Sentinel's Quick Reviews

I am a sucker for crunchy melodic tune-age with great hooks. Kind of like "Tooth & Nail" better, but no matter. When I want to listen to Dokken (happens occasionally), the "Best of Dokken" cd comes out. I rarely play the vinyl. The drama (IMHDO) has it's origins in Don being a decent guitar player in his own right, and George getting the accolades. I suppose someone assumed the voice would feather one's ego enough to balance the scale enough, but jealousy is an ugly thing.

I love those early Dokken albums. Although Under Lock And Key is probably the weakest of them, it's still a damn good listen.

Back in high school my best friend had about 800 or so cassettes. When CD's became dominant, he sold off his tape collection and upgraded; like we all did. A few years ago he was cleaning out his Dad's truck after he had passed and came across this one. We couldn't remember anything about this band and so it was forgotten about for a few years more. One night we were hanging out and having a cigar and talking music and he brings up the Hawk cassette. We check it out on youtube and it's cool. I pick up a copy on the bay and it's a frequent spinner for me. I know that both Perris Records and Metal Method ( what I own) both pressed this to CD in 2000/2001 with a hype sticker about former Cult and Guns 'N Roses drummer, Matt Sorum playing on the record, even though their original drummer was Scott Travis.  And when I was searching for a copy most listings had Sorum's name in the title. That's probably the only reason this thing got an official release. Ha. From what I could find out online, this album here (with Sorum) is a later incarnation of the group.  The look of the band was somewhere between Hanoi, Motley, and Twisted and the sound is somewhere between King Kobra's first album and Lizzy Borden's second and third Anyway, I really like this album and I hope some of you do too. Faves on this one:

Tell the Truth
Rules the Night
Fades So Fast
Witches Burning
Battle Zone

I remember Metal Method.

I remember Hawk as being kind of average.

Was in the mood for some Lizzy tonight. This is quickly becoming my fave LB album, possibly overtaking "Visual Lies" in the near future. Growing up, I only owned these two, but I have since added Master of Disguise to my collection and I am probably going to get Menace to Society and the live album, Murderous Metal Roadshow soon. Classic American Metal here with the uniquely awesome vocals of Mr. Lizzy Borden. I remember seeing promo posters for this one in a now defunct record store in the '80's and the axe wielding Lizzy in the mirror always freaked me out. Ha. However cool as the cover is, it's the music that matters. And this a stone cold classic. Songs like "American Metal" and "Red Rum"  and "Flesh Eater"are sure to please any fan of Hard Rock and Metal; while some of the demos are a bit rough (hence the term demo) there is a diamond in the rough in the last track, "Dirty Pictures" which is great in my opine. Anyway, if you like 'Ol Lizzy, sit back and enjoy a familiar fave. If you are not familiar at all with the man's work, sit back and I hope you enjoy. Btw, there is more than just the first track here. If you go to youtube it plays the whole thing if you are digging it. Peace.

I love Lizzy Borden. I don't have the version of Love You To Pieces with the demos, but no matter. It's a great album plus demos never really interested me anyhow because of their mostly rough quality.

I would also recommend Deal With the Devil. That one was a great comeback album.

Yeah, I definitely have to finish up the LB catalog as the more I hear the more I like. But only so much money for music and time to listen makes it tough. The music is great (typical of the times) but it's the vocals that set them/ him apart from everybody else.

And Lizzy sounds as good now as he did back then.

the sentinel wrote:

Songs like "American Metal" and "Red Rum"  and "Flesh Eater"are sure to please any fan of Hard Rock and Metal

Those are my favorites off that album, too (as well as "Psychopath"). I'll have to check out "Dirty Pictures." I was on a Lizzy kick about ten+ years ago and got Love You To Pieces, Menace To Society (on vinyl), Master of Disguise (on cassette), and Visual Lies, Terror Rising / Give 'Em the Axe, and Deal With The Devil (on CD). I used to love Master of Disguise: the title track, "Waiting In The Wings," "Phantoms," "Never Too Young," "Be One Of Us" were my favorites. All these years later, while Master has fallen a bit out of favor with me, Visual Lies has risen in status as my favorite Lizzy Borden album. Their most solid album, IMO.

