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Rating: Champions of a certain way of playing heavy metal in the second half of the 1980s, that is, a very technical speed metal filled with "all-shred" solos by Paul Gilbert's guitar (later assisted by Bruce Bouillet for the second album) and also John Alderete's bass, Racer X disbanded in 1989 due to a lack of support from the record label on one hand and Paul’s involvement in a project put together by Billy Sheehan (namely Mr. Big...) on the other.
After about a decade, the four (along with Gilbert and Alderete, there are Jeff Martin on vocals and Scott Travis on drums, while Bouillet is not part of it) reunite and release the excellent "Technical Difficulties," followed just a year later by the present "Superheroes."
Encased in a cover somewhere between gaudy and unwatchable (and you should see the entire booklet once opened in all its "magnificence," truly a rare sight...), the album features 11 tracks that mark a slight step back from the raw and powerful heavy metal of the preceding "Technical...," to sounds closer to what made the band famous in the '80s.
The opener and title-track is a declaration of intent: fast riff, double pedal, speed well over 200bpm of metronome, and vocals reaching sky-high notes, besides the unmissable acrobatic solo by Gilbert; it really feels like being back in the "Street Lethal" era. This impression is reinforced by a highly noisy production, full of overdubs and various effects, with intentionally exaggerated screams, whistles, and distortions permeating every single track.
The songs indeed: they range from the robust heavy metal of "Let the Spirit Fly" or "Dead Man's Shoes," to the boisterous and loud hard rock of the concluding "O.H.B.," with even a foray into rather unconventional territories for the band, represented by the seven minutes plus of "Time Before the Sun" which alternates verses accompanied solely by acoustic guitar and percussion with a heavier chorus, ending with a long instrumental tail; all seasoned with an excellent interpretation by Martin, finally in perfect control of his voice along its entire range. But what would a Racer X album be without an instrumental song? Don't worry, here there are two: the first is the lightning-fast "King of the Monsters," where as usual it's the back-and-forth between guitar and bass that dominate; the second is "Viking Kong," where Gilbert really throws everything into the mix (listen from 2:30 onwards to believe it...). Small curiosities: among the tracks, there are also a very personal and successful cover of the classic "Godzilla" by Blue Öyster Cult, and a ballad, "Mad at the World," with a bit of a puzzled genesis; it's a song often played live by the band in concerts held in the '80s but never recorded before this album, whose main guitar riff will be picked up by Mr. Big and turned into "My Kinda Woman" (included in "Lean into It" of 1991).
In conclusion, the Los Angeles band is back to doing what they knew: playing powerful metal filled with virtuosity, without these coming at the expense of the songs, burdening them or turning them into mere technical exercises (on the contrary: every single piece is a perfect balance between instrumental skill and catchily melodic solutions); all without taking themselves too seriously; just look at the identities the four have chosen (Motor Man-Martin, The Electric Bat-Gilbert, The X-Tinguisher-Alderete, and The Cowboy Axe-Travis) with attached tasteless costumes to prove it. Another good work, perhaps inferior to the previous one due to an occasionally really excessive presence of various effects and overdubs I mentioned a little above (including sampling of a prank call in the background of "Evil Joe"), but which feel so strongly '80s, that period of neon lights and that desire for speed and excesses...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Superheroes (04:39)
Wasting all our time
You mortals and your crimes
Move quick as lightning
Burning across the grease
Could be a little frightening
Mutations never cease
Superheroes
Giant freaks
Tear apart the evil
To save the weak
Superheroes
Tell no lies
See all that's true
Though mutant minds
Breaking down the walls
Busting bad guys' balls
We feed on radiation
Our demons never sleep
More than a mad creation
On through the night we creep
Killerheroes
Superfreaks
Rock down the wrong
Pour on the heat
Superheroes
Radar spies
Burning through the steel
With x-ray eyes
Call and we'll come to save the day
And quickly wash your fears away
Superheroes
Giant freaks
Tear apart the evil
To save the weak
Superheroes
Tell no lies
See all that's true
Though mutant minds
Killerheroes
Superfreaks
Rock down the wrong
Pour on the heat
Superheroes
Radar spies
Burning through the steel
With x-ray eyes
07 Evil Joe (03:59)
We populate, contaminate
And suffocate in our own waste
So now kuwait can celebrate
And salivate
While we all eat barbiturates
And asparate in our V-8S
While crashin' on the interstate
What's your fate at the gate
When you lay dead on the slate
Is your heart filled with hate
Down to hell you will skate
Are you evil? EVIL JOE
Are you evil? EVIL JOE
We've colonised and communized
Demoralized and bastardized
Monopolized, terrorized
But who's the wise
When all's vaporized or fossilized
A dug up prize to be analogized
About our lies
What's the size of the prize
When your blood's crystalized
Will it be your demise
When a new sun will rise
Are you evil? EVIL JOE
Are you evil? EVIL JOE
Are you evil? EVIL JOE
Are you evil? EVIL JOE
We crucify then justify
Nullify so cut and dry
Falsify the truth's a lie
Out our lips comes alkali
Modified and sanctified
But all will cry
When we've sanitized
When you stand horrified
And it's your turn to fry
Are you evil? EVIL JOE
Are you evil? EVIL JOE
Are you evil? EVIL JOE
Are you evil? EVIL JOE
08 That Hormone Thing (04:36)
I need you
Most everyday
I want to
In every way
Love that pretty little game you play
Y'all twisted round my DNA
Doing that hormone thing
Your secrets
On every page
My weakness
Victoria's expose
Take and shake me
Gonna make me pay
Got me spun out on your lingerie
Doing that hormone thing
You got me doing it
You got me blue with it
Doing that hormone thing
You got me blue with it
You got me doing it
Doing that hormone thing
Can't have you
There isn't a way
Perefection
Sweet untouchable lay
Feel ya movin' in on my mind
My heart is yours most all the time
Doing that hormone thing
Ya make my cold heart sing
Doing that hormone thing
Crucified on your G-string
Doing that hormone thing
Blowin' out my O-ring
Doing that hormone thing
For you I'd do anything
Doing that hormone thing
Squeakin' on my bedspring
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By Giorrrrrgio
The overwhelming personality of Mr. Paul Brandon Gilbert stands out, yet the other three madmen also make their mark.
Every good Metalhead should own it, unfortunately, these bands do not enjoy the fame they deserve.
