Tag: lizzy borden

If you have read some of my reviews you will know that I love guitars, and guitar players. The guitar player in question here is Joe Holmes. Joe has not had a whole lot of recorded output but he was with Ozzy for about six years, and he toured with Dave Lee Roth on the  Little Ain’t Enough tour after Jason Becker fell ill. You should check out Joe’s Facebook page as he has a new album coming out soon, and some of the samples have been killer. Anyway, this is Lizzy Borden’s fourth full studio album, released back in ’87. It’s a lot more melodic than previous efforts and I think it’s one of their best albums.

Me Against The World is a kick ass opening with a great riff and groove. Shock is a very commercial sounding tune with a great hook and chorus that repeats over. Nice snappy solo as well. Outcast is a pure hair metal anthem, especially around the chorus, with a slow build up, great sing a long section, and killer solo. Den Of Thieves is pedal to the metal old school Lizzy Borden. Great stuff! The intro to Visual Lies is pretty cool, and the harmonies are on the money with a hands in the air groove.

Eyes Of A Stranger has a Judas Priest opening, and has a very euro metal vibe with a very melodic solo. Lord Of The Flies is up next and it is my favourite track, mainly due to the guitar sound and playing, parts of this song remind me of early Iron Maiden. Great song! Voyeur has a really cool opening, but this is the weakest song on the album. The album closes out with Visons, an epic brooding builder. Nice riff and groove, and that’s your lot. Lizzy Borden never quite made it out of the second division and this album reflects that.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

Thanks to Metal Blade Records for putting these great early reissues out as the originals are going for ridiculous money.

Other than a demo, this is the band’s first recording, a four track EP. Very influenced by NWOBHM bands of the time, especially Iron Maiden, as you will hear on Kiss Of Death which is a ringer. I remember thinking at the time that all the American bands had taken the whole NWOBHM thing as an inspiration and improved on it.

For a first EP, this is pretty impressive, and No Time To Lose is a really great track with awesome twin guitar leads. I have to say I was surprised (and still am) that they put a cover as the last track on a four track EP, but at least it’s a good one with Rainbow’s Long Live Rock n Roll. Although they never quite made it per say, they had a decent career in the eighties.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.