Paul Di'Anno's Battlezone
Children Of Madness

THE REVIEW

I picked a random record by Paul Di'Anno (England '58) to define an unreviewed record.

Here is the music of one of the most unfortunate Metal singers still around (among the unfortunate, I would also add Neil Turbin - the first singer of Anthrax, dismissed for being not very charismatic and lost in anonymity).
His departure from Iron Maiden, after 2 sublime albums, seems to have been due to his excessive abuse of alcohol and drugs.
It is also said that he was acting too much like a star within the Band and Steve Harris was fed up. Another reason I read in one of his interviews was the musical genre. Paul preferred Punk over Metal. Steve Harris acted quickly. One-way ticket to hell and on with the next. And damn, what a turn....

This "Children of Madness" is the second release from the Battlezone. The album's release was complicated because after the tour promoting the previous record "Fighting Back," the guitarist and drummer of Battlezone left the Band due to disagreements with Di'Anno. Two other new members and recording of the album.
A truly peculiar record. Good compositions alternate with tracks that are unbearable to listen to. The first track is excellent. "Rip It Up" is well-written. There's high-level compositional artistry. A muted rhythmic base and an unmistakable voice that carves out space among powerful guitar riffs. A track worthy of the early Iron Maiden.
A wasted start. In fact, very little of the rest is salvageable. There are some stunning songs (listen to believe "Nuclear Breakdown") where even Di'Anno's voice is unrecognizable or the use of tuners (don't listen to "Metal Tears") to simulate the fall of tears.

When discussing Iron Maiden, there are always two camps: better Paul Di'Anno, better Bruce Dickinson.
Musical history and especially professionalism have favored Dickinson.
In 2011, Paul Di'Anno was arrested for claiming disability pension (well, well?! sounds like an Italian story...)
In 2011, Bruce Dickinson used his money to save 1500 jobs at the airline where he works as a Boeing 757 pilot.

If you have to massacre the review, do it.
But don't touch Paul Di'Anno, at least not today.....