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Rating:
I dedicate this dereview to...
If you want, you can read the whole text, or you can skip directly to the end to find out to whom. After two albums that were still good, the style of Thin Lizzy seemed to have slightly faded because it sounded too "soft." Therefore, at that time (we are in 1983) Phil Lynott (half Brazilian and half Irish), the leader of the group, decided to recruit the dazzling guitarist J.Sykes, star of the new British heavy metal, and to replace S.White.
The result proved particularly successful because the album was undeniably the best work of T. Lizzy of the '80s. Also, because during that period, musical tastes had decisively shifted towards metal and Lizzy's hard rock seemed to be outdated. Therefore, the present album is undoubtedly the most "metal" of the entire Lizzy production. For the album review, I find myself at 51.0 repeating (%) for the track by track, and at 49.0 repeating (%) for the highlighting of the most indicative tracks. So... I will only mention a few pieces, even though they are all excellent. "Thunder And Lightning", an extremely intense song with fast and metallic solos. "The Sun Goes Down" a splendid electric ballad featuring Lynott's bass. Unquestionably another Lizzy classic, which could easily be used as a soundtrack for a hypothetical apocalyptic sci-fi film. "The Holy War" a compelling track with characteristic T. Lizzy guitar "riffs." It must be said that the use of two harmonies derived from two lead guitars was invented and introduced years earlier by another group, but that's another story... Surely Lizzy developed this idea a lot, which would later be widely adopted by many other bands of the '80s. "Baby Please Don't Go" another excellent track with dizzying progressive solos. The track "Heart Attack" which concludes the album, strongly recalls the Lizzy style of the '70s. In my opinion, this is also another classic.
In conclusion, a truly valuable album that noticeably gets closer to the wonderful works of the '70s. Let's not forget P.Lynott, who was endowed with charisma and an uncommon emotional charge. His voice is not particularly powerful like that of other colleagues, but certainly warmer and deeper. Often underestimated is his excellent use of the bass. Unfortunately, the adventure does not continue, and after a series of memorable concerts, including the Hammersmith show with all the guitarists who played in Lizzy, the band disbands. Lynott, with already two albums published under his name, will try to form a band "Grand Slam" which, however, will not record. Before concluding, I want to highlight the excellent heavy metal style cover (rating 3.8 repeating).
PS: "I dedicate this review to P.Lynott, who passed away in 1986 after a few days in a coma due to drug abuse"
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Thunder and Lightning (04:55)
Locked up in the classroom waiting for the fight
Down to the schoolyard knocking the gate
Into the alley meet up with the boys
Waiting for the weekend to make a little noise
Thunder is strong, lightning is death
Kicking the girls and its starting to blast
Sweeter than the heavens and the fate means stumble
But its saturday night when heavy rock was born
Chorus:
Like thunder and lightning
God damn, its so exciting
It hits you like a hammer
God damn
It was saturday night I was ready for the dance
My girl walked in holding another guys hand
He stood six foot six he looked two miles wide
I was taking it easy till he took her outside
I was madder than hell and fit to burn
This guy would break a leg before but now hes got to run
Standing in the corner giving him a thrill
You can keep your lover honey, but hes got to pay the bill
Chorus
Well the place started rocking it was saturday night
I was dressed to kill I was feeling alright
Alright in the middle of the night
I wasnt ready for a rumble but the mood was right
When he got up to leave
I stood in his way
I said love thats the price you have to pay
In the doorway up against the wall
When they play a heavy record then Im gonna have a ball
Chorus
Chorus
We started to rumble and stumble
It is we were rocking and rolling and rolling and tumbling
I fumbled and started to win
When the greater than wicked then I hit him again
I hit him again and I couldnt hit him anymore
My head was all black and blue and my jaw was sore
Sweeter than the heavens and like a frightening stumble
It was saturday night when heavy rock was born
03 The Sun Goes Down (06:18)
There is a demon among us whose soul belongs in hell
Sent here to redeem us, she knows it all to well
He comes and goes, he comes and goes, she knows it all too well
But when all is said and done
The sun goes down
She tries her best to leave him, but she is still captured by his spell
She knows now she must deceive him, he knows it all to well
She comes and goes, she comes and goes, he knows it all too well
But when all is said and done
The sun goes down
She comes and goes, she comes and goes, he knows it all too well
But when all is said and done
The sun goes down
There is a demon within us
The sun goes down
She tries her best to deceive him
The sun goes down
05 Cold Sweat (03:06)
I put my money in a suitcase
And headed for the big race
I felt a chill on my backbone
As I hung up the telephone
Stone cold sober and stone cold sweat
Running down the back of my neck
To lose means trouble, to win pays double
And I got me a heavy bet
Cold, cold sweat
They say chances on the outside
Are looking pretty slim
I feel so lucky on the inside
I feel I'm gonna to win
Stone cold sober and stone cold sweat
Running down the back of my neck
Take a little money, there's nothing left to lose
And I got me a heavy bet
Cold, cold sweat
I've got me a whole month's wages
I haven't seen that much in ages
I might spend it in stages
And move out to Las Vegas
Stone cold sober and stone cold sweat
Running down the back of my neck
To lose means trouble, to win pays double
And I got me a heavy bet
Cold, cold sweat
I put my money in a suitcase
They say chances on the outside
I got a whole months wages
Stone cold sober and stone cold sweat
Stone cold crazy
Place another bet
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