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Rating: Strange group, the Lizzy Borden. Situated in the mid-80s, they gave life to one of the biggest hodgepodges of the decade. The singer and namesake leader was styled to look like a fusion between Alice Cooper and Paul Stanley. But they had neither the style of the one nor the other.
Shock/Glam rock only in attitude, the Los Angeles-based band proposed (and still proposes today) an heavy metal with Maiden and Priest tints, with that typical AOR aura of many American bands of the same period. They are part of the genre defined in billions of ways to which groups like Fifth Angel, Keel, Leatherwolf, or Riot also belong. US Power Metal seems the most suitable definition.
Not close to pop like Bon Jovi or Ratt, but not as heavy or proggy as Savatage or Fates Warning. Classic metal, therefore, in its made-in-USA incarnation. This "Love You To Pieces" is their first work, except for the EP, and represents, for me, one of the most beautiful American metal albums of all time. After this necessary premise, it's time to move on to the actual tracks.
The opener "Council For The Cauldron" is the most speed track of the platter, which immediately showcases the sound that will invest us from here on out. Lizzy Borden's vocal timbre is very peculiar, ranging on very high tones but also not disdaining lower parts. The rhythm section is very tight here, but it doesn't seem to suffer from smudges. The second track is "Psychopath", with its sinister intro, turning into a mid-tempo with an energetic refrain, although the solo doesn't completely convince. The worst track present here.
"Save Me" introduces what will become a characteristic of Lizzy, starting with an arpeggiated section that flows into the chorus. The Matuzak/Allen duo offers a noteworthy performance in the solo part here. In the fourth position "Red Rum" one of the best tracks on the record, driven by a great riff and harmonized solos, offers an excellent general performance of all instruments. The lyrics are also nice. The title track is a sentimental ballad, and here Lizzy Borden shows his great interpretative talent behind the microphone. He sings with his soul, and you can feel it. Really strange, that a figure with such a grim appearance lays bare his soul's perdition in the lyrics.
"American Metal" is, together with the splendid "Me Against The World" from the following album, the band's most famous track. Technically it is surely one of the most noteworthy, and it possesses that anthemic stride that is sublimated in the refrain; we are talking about a piece made in the USA par excellence, self-celebratory and majestic, full of pride and a will to live. After this anthem, the pace speeds up again with "Flesheater", dominated once more by the Maiden-style harmonized guitars. The track is aggressive but always maintains the melodic taste that characterizes our band. Excellent bass performance.
"Warfare" is an excellent track, perfect refrain, razor-sharp guitars, and gritty singing, a gem of US Metal. The penultimate track "Godiva" can be defined as a forerunner of the European Power that will soon be patented by Helloween. It's a brief surge that introduces the real masterpiece of the work, which is also the last track. "Rod Of Iron" is one of the most beautiful metal tracks of the year. The painted singer's interpretation is applause-worthy in the intro. Then, when the song opens, it offers highs worthy of a Geoff Tate and a truly engaging AOR-style chorus. The solos, just to change, are very Maidenesque but it's a winning formula, really of excellent taste.
Thus closes the first LP of a band that did not get the success it deserved, endowed with a leader with an extraordinary stage presence and a high-level instrumental style, which makes the balance between explosiveness and catchy melodies its strong point. If you are lovers of classic heavy metal and want something alternative compared to Iron Maiden or Judas Priest, do not hesitate to listen to it, it will pleasantly surprise you.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
06 American Metal (05:54)
Hearts of stone, skull and crossbones
We band together
The sound of steel, noise you can feel
The smell of leather
Suspended thighs, blackened cat eyes
We love to shout
The power’s in the crowd
Cause we all, we all love it loud
We love it loud
We all need - American Metal
Through in through - American Metal
You’ve go to bleed - American Metal
Red, white and blue - American Metal
Hear the thunder, rumble under
It cracks the sky
May the dust never settle
Heavy Metal, will never die
Salute the flag raise up your fist
And scream it out
The power’s in the crowd
Cause we all, we all love it loud
We love it loud
We all need - American Metal
Through in through - American Metal
You’ve go to bleed - American Metal
Red, white and blue - American Metal
We all need - American Metal
Through in through - American Metal
You’ve go to bleed - American Metal
Red, white and blue - American Metal
10 Rod of Iron (04:30)
Time is not yours
Soon you will find
Back from behind
He's close behind your every move
I'm not afraid
Following the blind
Leading us to hell
Staying for all time
It's on my head
Savior
Yours is dead
Yours is dead
Yours is dead
The beginning of the end
The destruction of the sin
The darkness shades to light
Screaming out the cries
Of the fire burning inside
The king of kings
Shall rule, with the rod of iron
With the rod of iron
Forever he will burn
Into the lake of fire
Taking with him sorcerers
And liars
False profit
And the beast will die
Together forever, and ever, and ever
The king of kings shall rule
With the rod of iron
With the rod of iron
Never have the power to be free
Never show your mark for us to see
Never again be fooled by your disguise
Screaming out the cries
Of the fire burning inside
The king of kings shall rule with the rod of iron
With the rod of iron
Never have the power to be free
Never hear your hypnotizing lies
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