurity. However, The Nymphs were a decent band, wrote decent tunes, and also released a superb EP, 'A Practical Guide To Astral Projection', which also 'flopped'. It's so sad that albums like this are forgotten by many, let alone never experienced by some...as more and more dire music gets released weekly, hopefully we can gather our thoughts for those cool bands who once came and flitted away so quickly. Remember The Nymphs because their debut album was a very good record.

7/10

The Throbs - The Language Of Thieves & Vagabonds (1991)

Wow, 1991 was a good year! And boy, were The Throbs gonna be the next big thing....formed in 1988, these NYC sleaze merchants, fronted by the elegantly named Ronnie Sweetheart, were signed to Geffen records and the buzz surrounding them was huge. However, like most magic bands, it soon dipped, and The Throbs disappeared up their own arses into the foggy avenue of rock 'n' roll folklore....drenched in scarves, bangles, lipstick and lace, and with enough sex, drugs 'n' rock 'n' roll to last a life time, The Throbs played it real, but not for long. 'The Language...' was the only release by the band, and with more Rolling Stones nods than one could imagine, just like Gunfire Dance, and all those who trod this diamond path before...those feet became bloody and those bodies toppled from the pathway into the pits of nowhere.

Sure, a lot of this kind of stuff could be considered a little pretend...maybe even fake, the swiggin' of JD, the clothes, the Stones' trip ('Honeychild' for starters), but if the chemistry is right, this type of retro rock can work, otherwise you end up sounding washed out like so many sleaze bands from the time. Even so, as debut albums go, despite too much hype, the final product was pretty cool and hip-shaking, but when you've heard the Stones, Hanoi Rocks, and New York Dolls, who in turn spawned a million imitators in the '80s and early '90s, I can see why The Throbs didn't work. Okay, the drugs probably didn't help...and neither did the drink...but for gritty, street-wise, lothario sleaze, The Throbs are a fuckin' wicked experience. 'The Language...' beats the hell out of most and of course has that tragic element, which adds a little haze to the glitz.

8/10

Agent Steel - Skeptics Apocalypse (1985)

Like Anvil, Agent Steel, despite a huge cult following, and being primed for the major league of metal, never achieved the status they deserved. Now, ' Skeptics...' is very much of its time, embedded in '80s metal folklore, and again it rises from the ashes of its fallen empire. Such bands were, and still are revered worldwide, maybe this fact is due to their mystical nature, a little like so many bands on this blog who quite simply never made it big despite huge talent. Okay, so Agent Steel are not exactly genius, but of it's time, 'Skeptics...' with its lean towards the paranormal, UFOs and mysteries of the world, is a decent debut record. The vocal attack is high in that it can shatter glass, certainly from the Rob Halford mould of metal wails, and the metal is pretty furious speed metal, reminding me of a hyper Iron Maiden at times, except when the vocal attack is double-barrelled and accompanied by a more sinister growl.

'Guilty As Charged', 'Taken By Force' and 'Agents Of Steel' are fist-pounding metal, roughly produced - which of course adds to the magic - and although Agent Steel won't be scaring kids anymore, this kind of stuff reminds me of the classic Arthur C. Clarke television series of the '70s and '80s which at the time seemed terrifying, but in the modern era, despite creaking at the spine, still maintain a hint of quality. Whether we took note of Agent Steel's warnings I don't recall, but as we shift into another decade, and 'Skeptics...' seems so long ago, let's still raise a glass for '80s thrash, and remember, that it was a moment, and not some cheap fad. Agent Steel were part of that wave, and although 'Skeptics...' hasn't quite stood the test of time, thrash metal wouldn't be the same without such bands.

7/10

Matt Kramer - War & Peas (2005)

When Saigon Kick ousted Matt Kramer, I was admittedly distraught and hearing Matt's 'War...' debut not only brings back the the glory days of the early '90s, but enables me to appreciate the silky tones of this bona fide rock star. 'War...' is a fragrant, swaggering, lush, snake-hipped and leathery debut record from one of rock's most mercurial front men. Instant, cool, and soaring, 'Soul Star' immediately grasps the listener, Kramer's distinctive voice spatters the track which steps into glorious motion, cavorting into a glam rock slither. 'So Long' is equally sleazy, and again, great to see that Kramer is sticking to that breezy, alterno-rock which made him so popular back in the day. The chug of 'Goodbye... is unexpected, in the same way that Saigon Kick were able to throw in dark and ugly rockers alongside such euphoric ballads. Vocally, 'Goodbye...' reminds me of Bowie and the acoustic laced 'Spinning Round' enables the listener to kick back and drift.