80s Metal Lady wrote:

the sentinel wrote:

Songs like "American Metal" and "Red Rum"  and "Flesh Eater"are sure to please any fan of Hard Rock and Metal

Those are my favorites off that album, too (as well as "Psychopath"). I'll have to check out "Dirty Pictures." I was on a Lizzy kick about ten+ years ago and got Love You To Pieces, Menace To Society (on vinyl), Master of Disguise (on cassette), and Visual Lies, Terror Rising / Give 'Em the Axe, and Deal With The Devil (on CD). I used to love Master of Disguise: the title track, "Waiting In The Wings," "Phantoms," "Never Too Young," "Be One Of Us" were my favorites. All these years later, while Master has fallen a bit out of favor with me, Visual Lies has risen in status as my favorite Lizzy Borden album. Their most solid album, IMO.

Visual is my fave as it was the first I had ever heard and owned, so sentimentality plays a part. I love the melody and overall sound of that album. It's one of those albums that just flows and it's over before you know it. And then you want to hear it again. Lol.

Hawk's guitar player Doug Marks was the guy behind the "Metal Method" series of guitar instruction tapes/videos. He must have sold way more lesson tapes than Hawk ever sold albums, cuz those Metal Method ads ran in Circus and other rock/metal mags for years 'n years.

My favorite Lizzy Borden is the "Give 'Em The Axe" EP. Dig the live album a lot too.
I have Hawk on cassette and "Let The Metal Live" (CD) with Scott Travis and some guys from Bullet Boys (I think ?)

Fat Freddy wrote:

Hawk's guitar player Doug Marks was the guy behind the "Metal Method" series of guitar instruction tapes/videos. He must have sold way more lesson tapes than Hawk ever sold albums, cuz those Metal Method ads ran in Circus and other rock/metal mags for years 'n years.

I did not know that. Thanks, Fredo.

James B. wrote:

My favorite Lizzy Borden is the "Give 'Em The Axe" EP. Dig the live album a lot too.
I have Hawk on cassette and "Let The Metal Live" (CD) with Scott Travis and some guys from Bullet Boys (I think ?)

I had no idea that album existed. Thanks, James. Gonna keep an eye out for that one. Ha.

I cranked this in the gym earlier today and once more while organizing my CD's in the music room.



Love this album. This one kicks ass ( as does their first album, but much better song writing here) and goes pretty much full tilt from start to finish. I got hip to these cats back in 1990 when I taped the song "Switchblade Serenade" (from their first album) off the Z Rock 50 on a Sunday night. SE formed in New York and sound like a mix Dangerous Toys "Pissed" album and Banshee's "Take 'Em By Storm" album. Ray West has a cool, raspy voice that sounds at times like Sebastian Bach. If you don't like any of the people I just mentioned, then, don't click. If you are a fan of those guys (or late eighties, early nineties hard rock/ metal) then click sit back and enjoy.

Faves on this one:

Revolution Maker
King of the Dogs
If I Can't Have You
High Horses
Devil's Road

the sentinel wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

Hawk's guitar player Doug Marks was the guy behind the "Metal Method" series of guitar instruction tapes/videos. He must have sold way more lesson tapes than Hawk ever sold albums, cuz those Metal Method ads ran in Circus and other rock/metal mags for years 'n years.

I did not know that. Thanks, Fredo.

...and he's still selling guitar lessons online today!!

http://metalmethod.com/

the sentinel wrote:

I cranked this in the gym earlier today and once more while organizing my CD's in the music room.



Love this album. This one kicks ass ( as does their first album, but much better song writing here) and goes pretty much full tilt from start to finish. I got hip to these cats back in 1990 when I taped the song "Switchblade Serenade" (from their first album) off the Z Rock 50 on a Sunday night. SE formed in New York and sound like a mix Dangerous Toys "Pissed" album and Banshee's "Take 'Em By Storm" album. Ray West has a cool, raspy voice that sounds at times like Sebastian Bach. If you don't like any of the people I just mentioned, then, don't click. If you are a fan of those guys (or late eighties, early nineties hard rock/ metal) then click sit back and enjoy.

