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Todays METAL playlist

Okay. This, for me is a bit of an oddball. Turns out this was recorded before the release of the Hawk - “Hawk” album, but not released until 2009.

Different lineup. Charlie Wayne Morill on vocals rather than Dave Fefolt.

And that’s where things take a bit of a turn for me. Take some Geoff Tate, Vince Neil, Ann Wilson, let simmer, stir vocals well.

There’s a frequent odd elliptical vibrato that widens like an asteroid escaping Jupiter’s orbit, then screams into Velikovsky-an space with a high-pitched screech. Not sure I have ever heard anything quite like this. Even Doro Pesch would sit up and say “dang,” or whatever it is they say in Germany.

Track “Burning Leather” features more conventional vocals. I saw Charlie years ago at a Nashville club fronting post-Ron Keel Iron Horse. I don’t recall any such wild vocal aerobatics.

And yes, that’s Scott Travis with the band attempting to out-Motley the Crue, something Charlie eagerly pointed out at that gig. Drummer Gaetano Nicolosi, a great guy and utterly fantastic drummer in his own right, was clearly irked when Charlie said in so many words that Gaetano was almost as good as Scott during between song patter.

Guitar solos are very good here and the tone is nowhere near as brittle-bright as on the “Hawk” album. To my ear, the latter makes for too much seasoning with the Aphex Aural Exciter and I have never been a fan of Orange Drop capacitors as used in Metaltronix modified Marshalls.

Title track is said to reference MTV’s announcement that Metal videos would no longer be part of regular programming. You would be excused for thinking it’s a live album as I initially did. It’s not.

Vocals are a little over the top, but still a decent listen. I definitely prefer Dave Fefolt up front. Used to see him a lot at Someplace Else in Pittsburgh with his band Valhalla doing Ozzy and Dio covers.


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Well now. Will wonders never cease?

After posting my Violent Playground vinyl, went to the huge site and here, the CD is available again and at a nice price.

Very nice. Comes in a slipcase as well.

My vinyl has the press kit as I was a newspaper HR/HM music reviewer back then. Maybe I will post some photos.
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So, how is it? I was a bit disappointed with the last one as the compression was on Full Squash.

First listen, I really liked it! The vinyl at least wasn’t overly compressed. Some nice use of symphony and choir. I especially liked Wave Of Tanis and Northstar.
 
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