Metal Mickey was at somewhat of a crossroads in his career. He had just left a very successful gig with UFO, who were at the height of their popularity after the release of their amazing live opus Strangers In The Night. His brother Rudolph, who seeing an opportunity to improve his own band, asked Michael to perform on the Scorpions Lovedrive album, with the hope he would join them. Fortunately for Michael, he decided to do his own thing, and put together this group under his own name (although, at the time, he said in interviews it may only be a one-off project).
Other than the Assault Attack album, this is the finest recorded work that Michael ever put out. I think he knew everything was on the line, and he pushed himself to prove everyone wrong. Absolute bonafide classic all the way through. There’s not a bad note played, and Gary Barden was a revelation (at least on record anyway – his performances were a bit ropey at times).
Whether it be an instrumental track like Into The Arena, or a vocal track like Victim Of Illusion, the end result is the same – all are extremely well written and performed with a great production by Roger Glover – who knows a thing about putting great rock albums together. My favourite track is the absolute epic, Lost Horizons. It’s such a dramatic piece where Michael really lets fly and shows what a great player he is. We are in every home should have one territory.
10/10 from The Grooveman.
