Metal Reviews

Believe me, there was no one who had written this band off quicker than me after last hearing ‘95’s previous comeback effort, the atrocious “Down to the Bone.” The pointless experimental nature of that record was dead in the water before it even had a chance to be rescued.

Granted it was hailed as a top release as far as Moonstone billed it for soundtrack music, but really, who knew?

Maybe it was for the best that not too many did know. Now, in 1999, being billed as their ‘true’ comeback, the big selling point here is that the original QR from the “Metal Health” days is back together and in fact seems to have made all the difference in the world. Talk about rejuvenation!

“Alive & Well” is classic Quiet Riot much the same as they were when first hitting the big time in 1983, and a title that couldn’t be more truthful of their current circumstances.

The new disc features fifteen total songs with eight brand new scorchers filled with loud guitar riffs and plenty of Dubrow’s irritating vocals that seem to have gotten even brasher if that’s possible!

The playing is superior from all contributors and especially Banali’s drumming which has given all of “Alive & Well’s” contents the extra ‘oomph’ to take it to the next level.

“Don’t Know What I Want” chimes in at the beginning and makes it evident that pure rock is back on the rise for this band, a place they never should have left!

Thankfully they’ve found themselves again and with the return of Sarzo on bass and the continued contribution of Cavazo’s impressively anxious guitar parts licks the band has a chance to make another move toward success.

Any of the first three songs, “Don’t Know What I Got,” “Angry,” and “Alive & Well,” could take top billing here but it’s the next, “The Ritual,” that will immediately strike your attention as it slowly and convincingly shows another side to the group’s playing.

Less antsy than the rest, the haunting backing chorus is the highlight to this one as it trudges alone down a dark path filled with dampness and foreboding.

“Overworked & Underpaid” is typical of past QR with Dubrow ranting over the obvious that many can identify with, while “Slam Dunk” (Way to Go!) is something that would’ve struck gold about ten years ago.

There’s also a cover of AC/DC’s classic “Highway to Hell” that first saw the light on “Thunderbolt,” the AC/DC tribute disc from a couple of years ago, before finally giving way to the six bonus tracks, all of which are updated versions early classics.

It is there where the band really shines as they’ve done a masterful job at taking those well-loved rock staples from the 80’s and planting an exciting new update to them that alone is worth the price of the disc.

All of the old titles are proceeded with the suffix “1999,” and were chosen from their first three records and the difference between these remade versions and those of the originals is like the difference between driving a Buick and a Jaguar—they fly!

Not that there’s anything wrong with Buicks you understand…Still true to the original recordings however, the playing is more adventurous and they’ve all got a definite heavier quality to them, though the two most greatly affected and absolutely improved are without a doubt “Don’t Wanna Let you Go” from “Metal Health” and “The Wild & The Young” from the disappointing crossover “QR III.”

Both songs sound better than ever with Dubrow delivering a superb vocal performance on the ballad that I never knew he had in him. I mean, it was a great song to begin with back in the day but couldn’t have sounded more out of key with his original singing—completely domineering and out of sync.

“The Wild & The Young’s” facelift is equally impressive as gone are those sappy keyboard enhancements of the original, replaced with reckless guitar work and a solid rock jam following the second chorus—if you never liked the song in the first place or thought it was too commercial, give this version a try and you’ll be surprised.

Closing with “Metal Health 1999,” you know your thumb and forefinger are going to immediately move toward the volume button after the opening drumbeats. “Alive & Well,” Quiet Riot’s returned from exile louder, bolder and apparently more confident than before.

How many chances can a band get before they finally end it all or come up big?

It’s hard to say but the reformed Quiet Riot are making the most of their latest and with a little luck and continued hard work, their state of ‘metal’ health should continue to improve with each passing day!

Released by Deadline Records

Reviewed by Vinnie Apicella

There's no denying QR's place in history, having created a true masterpiece with their "Metal Health" debut-first Metal album to reach #1 on the Billboard charts, multi-millions selling debut-no small feat in 1983, or any other time for that matter.

However equally indisputable is that since that record, the band has done little to add
to that history essentially doing all they could to offset their forward momentum.

"Conditional Critical" was decent enough, sophomoric slump notwithstanding, they then blew a fuse internally, blew our minds externally with the poorly conceived "QRIII" and blew apart altogether when Dubrow, founder and vocalist who didn't know when to quit when the mic was off, got the boot, the band already heading down hill was already a dead issue even before the nineties' crashed the party.

After a brief reformation, two terribly misguided comeback records, the band had no choice but to sit and wait for the tide to turn. It did when in '99 "Alive & Well" signaled another return, this time all four from the original "Metal Health" team back in action with a much more believable release that for the first time in years showed signs of life and the potential they always had but never fully utilized.

Fast-forward to 2001, with the gift of ("Behind the) Music" under their belts and the
renewed interest in '80s has-beens, "Guilty Pleasures" comes out with perfect timing.

Luckily, the band makes the most of their latest chance-"Guilty Pleasures" billed as a return to the "Metal Health" days is as close as could be expected. "Guilty Pleasures" sounds like a band returning to what they do best… what they did best happened to occur
several years ago.

The four "Metal Health" era originals are back, writing together as a unit, playing better than they have in years with an eleven song "Blast from the Past" (that's a song title) with a point to prove… a bit sloppy at times but hey, it's Rock & Roll!

Yes, we CAN write a good song without riding on Noddy Holders' twenty year old
coattails dammit!

"Vicious Circle," and "Feel The Pain," lead the charge, Cavazo plugged in and ready jam, the band, instrumentally underrated in their greatest years, sounds tight, the recording's a bit fuzzy, the music fairly straight and simple, DuBrow's expectedly all over the place but shows an impressive range of styles that who honestly knew existed.

"Rock The House" is the first single and non-coincidentally borrows from their "Cum On Feel The Noize" hit that sent 'em flying out the gate-too obvious but could work, but if it don't, "We're Not Gonna Take It," right?

"Shadow of Love" is better but probably gets ignored, sort of like "Bad Boys" did from "Condition Critical" for that ridiculous "Party All Night" trap.

The album's two ballads come across well, another overlooked fact from before, you don't think of Dubrow getting soft and subtle-cranky, yes-but he does alright.

"Guilty Pleasures" and "Blast From The Past" fall flat, dead choruses that go nowhere, space fillers… "Street Fighter" picks up the slack abruptly, the stammering guitar riff drowning out Dubrow's suddenly shielded vocals-amazingly-on one of their best tunes and a more suitable closer than the contemplative and Dokken-like dread of "Fly Too High."

So they did fly too high and now it looks like they're firmly grounded, recognizing their abilities as a band and making the most of them, "Guilty Pleasures" is a welcome return home.

Released by Bodyguard Records

Review by Vinnie Apicella [va85@columbia.edu]
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Vinnie Apicella

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