Shout - In Your Face (1989)

I'm not gonna lie..when I first saw the album cover all those years ago I thought, "These guys must be pompous, lightweight fluff metal..." and then the opening shred-fest tore the flesh from my face and I was never the same again. This is pretty furious heavy metal with a melodic edge, but the guitars and vocals are killer and really do contradict those puffy haircuts and big shoulder pads. Unfair to call this hair metal, sure it has a few riotous chants, but the guitars are all over the place, flailing solos knotting the hair and bursting the ear drums. Even when the band throw in an organ ('Getting On With It') they still supply a sultry yet hard edge. 'When The Love Is Gone' has a chunky riff that swaggers like Whitesnake, and the vocals of Ken Tamplin have that rugged appeal. Take no notice of the 'Christian glam metal' tag they were bestowed, this is a band that has featured some of metal's most talented musicians such as Alex Masi and Marty Friedman who went on to play in Megadeth. 'In Your Face' is Shout's second opus, and a rip-roaring experience it is too, combining driving hard metal with lush melody. Slot this alongside German metallers Bonfire for similar fiery love. 7.5/10