I'm not s good at this as Eyesore...

I tend to just blurtout my thoughts in a sporadic fashion, the meat of which basiically boils down to "yay or Nay" system. Anyway here is one I had saved in my files for some reason...until I get a chance to write up some new ones...


SLEDGEHAMMER LEDGE- s/t

1994 Boomtown Records



This is one raw and sleazy disc!!! Channeling images of rats and trash strewn alleys...shadows and whores...clouds of cigarette smoke and broken beer bottles. Bloody knuckles and sweat...this is what this disc is.

Vox that howl with a ferocity that can only be compared to WASP's Blackie Lawless. Tight and throbbing guitar and bass work...killer drumming. These songs a snakey and sleazy and rock like Hell!!!!!!!!

Opening with "Wake The Dead", this band pulls no punches with it's churning blend of W.A.S.P. meets SPREAD EAGLE style of rawk. Standout tracks include "Fire In The Hole", "The Window", "Salute The Trash"

Don't let the cheesy cover art mislead you...if you like glam/sleaze metal and you ever see this snap it up!!

VOLLMER- "Welcome To The Rat Race"

1998 Barkloud Records

This cd fires off the first shot sure and straight with the song "Love And A Memory"..Keening guitar...tight rythym and love 'em or hate' em vocals...but bitter and open lyrics make up for whatever that may take away. flat out this tune is killer!!!

The cd does not let from there...the only weak link in the chain is the acoustic rendering of the Beatles song "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" which is kind of lackluster...

Pretty much no frills rawkin' ballsy bar rawk metal is what this is...If you like MOLLY HATCHET and motorcycles an all things loud. You'll like VOLLMER.

(This has nothing to do with the band HELIX. Their former siger released a cd or 2 under his last name which is VOLLMER as well...)

Sounds interesting. I dig Hatchet a lot. Have never heard another band that has that same sound. I might have to check these guys out if you think the might be a good match.

They don't sound LIKE Hatchet per se....but I caught a similar vibe...I'll copy this for you and send it so you can check it out first before tracking it down

Although as with IRONBOSS, I am sure I put a track by these guys on your 2 disc comp....

Cool.

DEAD END JANE- "Nicotine Queen"

2006 release by the band no label

(I got through cdbaby)

This 9 track disc is a classic example of a sound that has fallen from the limelight but will not go away...and with the current surge in appreciation of all things retro....I hoped does well....

It's pretty much straight up 80's metal/sleaze rawk. AC/DC tinged riff-o-rama...whiskey rough vocals...songs about booze, sluts and basic debauchery.

A sample of lyrics from the song "Back At The Factory"

"I got screw loose/ I'm not the type for cigars and wine/ I like swimmin' in pools of whiskey/ it's a mighty fierce habit of mine"


The music is tight and groovy. Their influences are held high and obvious (AC/DC first and foremost)

I'd like to list the tracks and all but I can't read the priniting on the back cover (dark red cursive on black...argh!)

but if you like 80's hair an glam or sleazy rock metal...you'll dig it.

THE WILDHEARTS- "Earth Vs. The Wildhearts"

1993 Warner Brothers Recrds

Where to begin the dissection of this classic disc...I'll start by saying when this was released in 1993 I never even picked it up...I was in some stupid "shun metal...it's all about alternative" phase or something. That was my loss...

Over the summer I saw this cd in a bin for I think $5 and decided to give it a whirl...an am very glad I did.

These cats from the U.K. steep their sound in 70's glam (Mick Ronson guests on this disc) and early 80's punk with some sleaze rawk thrown in for spice. Ginger writes some of the catchies tunes I have heard in a long time...but not conventionally so.

Their main flavor to operate in is the "glam rawk" mode which isupbeat and fast with big harmonies and clever lyrics...Bu they also at some point usually kick into a nearly speed metal tune or two (On this disc it would be the ferocious "Suckerpunch")

This disc starts with a tongue in cheek jab at their home digs called "Greetings From Sh**sville" then careens into the jaunty ditties "Tv Tan", 'Everlone" and "Shame On me" these songs are all decent but not entirely memorable...

Then they hit what I refer to as "THE Cluster"...thebest song on the disc...all in a bunch. "Caffiene Bomb" while upon the first listen seems awkward in words and structures but it works. This is followed by "Lovesh*t" very remnicient of a SWEET tune..big vocals /big guitars. "The Miles Away Girl" has an almost HANOI ROCKS vibe to it (and it's my fave track)..."My Baby Is A Headf**k" is a priceless slice of glammed out punk tinged whoo hoo!!! then into the furious "Suckerpunch" with it's wicked riffing and odd guitar harmonics...

"They wrap it up with 3 more tunes ( "News Of The World", "Drinking About You", 'Love You Til I Dont" that are all good solid tunes.


To say every offering by this band is vital would be inaccurate a they have been a bit inconsistant... (W.T.F. were they thinking with "Endless...nameless" !?!?!) But this is a great place to start...

If you like bands like DOGS D'AMOUR, SKIN N' BONES, ROYAL TRAMPS, HANOI ROCKS, DEAD BOYS or GUNS N' ROSES....
then these HEARTS may be up our alley.