Tag: icon

This is the band’s first album released in ’84, and other than a brief mention in the relevant magazines of the time, it didn’t do that much (at least in the UK anyways), which was a great disservice to the band. This is a kick ass hair metal masterpiece, and every bit as good as any of the other usual suspects of that period. There’s not a bad moment on the album as it rocks right from the get go.

Opener, Rock On Through The Night, is a statement opening track if ever there was one. Killer riff and groove, and a massive hook and chorus. Killer Machine follows with a big slow pounding beat and groove, and a hands-in-the-air anthem chorus. On Your Feet is more of the same, a superb big rock sing-a-long monster in the vein of Quiet Riot, but these guys blow them out of the water. World War has a killer massive guitar tone and the sound is huge. Side 1 closes out with Hot Desert Night, a big chugga riff and a great ending to the first side.

Over we flip and Under My Gun is first up with a killer opening, before we settle into an up-tempo groove. I really love the main chorus and hook. Iconoclast follows and is a top drawer instrumental with some really nice guitar. Normal service is resumed with Rock N Roll Maniac, which is a big hair anthem if there ever was one. A very simple evil riff drives I’m Alive, before the sing-a-long anthem chorus and hook kick in. The album closes out with It’s Up To You and its ballad city…They say you should always end on a bang, but I guess they missed that memo.

This band should have been a household name just like their contemporaries. It’s another story of a record company not knowing how to market a band. Great record!

9/10 from The Grooveman.

For some reason this band are always classed as heavy metal, and that tag couldn’t be more wrong. Taking big influences from Journey and other melodic rock bands of the time, this is where they belong. The band revolve around the vocals of Stephen Clifford and guitarist Dan Wexler, and the emphasis is on the songs with big hooks, melodies, and sing-a-long choruses.

There was obviously some big money behind these guys as they had song writer extraordinaire, Bob Halligan Jr., as a co-writer on the majority of the album. Ironically, other than the excellent Raise The Hammer (which is my favourite on the album), it is the tracks that the band composed themselves that I like the best. Shot At My Heart, the killer sing-a-long anthem of Out For Blood, and the superb Rock My Radio (which has a writing credit for Mike Varney) are the standout tracks.

They made it until the end of the eighties, then they were gone. This album and the first self titled albums are the best. This is a nice addition to your collection if you are a melodic rock fan.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.