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Badlands Badlands |
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They were the seminal super group formed at the dawn of a dying breed… toward the fading glory of '80s Metal, few bands stood a chance to arrive if much less thrive at the new decade peering just around the corner. Badlands was one of those few. And as I hear their self-titled debut again for the first time in I don't know how many years, I'm reminded of the emanated greatness that flows through the speakers-gritty, soulful, inspired guitar Rock purposefully delivered by four unique individual talents, to a slowly starving audience… then, and still now. Jake E. Lee and Ray Gillen headed an all-star cast that also included Greg Chaisson on bass, Eric Singer on drums, and Paul O' Neill, noted in recent years for his magnificent work with the Savatage/Trans Siberian Orchestra crossbreed manning the production controls. Badlands was to the eighties, albeit briefly at the end, what Temple of the Dog was to the nineties-individually their contributions to the Rock world were impressive enough, but together there was a magical morphing of memorable music led by Jake's inspired riffing and Blues-bled presence… such was aided in perfect rhythm by the Chaisson/Singer tandem, the sturdy backbone that provided the punch and instantaneous credibility in a season where Heavy Rock was quickly losing its ability to any longer make a fist. And of course Gillen, tabbed to front Tony Iommi's continuing saga that was Black Sabbath, and in fact did for a moment in time, and yet where one door closes, another opens, thus Gillen's Badlands days were to soon be amongst his greatest contributions in a career cut way short by his sudden passing in '94. In all their pride and glory, Badlands self-titled debut spawned one hit after another - "High Wire," the riveting opening track where the trademark Lee riffing explodes onto this new but very welcome scene; "Dreams in the Dark," amongst the catchiest groove and listener attractions of the bunch, comes off as a surefire Zeppelin/Whitesnake charge, Gillen assuming the role of a revitalized superstar singer who's glory days hadn't caught up with him quite as quickly as we had imagined. And for Gillen himself, they were only just beginning. On down the line, "Jades Song," "Winters Call," bluesy, soulful and a showcase in diversity for this band, getting their feet wet, and honing their skills which were soon running at full capacity before the album was even halfway through. They were Rock & roll outlaws by every stretch-their style, their no holds barred attitude and quick triggered accuracy in delivering the final blow to the forlorn face of fashion and readying the heavy artillery for their upcoming journey down the "Voodoo Highway…" Koch Records Reissue: http://www.kochint.com/ Review by Vinnie Apicella
[va85@columbia.edu] |
