This is the second album from Rob Halford’s short lived (but great) post Priest project. This album sounds like Priest had a love child with Pantera. It’s metal like Priest, but with the heavy grooves of Pantera. He took drummer, Scott Travis, with him when he left Priest, Steel Panther’s Russ Parish is on guitar, second guitarist Brian Tilse, and bassist Jay Jay Brown.
I Am Alive is a killer opening track with a great riff and Halford sings his ass off. Legacy Of Hate is Pantera with Halford on vocals – a great tune with a very Dime riff. Mouthpiece is as heavy as hell with a superb solo. Blowout In The Radio Room starts with a very Sabbath riff, the vibe of nu metal, and a hint of Alice In Chains. Never Again is a very simple chugga riff with a driving beat and groove.
Side 2 starts with the title track, and it’s more of the same – a choppy riff with plenty of groove. Gretna Greene was the lead off track from the album and was sent out as promo before the album’s release – it’s my favourite from the album. It has a great fat D-tuned riff and a twisted vocal from the metal god, with a groove that will have you creating your own mosh pit in the kitchen. Beneath The Violence is the heaviest track with a monster riff right out of the Priest textbook. Human Crate is next up with a very eerie intro, that leads into an evil chugga riff with quite a slow groove that makes the head nod of its own volition. In A World Of My Own Making closes out the album and is the strangest track on the record. It starts with just Halford and a piano, but the heaviness comes with more of a classic rock approach – even though the guitars are tuned down.
The hidden track that was on the CD, Psycho Suicide, is missing from the vinyl version. I think this is the best of the two albums and I would have liked them to do more, but I don’t think that will happen now.
9/10 from The Grooveman.
