Sentinel's Quick Reviews

Great album. I've spun this many times. I love the guitar solo on into the fire.

Always really liked this album. It was one of the first I remember purchasing on tape back in the day. It always brings me back to that summer of 1988 where my love and obsession with all things Hard Rock and Heavy Metal was exploding. "Heatseeker" and "That's the Way I Wanna Rock N Roll" are standout cuts, but deep faves like "Nick of Time" and "Kissin' Dynamite" are awesome in my humble opine as well. This was a comeback album of sorts as it was the bands highest charting since "For Those About to Rock" nearly a decade earlier. And although I enjoy the two that came before (not counting Who Made Who as it's a GH with one new song and 2 short instrumentals) as I am not burned out on them since they contain no radio 'hits' that have been played to death. Plenty of Hard Rock boogie and blues riffs here. Long time fans will find plenty to like here as it isn't anything earth shatteringly different from the past few albums; but it probably isn't going to convert you if you don't already worship at the altar of Angus.

Useless Trivia Time:

Two additional songs, "Snake Eye" and "Borrowed Time", were recorded but only released on the 12-inch single versions of "Heatseeker" and "That's the Way I Wanna Rock 'n' Roll", respectively. But they are included on the Backtracks box set. So, I have these tunes in my collection.

Blow Up Your Video reached #2 in the UK and #12 in the US.

AC/DC were the other band to lose to Jethro Tull that night at the Grammy's.

So, I felt it was time to resurrect this thread. I have been spinning this the past few days. Classic stuff, bruthas! I used to borrow this on cassette from a friend back in Junior High on a regular basis. I don't know why I never bought my own? Lol. I also can't remember what tape of mine I use to give as collateral. But, anyway- this is a cool trip down memory lane. Being in the back seat of my parent's car with my Walkman on and looking out the window.
Everything I have read over the years, well, almost everything, has said these guys were poised to be the "next big thing" but for some reason, never really were. Songs like "Autoblast" and "Hold On To 18" are as good as anything TS did and should have been popular anthems of the day. In fact, I can't recall Black 'N Blue ever being on the radio and only remember a vid or two on MTV.
"Show Me the Night" has a definite Kiss vibe in the intro, and "Action" is a good cover first made popular by Sweet. Oddly enough I didn't learn it was a cover until some time later. "The Strong Will Rock" and "Chains Around Heaven" are both standout cuts that bookend the album quite nicely. Well, hope y'all enjoy and as always waiting for comments and cool stories.

The backstory: Friday night has always been "date night" for me and the wife. After dropping her off at her parents (it was 2012 and we were of course dating at the time) I flipped through the channels using the then "new to me" buttons on the steering wheel. I happened upon a college station (WUMD 89.7) playing Metal. I didn't recognize the song so I was hoping the DJ would give some info. He did. The band name, "Agent Steel" but no song title. There were also no words so no chorus to google upon arriving home. I figured, "Ult's gotta have these guys" and of course he did. I finally figured the song had to be the instrumental "The Day at Guyana" and youtube'd it pronto. No more calls, we have a winner! So, on the list they went. Fast forward four years and I finally get around to lookin' them up again. I am blown away! This album simply slays, from start to finish. I know I am late to the party for these guys but I am happy to have finally arrived. To me, they sound like a heavier and faster Queensryche circa 1984. I have the 1999 re release with the "Mad Locust Rising" EP tacked onto the end which contains a good cover of Priest's "The Ripper" that doesn't take any liberties but sticks quite close to the original version.

Fave tracks:

Still Searching
Chosen to Stay
The Day at Guyana
Rager


Those of you that already know and love this album and this band I look forward to your comments and memories. And those who are hearing it for the first time I hope it's an awesome new (old) band you get into.