Mama's Boys - Power & Passion (1985)

As a kid I would have been drawn to the album for one reason only - the cover - then, even more so by the poster - a slightly more lewd version of the cover, i.e. lady on gravestone clutching a knife whilst wearing a silk gown now becomes naked and cavorting with a guitar. Pure rock 'n' roll! The trio of brothers on the back sum up the cheesy image of mid '80s metal, attempting some type of gothic foray with the dripping candle wax, the cobweb coated crypt, but the look is just so lame. So, what does the sleeve hide sound wise ? Well, it's pretty mediocre but extremely anthemic metal - kind of New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, think Def Leppard meets a bit of Kiss, but bereft of glam. Instead, Mama's Boys offer it straight and true and get their hooks in with those big choruses, 'Hard 'n' Loud', 'Lettin' Go', and anyone who comes up with a song called 'Needle In The Grooves' deserves their kudos - oh how we metalheads worshipped the vinyl.'Power...' deserves a listen on vinyl, because that's how metal like this shines even if there are a few bagpipes somewhere in there. It's not gonna change metal but an extra mark for the inclusion of the poster. Rockin'!

6/10