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Rating:
What to say about Twisted Sister? An excellent band that has managed to carve out a niche for itself, spending a lot of time in the shadows (Jay Jay French and company have been active since the early '70s). Upon the release of this debut album, "Under the Blade" (1982), the group finds itself at the dawn of hair/glam metal, and during the same period, various bands like Ratt, Cinderella, Poison, and Britny Fox will emerge. Personally, I have never considered Twisted Sister part of this trend (same for W.A.S.P. and Lizzy Borden) because they have nothing of glam (besides, Snider has always defined their sound as a pure and simple rock n' roll). In fact, the group showed features that their godfather Alice Cooper experimented with years before: a grotesque look, performances with a grand guignol character, and lyrics that mostly talk about sexual perversions and horror themes.
I would say 80% of the credit for their notoriety goes to the singer Dee Snider, endowed with a great voice (a kind of even wilder Mick Jagger) and a stage charisma that only a few rock frontmen possess. Twisted was, for better or worse, an indestructible reality of '80s hard & heavy, studded with successes but also accusations. Famous were the disputes between Snider and Tipper Gore, wife of Senator Al and founder of the P.M.R.C., a very active association in the '80s that pissed off (besides the Sister) W.A.S.P., Frank Zappa, Madonna, Van Halen, Scorpions, Warrant, and others for the censorship of their musical works.
But now let's move on to the analysis of this work. "Under the Blade" is for me the most aggressive album the band has ever produced so far, and there are only some flashes of melodies, unlike subsequent albums. "What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)" begins, one of the most known songs in their discography, in addition to being an irreplaceable pillar in all their concerts. "Sin After Sin", "Shoot Em Down" and "Destroyer" highlight influences from AC/DC, Black Sabbath, and Kiss while "Tear It Loose" shows lessons imparted by speed metal bands like Judas Priest and Motorhead. A special mention goes to the title track, one of the best in the "Schizo Sister's" discography. Going back to P.M.R.C., Tipper Gore accused it of being a song that promotes sadomasochism and do you want to know what Snider told her? "As the creator of 'Under the Blade,' I can say categorically that the sadomasochism, bondage, and violence of this song are only in Ms. Gore's mind".
Second (by a little) to the masterpiece "Stay Hungry". Lovers of classic '80s metal and even those of hair/glam cannot fail to know this milestone, a work by a band that has managed to withstand the wear and tear of time and has maintained a name even with the advent of grunge, alternative, and nu metal trends. A must-have.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
04 Sin After Sin (03:22)
------------------------------ so, you don't realize exactly what you do and though you never compromise it's all been up to you the lie you've been leading has you up to here in sin now you just can't win you never like to think about it you're commiting sin after sin sin after sin can't you feel it sin after sin it's so real it's just look around you satan's found you sin after sin thought yourself respectable but deep inside you know you've violated all the rules and never let it show figuring you had time to straighten out the lie you lead you didn't stop to notice as your soul began to bleed! from commiting sin after sin can't you see now sin after sin you ain't free now sin after sin you're commited to damnation sin after sin he's manipulating, salivating lest you repent there's no salvation promissing only lies first he'll confuse you then abuse you he's ever on the rise you've got to realize you must open up your eyes before you're burning deep in hell! it is he who tolls the bell you're commiting sin after sin can't you feel it sin after sin it's so real it's sin after sin just look around you sin after sin sin after sin, ahhh! oh, my god now satan's found you come on now sin after sin, ahhh! sin after sin, ahhh! sin after sin, ahhh! you know it's sin after sin, ahhh! sin after sin, ahhh! you've damned yourself, you've damned yourself sin after sin, ahhh! sin after sin, ahhh! lord help you! -------------------------------
05 Shoot 'em Down (03:55)
Come on boys!
She looks so fine
Like champagne or wine
No one ever gets her
Oh ain't she cool
Plays us for fools
If we wanna let her
Across the room she's sees some buffoon
Blown away by her style
She goes out of her way so that she can play
And make him beg for a little while
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down to the ground
Like caviar
Or a fine foreign car
He's a motivator
Dressed to the T's
They're down on their knees
He's a master baiter
He'll make 'em crawl for the hell of it all
He likes to see 'em cry
And then just for fun he'll say she's the one
And then he'll make her die
He's gonna
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down to the ground
They don't care about feelings
They were meant to be stepped on
And while one is healing
They go and step on another one
Now, these people prey
On us everyday
Some are bad, some badder
They think we're fools
So they make their own rules
It only gets us madder
Well they think they're hot
Well I say they're not
They shoot us down for fun
If they wanna play
Let's make 'em pay and
Shoot them down with a fuckin' gun
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down to the ground
Come on now!
