Under the rug NWOBHM nugget
Bloodbath_and_Beyond | usa | 01/21/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In 1985, almost 3 years after Savage released their brilliant debut Loose N Lethal (an album that lived up to its title, a quite lethal dose of raw NWOBHM style hard rock, sporting one of the most brutal guitar sounds captured) The band resurfaced with lots of press attention in England over the debut. While the debut finally got it's proper reissue on CD a few years ago, and has become more readily avaliable to those curious enough to check out its 'more than any band' authentic metal sound, this second release remains much more obscure. But it's CD release is the reissue version containing 3 bonus cuts. How is the album? Well as compared to it's predecessor, it's somewhat of a letdown. However, judged on it's own merits, it's pretty great. In 1985, NWOBHM was dead, American thrashers like Anthrax, Exodus, Megadeth, Slayer, and others like Celtic Frost and Bathory had taken over the metal market, as well as the burgeoning hair band LA scene. So the underground market that still cared, in England, bought this album in large quanities but no major record labels were knocking. Musically, as said before it's good. The band opens up with another fast dose of pre thrash metal with 'We Got The Edge' the best song here. However the rest is typical mid tempo, rough and rowdy rockers. The key point here is the production. The debut's sound was so raw and so dirty, it literally sounded like punk and metals offspring, it was perfect. This albums production is very polished, the drums have that cliched mid 80's hard rock reverb. And everything sounds a bit too clean. Once you hear Christ Bradley's vocals though, you know it's Savage. This isn't run of the mill dated hard rock fluff. This album has lots of enthusiasm and energy. Key tracks like Blind Hunger (even with laces of keyboard) still rock as well as the double bass speedster track Gonna Tear Your Heart Out. Cardiac, All Set To String, and Keep It On Ice are also great just plain great hard rock tracks, although this album lacks just a hint of the creative riffs found on its debut, and of course the production mutes some of the proceedings here. Most Savage fans seem to recall Stevie's Vengence as the best song here and it is a definite highlight, contains some awesome guitar playing. The band wanted to sound more mature on this record apparently, and that definetly comes through. Although musically they sound the same, its the mix that renders alot of it as more "radio-ready". According to the liner notes that recall the recording sessions this wasnt the intended sound or idea the band had behind the record. But either way, if you can find this album, it is highly recommended, despite it's flaws, it is highly enjoyable and it's more notable comparisons with the stereotyped mid 80's metal sound can be overlooked. The best of Savage compilation that exists doesnt contain any tracks off this album (?!) which makes it even more worth your time to seek it out if you're a fan of NWOBHM or even just obscure 80's hard rock and want something you havent heard a million times."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1