Metal Health [CASSETTE] [Import]

Just read both reviews - pretty clear that there's a big divide here. However I'm with the love it crowd. This is not a derivative record or a copy - Quiet Riot was in the forefront of the 80's Californian rock scene and produced some excellent music of the type.

This is their best record and the one that sold by the bucket load. Deservedly so, because the songs are catchy but actually quite heavy in places. Of course we have the brilliant cover of Cum On Feel the Noise but it doesn't end there. Slick Black Cadillac is a real crowd pleaser and Bang Your Head is definitely a class song.

Kevin DuBrow - RIP - had a great rock voice as well. He drives the band sound more than many contemporary's which have more influence from the guitarist. It makes for a unique sound withing the genre.

Overall it's one of the best, rock along records from that period when somehow most things seemed to be sunnier. I'd say that was worth the five stars.

01. Metal Health - The opening track and what a great song! With some really great work from the band. Carlos Carazo's Guitar playing is amazing with a really great solo. Kevin DuBrow sounds great as always. Frankie Banali plays some great drum beats. I think it's actually Chuck Wright (who joined Quiet Riot in 85) playing bass on this track because I remember seeing an interview on YouTube where Kevin mentioned it. Anyway the bass is great and has some cool little fills mid way through the song. Overall a great track

02. Cum on Feel the Noize - This is a cover of Slade's number 1 from back in the 70's. I'm not a huge fan of this track as it kind of leans towards pop but then again I'm not a fan of the original so it doesn't matter who's playing it. This was the track that made the Metal Health album so popular and a lotto people like it so keep an open mind I guess. However the guitar solo on this track is probably the best on the album! Carlos Cavazo Rips!

03. Don't Wanna Let You Go - this is quite a slow track. I don't know what to say about this track. It's ok but not the best.

04. Slick Black Cadillac - Quiet Riots signature tune from when Randy Rhoads was in the band. This is quite a repetitive track but it's still great and you can't help but sing along. This differs slightly from the original version but is still pretty much the same.

05. Love's A Bitch - WOOO one of my favourite tracks on the album! Starts of slow with some cool guitar from Carlos and great Vocal work from Kevin then bursts out into a really catchy song! Great throughout and definitely a highlight of the Album. This track was also a regular on Quiet Riots live set and sounds great live!

06. Breathless - this is quite a fast track with some great drum work. However I'm not a fan of the chorus to this track but still not bad.

07. Run For Cover - another fast track with a cool riff.

08. Battle Axe - this is a 1:39 guitar solo which is a string of riffs and licks. I like it and sound different from most however the studio version is not nearly as good as it is performed live.

09. Lets Get Crazy - WOOOO! Another one of my favourites! I love this track to death! Its very catchy and all around great song! Again this doesn't sound as good as it does live but still awesome!

10. Thunderbird - this was track dedicated to the memory of Randy Rhoads who died in a plane crash in 82. It's a slow clean track with piano. Not something I'm really into but it's a nice track to remember Randy and Kevin by.

11. Danger Zone - this is a bonus track so I'm guessing it was a B-Side to something. This track was also played live a few times. This track is good like the rest although I can't stand the weird background vocals on this track

12. Slick Black Cadillac Live - A live version of Slick Black Cadillac which again proves that Quiet Riot sound much better live than in the studio.

The lyrics are all good. Easy to pick up and sing along too. The normal rock n roll subjects are covered: Girls, Cars and partying ahaha which A-Ok by me. Kevin Dubrow has a great voice and he singing is great in the studio and live.

Overall this is a great album! with Quiet Riots best tracks on.

I bought this album on the strength of the song "Cum On Feel The Noize" which is actually a cover (original by Slade), a really great cover but this is the only redeeming feature of the whole album.

The album comes across as a parody of the glam metal genre and even has an awful instrumental (Battle Axe) which reveals the lead guitarist's lack of talent. The music itself is just so cheesey, dated and lacking in imagination. The lyrics are full of clichés such as fast cars and girls.

I really can't recommend this, other than the cover song, there is nothing here worth listening to, though they almost had another decent song by including a live version of "Slick Black Cadillac", which is faster than the studio version and more raw, but is ruined by an abrupt pause in the middle of the song, where the singer starts making stupid engine noises like a kid playing with a toy car.

To summarise, just avoid unless you enjoy parody-esque music.