I'd love to see Saigon Kick back with Kramer, but then again, 'War & Peas' is a rewarding record of emotion but I just hope and pray that Matt is able to release such records on a constant basis rather than sinking into the depths of obscurity. Another similar talent brought to mind being Michael Franano of The Front/Bakers Pink.

The pensive 'Change' is magnificent, 'Im Getting Closer' more driving, blessed with a killer riff, as is 'If God Could Hear Me'.

This is a glorious record that deserves to be heard by the masses, and as 'Silence' glides into motion I can only huff in frustration as another superb record is no doubt ignored by the crowds in favour of commercial shit. Much respect to Matt and his beautiful sound.

8/10

John Christ - Flesh Caffeine ( 1999)

The ex Danzig man gets even meaner and moodier on his debut juggernaut. The title cut full of menace, hints of White Zombie whilst the twisted riff of 'Tell Me Why' reeks of early Danzig. In fact much of what's on offer has a Danzig feel although Christ is more wholesome, a straight, dark metal approach and those whispered, hushed yet demonic tones bleeding in to those infectious choruses. The most important aspect of the album is Christ's ability to tell a Gothic story, and then there's the rattling drums of 'I'm Gone' and meaty chug of 'Slow Down'. 'Flesh...' is a stormy album from a talented guy, and proof that there's life after Danzig. This is the spirit of true metal.

7/10

Ian Astbury - Spirit-Light-Speed (2000)

Mr Love God himself, the Morrison wannabe, Ian Astbury, has a dabble with a few danced up beats, the result being a rather watery experimental record of no effect. Some nice beats on offer, particularly the fuzz bump of 'High Time Amplifier', and 'The Witch'. I'd still rather hear Astbury's vocal next to the guitars of Duffy, because despite his fingers in many pies, Astbury belongs in The Cult and nowhere else. 'Tonight' and 'Devils Mouth' are spacious works but I get no real pleasure from them. At once cosmic and ghostly, 'Spirit...' is a half-baked record that kind of exists without any reason. Such is Astbury's distinctive voice, that he needs to be heard alongside a hip-shaking groove, and this record, apart from 'Its Over', offers very little in that line. In fact, I'm unsure what it offers and find this will be only of interest to hardcore Astbury fans. Underwhelming indeed...album cover reflects content!

6/10

Hades - Resisting Success (1987)

Cool thrash act of musical talent, 'Resisting...' being one of a handful of quality albums released by the band over the years. Still sounds refreshing many years later. 'The Leader' is classy mid-tempo thrash, 'Nightstalker' a brooding, six-minute stomper which leads into a fury of high pitch vocals, buzzing riffs and crashing drums. The doomy edge of 'Widow's Mite' adds an element of darkness to the Hades sound even if it has a demo feel to it. 'Resist Success' spirals into play like an old Maiden cut but exists on cutting guitars. Pretty much no thrills thrash that worked at the time...and still does today.

6.5/10

Devil Party Anthems - We Are The Party (2005)

Opener 'Get This Party Started' reminds me of White Zombie for some reason, but it's clear that the ex-members of sleaze rockers Love/Hate are back with a new venture. Devil Party Anthems is a strange one...takes me back to the early '90s in the UK with the drug-induced Manchester scene, all that baggy shit and dance-groove oddness. Metalhead's may not know what I'm on about! This is an odd bag, sounds like a drum machine throughout, hints of Ministry, even Beck, and far removed from Love/Hate. To be honest, it's actually hard to have an opinion because vocally I'm not impressed, and musically it's a quirky, sometimes funky, retro-sounding rock record but lacking oomph. In fact, it sounds like material I listened to back around 1993 when metal was pushed aside by alterno-industrial-groove based crap. The White Zombie comparison's continue throughout the album, '4 Times...', especially. Seems to be a project concocted after one too many joints. Bring back Love/Hate and stop fuckin' around...

