Slade
In Flames

Slade: In flames (1974)

Slade were a group of outfits who had been around since the late 60s as Ambrose Slade, but they transitioned to Glam Rock with their image of rowdy proletarian rabble-rousers and local exhibitionists. They released their first single in October 1969, but the first success came after the album with a prophetic title, Play It Loud (Cotillion, 1970). This was followed by top ten singles Coz I Love You (1971), Look Wot You Dun (1971), Take Me Back Home (1972), Mama Weer All Crazee Now (1972), Gudbuy T' Jane (1972), and especially the anthem Cum On Feel The Noise (1973).

Noddy Holder competes with Robert Plant as the best shouter, so much so that Slade seems like the Led Zeppelin of glam, the more metal wing. Immediate, raw, yet exhilarating, Slade managed to make their way through the myriad of masked bands of the period, and boasted explosive live shows. I chose to review In Flame, the soundtrack of their first -and last- film, instead of albums containing their most beautiful singles because here Slade have matured (?) and are at the height of fame: among the songs, the standout is How Does It Feel?, which opens the album with a beautiful melody and sophisticated arrangements, Them Kinda Monkeys Can't Swing, vigorous, and the carefree Summer Song.

So Far So Good is a melodic rock about the good times of adolescence, followed by Far Far Away featuring a noticeable big acoustic guitar and a memorable chorus, then my favorites, This Girl, pure glam rock with a sensual pace, and a bass line almost like disco music, and Lay It Down, with a compelling atmosphere. Slade are a group underrated by critics, but they were ahead of their time and so much noise that in America they were considered a pre-litteram metal band.

They certainly influenced the Kiss, who significantly chose Alive as the title of their live album, following the wake of Slade Alive from 1972. The band experienced a second youth overseas with two metal covers by Quiet Riot, Cum on feel the noize, and Mama weer all crazee now.