Of all things that stand out on this latest and last recording from this most "twisted" of performers…

I mean, the CD cover booklet in itself is as outrageous and outspoken as one would expect with all these-the many faces of Dee Snider-but would you get a look at that tattoo on A.J. Pero?

I mean the guy's got this thing that just jumps right off the page!

Well this final statement in what supposedly is the end of Mr. Snider's storied rock and roll career definitely sees this walking heavy metal outrage leaving with a full blown bang, definitely not a whimper.

Sad in that, while this may never go down in history as one of the all time great metal releases, it shows that there's still plenty of mileage left in this multi-faceted machine that now, as he enters another stage in a damning and diverse career, plans more in the way of being seen, less to be heard-unless of course you haven't totally given up on rock radio where Dee does that old "House of Hair" thing.

Snider's first and last, as it were, solo album, is an exercise in both history and complete musicianship.

Yes this sounds like an '80s record in that most of the material was originally written during the Twisted, Desperado, Widowmaker days, but the recording's been done in the here and now with a new assembly of studio musicians which add a fresh element to the rekindled rock and roll spirit that these were first bore from.

For anyone who's followed Dee's career over the years, much of what you'll hear comes as little surprise-from the opening thrash attack of "Hard Core," to the anthemic bursts of "Our Voice Will Be Heard," (and if anyone's ever could, it's undoubtedly his!), and the melancholic "Isn't It Time" which ranks up near the top here, think of it as "old school," but run with a new faculty.

"Cry You a Rainbow" explores the lighter side of this elemental personality-a family man, one who has little trouble tapping into the resource of sentimentality when a change is needed.

And like "Leader of the Pack" was to "Come out and Play" all those years ago-and come on, admit you loved it-we get the bluesy strut and swagger of Dion & The Belmonts' "The Wanderer" here-one that undoubtedly remained in hiding this last decade or so within the whole context of the ill-fated Desperado project.

Altogether, what we're getting here is another little piece of a man's past-not just any man but one that will go down in the history books as one of rock and roll's most colorful and outspoken leaders… one that more often than not managed to create some memorable music behind the "curtain.

Released by Koch Records

Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu]