Search - Every Mothers Nightmare :: Wake Up Screaming

Overslept

K. Fontenot | The Bayou State | 07/22/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Admit it, deep down inside of everyone of you who grew up in the 80's/early 90's there lies an old school hairbander who just can't help but pump your fists when you here a band like Poison, Def Leppard or Whitesnake. These guys delivered when it came to teen angst and rebellion at a time when excess was a necessity. Unfortunately, grunge came along and wiped out most of these bands, with the exceptions of Bon Jovi, who went pop on us, and Aerosmith, who admit to selling out to anyone who's paying.
In the early 90's, a few hair bands fought to stay alive and others, sadly, got record deals all too late. For instance, take Every Mother's Nightmare. They're a decent hairband with decent songs that came out at the worst time. Had they only signed a deal in '87, we'd be talking about these guys with the likes of White Lion and Cinderella. They would never had hit as big as a Bon Jovi or Skid Row, but they would have gained a solid following that guaranteed their place on VH-1's list of top hair metal bands.
"Wake Up Screaming" is the only disc I purchased by these guys. From the looks of it, however, they had a few other albums out, but I heard nothing of them. In fact, the only reason I got "Wake Up Screaming" was because I was in one of those record clubs and I had a commitment to fulfill. The club sold me on the "soaring sounds" of EMN, so I bought the disc. I am not ashamed to say I own this album and there are actually some good songs on here. "House of Pain" is a slick sounding ditty that opens up the tracks and readies you for more sonic serendipity with songs like "Already Gone" and "Slip and Fall." The stand out track on this album is "Good Die Young." Had it been released in '89, we'd be screaming along with it on the "classic" rock stations after it comes on after "Bang Your Head(Metal Health)."
In closing I can only say this: Play your old Poison and Warrant albums and then slap this disc on. Pretend it's 1990 and Seattle is just a cold, rainy town with no real influence on the music world. You'll rock with the assurance that EMN will be carrying the hairy rock torch well into the next century."

EMN is a classic

J. D. walker | U.S.A. | 02/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have a massive hair metal collection and I own everything EMN has put out. I LOVE these guys. Wake up Screaming is among their very best. It's a shame it wasn't a huge commercial success because had this been their first album, you'd still be hearing them today on classic rock radio. This album has it all. Great and angry vocals, soaring guitar, beautiful power ballads, and just plain cool looking dudes. No real big hair or lip stick. Just meat and potatoes hard rock. Nashville not only put out good country music. Check out the rest of the band's work too. The GURU would NEVER steer you wrong."