Lillian Axe - Psychoschizophrenia (1993)

For those not in the know Lillian Axe were lumped in withe the '80s hair metal brigade, but just like Saigon Kick, they were something far more than just hairspray and pout. 'Psychoschizophrenia' is, surprisngly the bands fourth album, their debut album hit stores in 1988 to little effect despite boasting some very decent numbers. One would've thought that these guys in the mid '90s would have been relatively out of place, but 'Psycho...' is a very lush, souldful and layered opus too clever for its time, like so many of these type of bands. Certainly fans of Harem Scarem, Kik Tracee, and the already mentioned Saigon Kick will find much to savour here, the band orchestrating some wonderfully upbeat, cherry-tainted rockers in the form of the sweeping 'Stop the Hate' and gloriously summery 'Moonlight in your Blood.' Sadly this opus would be the last until 1999's 'Fields of Yesterday' (which was a compilation of tracks that never made it onto the first two albums)until their resurgence in 2007 with 'Waters Rising.' Lillian Axe have had more band members than I've had hot dinners, but they've continued to write engaging, often mystical numbers with a sprig of hair metal fluff. Favourite track on the album is the heavier groove of 'Sign of the Times' but any fan of alternative-styled metal will find 'Psycho...' the most colourful of Lillian Axe's records.
7.5/10