5/10

Circus Diablo - s/t (2007)

Buckcherry, Beautiful Creatures...and now Circus Diablo. This is a supergroup somewhat, featuring, on rhythm guitar, Ricky Warwick (ex Almighty), Matt Sorum on drums, Billy Duffy (The Cult) on lead guitar and Billy Morrison on vox. My only issue with Circus Diablo being they lack the oomph and meaty swagger of the already mentioned bands, even so, 'Loaded' is a corker of a rock 'n' roll track and shows just how crap Velvet Revolver really are. 'Restless', 'Shine', 'Mad Parade', also follow suite...good time rock 'n' roll...slightly let down by the weak vocal attack of Morrison, but the guitar attack of Duffy and Warwick can't be faulted. Unfortunately, no big choruses to bite the throat, except 'Mad Parade', but for me it's not enough. However, Circus Diablo make for a decent listen but left me gagging for something else.

6.5/10

Animal Bag - Image Damage (1996)

Passed off by some as just another 'grunge' band, Animal Bag, who issued three records in the '90s, and hailing from Charlotte, in the US, were far more than your average lampshade-headed grunge act. 'Image Damage' is probably their hardest record and the chugging opener 'Stupidity For Arts Sake' a mish-mash of Pantera aggression, FNM melody and laces with that Alice In Chains moody groove. Interesting stuff, even if the mid to late '90s didn't offer much in the way of intriguing bands. A shame that Animal Bag didn't really make the grade, but as evident on the riff heavy and smooth 'Spirits Of Grass', and melodic 'Circle', they had a lot to offer. I'm sure had Animal Bag got the recognition back in the early '90s things may have been different, because 'Irritation Network' could easily sit happily alongside the likes of AIC, My Sister's Machine and Soundgarden. For me, this kind of music doesn't have a lasting effect, which sums up the so-called grunge invasion. Whilst very much a trend, this brooding, often arty and colourful style of music never makes up its mind where it wants to go. 'Scum' is a prime example of that with it's raspy vocal attack but it seems that bands like Animal Bag end up, whether intentionally I don't know, alienating themselves from any genre, and during the mid to late '90s when metal was suffering in a big way, this kind of album would have slipped by the way side. I heard that several big labels were interested, but I'm not hearing anything I haven't heard before. Maybe I'm just old fashioned in a metal sort of way.

6.5/10

Extreme - Suadades de Rock (2008)

Extreme are back...albeit in an awfully packaged sleeve design which screams of some arty, mid '90s 'rock' record with its faded logo. The band haven't lost their ability to prog-rock, the colourful and catchy 'Star' kicks in like something from a West End musical, Bettencourt's licks saturating the record and Cherone's distinctive tones bringing to mind once again the Van Halen comparison. There's also enough funky swagger here to last a life time, 'Comfortably Dumb' prime example. However, 'Suadades...' leaves me cold...icy in fact. Sure, as usual there's a lot going on here, Extreme, with ease, drifting through styles, never allowing the listener to predict what's coming next, but it just grates on me...big time. 'Run' brings to mind Bowie, Queen, Prince...., and my fave cut, '...Of The Ladies' with its slow, simmering, buzz which acts as a backdrop to Cherone's rappy chops, and the eerie 'Ghost' drifts by on a piano but this could so easily have been a Coldplay track. Maybe Extreme occupy that stadium rock room and have ascended far beyond the realms of metal...but like their album's before, there are moments to love and moments to hate, but with 'Suadades...' I find myself bored, fed up of the funk, unable to gorge myself on the layers of diversity and once again tired of Extreme. Back with a bang ? Hardly. And sort that album cover out for God's sake!

6/10

White Lion - Mane Attraction (1991)

The clutch of White Lion albums released in the late '80s and early '90s were fantastic. Lush, melodic and catchy as hell, and beefed up by Vito Bratta's fret work, laced with the calm cosy tones of Mr Tramp. 'Mane Attraction' is simply another bombastic record of epic ballads, moving anthem's and the occasional ballsy rocker. Unfair to be labelled hair metal, there was so much more to White Lion than met the ear, mind you, so many bands back then were lumped in a restrictive category and yet offered so much more. 'Broken Heart' and 'Farewell To You' are beautiful songs, well crafted and exist among the fluff of cascading tears. 'Leave Me Alone' has a joyous funky edge and the seven-minute 'She's Got Everything' lodges itself in the brain to be hummed time and time again. Sure, people mocked this type of rock but you still have to give respect to any band who can craft an album full of quality tunes. There's nothing throwaway here, just check out the mood on another seven-minute epic, being 'Warsong', to realise this is no hair metal gimmick. Many bands were more successful than White Lion, but it doesn't mean they were more talented. White Lion were a cracking band.

8/10