Faves on this one:

Revolution Maker
King of the Dogs
If I Can't Have You
High Horses
Devil's Road

I am a fan of this album too. I like their first one a bit better, but this has many good songs. I think my favorite is "King of the Dogs."

Need to upgrade my two Spread Eagle tapes to CD someday, good stuff (IMHDO)

James B. wrote:

Need to upgrade my two Spread Eagle tapes to CD someday, good stuff (IMHDO)

Now is a pretty good time as they have come down a bit in price the last few years. I don't think I paid more than $15 for either album a few years back when I upgraded.

the sentinel wrote:

Back in high school my best friend had about 800 or so cassettes. When CD's became dominant, he sold off his tape collection and upgraded; like we all did. A few years ago he was cleaning out his Dad's truck after he had passed and came across this one. We couldn't remember anything about this band and so it was forgotten about for a few years more. One night we were hanging out and having a cigar and talking music and he brings up the Hawk cassette. We check it out on youtube and it's cool. I pick up a copy on the bay and it's a frequent spinner for me. I know that both Perris Records and Metal Method ( what I own) both pressed this to CD in 2000/2001 with a hype sticker about former Cult and Guns 'N Roses drummer, Matt Sorum playing on the record, even though their original drummer was Scott Travis.  And when I was searching for a copy most listings had Sorum's name in the title. That's probably the only reason this thing got an official release. Ha. From what I could find out online, this album here (with Sorum) is a later incarnation of the group.  The look of the band was somewhere between Hanoi, Motley, and Twisted and the sound is somewhere between King Kobra's first album and Lizzy Borden's second and third Anyway, I really like this album and I hope some of you do too. Faves on this one:

Tell the Truth



Rules the Night
Fades So Fast
Witches Burning
Battle Zone

I haven't heard this album in ages!

the sentinel wrote:

Was in the mood for some Lizzy tonight. This is quickly becoming my fave LB album, possibly overtaking "Visual Lies" in the near future. Growing up, I only owned these two, but I have since added Master of Disguise to my collection and I am probably going to get Menace to Society and the live album, Murderous Metal Roadshow soon. Classic American Metal here with the uniquely awesome vocals of Mr. Lizzy Borden. I remember seeing promo posters for this one in a now defunct record store in the '80's and the axe wielding Lizzy in the mirror always freaked me out. Ha. However cool as the cover is, it's the music that matters. And this a stone cold classic. Songs like "American Metal" and "Red Rum"  and "Flesh Eater"are sure to please any fan of Hard Rock and Metal; while some of the demos are a bit rough (hence the term demo) there is a diamond in the rough in the last track, "Dirty Pictures" which is great in my opine. Anyway, if you like 'Ol Lizzy, sit back and enjoy a familiar fave. If you are not familiar at all with the man's work, sit back and I hope you enjoy. Btw, there is more than just the first track here. If you go to youtube it plays the whole thing if you are digging it. Peace.

Oh yeah! There IS an axe wielding dude in the mirror! In all the times I've seen this cover I have never noticed. Must of been because I was 15 years old when I had this record and the cover also had a hot girl in her underwear!

the sentinel wrote:

James B. wrote:

Need to upgrade my two Spread Eagle tapes to CD someday, good stuff (IMHDO)

Now is a pretty good time as they have come down a bit in price the last few years. I don't think I paid more than $15 for either album a few years back when I upgraded.

I just won a copy of Open to the Public for $10 and change. Their s/t debut still seems pretty pricey.

I need to expand my Lizzy Borden collection too. I have a best of collection that I need to dust off and give it a fresh spin. I think his last 2 (Deal w/t Devil and Appointment w/Death) are excellent as well. He's about due for a new one, isn't he?

Spread Eagles debut still gets regular spins from me. Awesome album! Sleaze done right! Open to the public is good too but doesn't touch the debut.

Thrasher73 wrote:

Spread Eagles debut still gets regular spins from me. Awesome album! Sleaze done right! Open to the public is good too but doesn't touch the debut.

Yep, that first one is golden in my book.  It's sort of hard to pick a favorite from it but I'm particularly fond of "Through These Eyes" because it's starts fairly mellow then explodes which sort of sets it apart from the rest of the album.