Leatherwolf
Street Ready

I pulled from the shelf this 1989 CD by the Californians Leatherwolf, a band that managed to stand out in the crowded metal scene of the '80s thanks to two unique features: the longest hair in history and a lineup featuring a whopping three guitars! Joking aside, their fast yet melodious metal impressed from the start, carving out its own personality among the myriad bands of the era.

"Street Ready" is the second album of their career and it’s my favorite, first and foremost for its superb production where the soundscape crafted by the guitars fills and pulls the listener in right from the opener "Wicked Ways"; furious speed solos alternate with pure American style choruses (think Skid Row, but also Bon Jovi). The instrumental "Black Night" is thrilling as it introduces the cascade of molten metal of "Thunder," a real anthem for every rocker worth their salt. Keyboards also appear here and there, but certainly not to lighten the sound; on the contrary, the arrangements almost touch prog, so great is the mastery of these musicians.

A splendid album, unfortunately unnoticed by the general public, as often happens to the best.