Slam Alley -21 Fire (2009)

This screams Skid Row circa 'Slave To The Grind', in every aspect, and yet it rocks just as hard, if not harder. These were swallowed up by the confused state of of the mid 1990s and yet this 2009 issue is a welcome one. Slam 21 were a major surprise when I heard them, I expected little, after being made to crineg by the cover which suggested some low budget modern hard rock band, but boy am I glad I leant an ear to this. This is one blazing record that showcases the amazing vocal talent of Christian Dorris, the bastard offspring of Sebastian Bach, but hey, this isn't a Skid Row rip off, this stands on its own two feet as a heavyweight slab of sleaze metal that takes no prisoners. Kudos have to go to the twi guitar attack of Revelle and Camacho who provide some staggering solo's and incinerating riffs. '21 Fire' is,sadly, just a five track EP, but it's a monstrous one at that, a smoking hot record that reminds me of Bach's solo weight, the band only letting off steam on the gorgeous ballad and EP closer 'For Heaven Sake', but in every other case it's the sort of record that pulls no punches, going straight for thr throat with thos enormous juggernaut guitars and thunder drums. Time and time again though you'll find yourself marvelling at Dorris' fantastic vocals, but I'm guessing the Skid Row comparisons at the time probably did them no favours,but now the years have passed we can judge this scorcher on its own merits, and in a tack like 'Cry For Freedom' Slam Alley produce an energetic metal bulldozer that sounds like a band several albums into a career. Prepare for the steamroller known as Slam Alley and wonder why these guys didn't get the attention they so rightly deserved. 8/10