Piledriver - Stay Ugly (1986)

I like this type of metal - a raw and rampant mix of WASP, Twisted Sister and Dr Mastermind, mainly of course in the whole leathery, shock rock image. Of course, it doesn't add up to equal any of the mentioned bands but its accomplished metal that suffers slightly due to its reliance on the whole facade, which some at the time may have classed as a fad. With titles like 'The Excutioner' and 'Metal death Racer' you can imagine this to be high speed blood and dirt in the face, and you'd be halfway there. Many years later this is a bit of an obscurity, but unlike many albums of the time this album doesn't sound like it was recorded in a stuffy basement, in fact quite the contrary suggesting some serious backing behind the band. However, because of the image issue it seems that Piledriver are more intent on staying ugly rather than getting down to the business they clearly knew but never realised.

6/10