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down to the ground
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot 'em down, shoot 'em down
Shoot them down
Come on honey
Shoot them down
Come on shoot 'em down
06 Destroyer (04:09)
DESTROYER
He spent his life
A silent sentinel
For all to fear
He walks, he talks, he thinks, he feels,
But no one dare go near
He takes in all he sees
Nothing escapes his gaze
And when he strikes
He strikes for right
A glorious sight
Destroyer, Destroyer, Destroyer
He's in town
He came to be
From a grand mistake
A mystical charade
Created to decide the good
And bring repercussive aid
As awareness filled his fame
He examined those who leered
Then he cleaved the air
With his fiery stare
Rend all those there
Destroyer, Destroyer, Destroyer
He's in town
Destroyer, Destroyer, Destroyer
He's in town
A day will come
You'll be drawn into
The center of your town
And come upon a mass of steel
That cracks the very ground
Prepare to meet your judge
Don't think to run away
Just pray your face
Holds no disgrace
For the deadly ace
Destroyer, Destroyer, Destroyer
He's in town
Destroyer, Destroyer, Destroyer
Oh he's in town
Yeah, he's in town
You better stay out of his fuckin' way
He's gonna kick your ass
Destroyer
Destroyer
07 Under the Blade (04:38)
UNDER THE BLADE
A glint of steel, a flash of light
You know you're not going home tonight
Be it jack or switch, doctor's or mind
Nowhere to run, everywhere you'll find
You can't escape from the bed you've made
When your time has come,
You'll accept the blade!
You're cornered in the alley way
You know you're not alone
You know it's gonna end this way
The chill goes to the bone
Now here it comes that glistening light
It goes into your side
The blackness comes, tonight's the night
The blade is gonna ride
'Cause you're under the blade,
Oh --
You're under the blade.
It's not another party head
This time you cannot rise
Your hands are tied, your legs are strapped
A light shines in your eyes
You faintly see a razor's edge
You open your mouth to cry
You know you can't, it's over now
The blade is gonna ride
'Cause you're under the blade
Oh
You're under the blade
A glint of steel, a flash of light
You know you're not going home tonight
Be it jack or switch, doctor's or mind
Nowhere to run, anywhere you'll find
You can't escape from the bed you've made
When your time has come,
You'll accept the blade!
You've tried to make it to the front
You're pinned against the side
A monster stands before you now
Its mouth is open wide
The lights go on, the night explodes
It tears into your mind
When the night does end, you'll come again,
The blade is gonna ride
'Cause you're under the blade
Oh
Under the blade
Here it comes, baby ...
Oww.
08 Tear It Loose (03:10)
There ain't no way I'm gonna wait for Saturday Night
I worked all day, I slaved away, I gotta set it right
I'm gonna hit the streets, cruise around, I gotta find some action
Ain't gonna stop until I drop or get some satisfaction!
Gonna tear it, gonna tear it loose
Gonna shout it from the roof
Blast my way into the night
I'm gonna live my dream, shout and scream!
I'm gonna tear it loose, tear it loose
Tear it loose, tear it loose
Come on now, tear it loose, tear it loose
Tear it loose, tear it loose
I've been brutalized, computerized, punched in and punched out
Here comes the night and it just ain't right to be shut in or shut out
So I'm breaking down the barricades, gonna slow the hands of time
Cause to waste away the rest of the day is such a fucking crime!
Gonna tear it, gonna tear it loose
Gonna shout it from the roof
Blast my way into the night
I'm gonna live my dream, shout and scream!
I've got to tear it loose, tear it loose
Tear it loose, tear it loose
You've got to tear it loose, tear it loose
Tear it loose, tear it loose
Solo - left: Jay Jay, right: Fast Eddie Clarke
I'll keep grabbin' hold of all the gold in this old world of trash
Long as there's light breaking through the night I'm never gonna crash
And if I'm down and out one day, I won't throw in the deuce
I'll just kick it out, thrash about till I tear it loose, oh
Gonna tear it, gonna tear it loose
Gonna shout it from the roof
Blast my way into the night
I'm gonna live my dream, shout and scream!
We got to tear it loose, tear it loose
Tear it loose, tear it loose
Alright, let's tear it loose, tear it loose
Tear it loose, tear it loose
09 Day of the Rocker (04:52)
i wanna tell ya 'bout it
a time is comin'
just 'round the corner
we don't have very long to go
when we'll be stronger
our days will be longer
it's comin' soon it might be tomorrow
can't you feel the power
it's all around and deep down inside
our numbers growin'
soon we'll be showin'
we've got the right to rule
we won't be denied
so raise your hands in the air
and i want you to tell the world all about
the day of the rock-rock-rock-rocker
the day of the rock-rock-rock-rocker
the day of the rock-rock-rock-rocker
oh, come on fingers turn me loose
ahh
oh yeah
straight from the heart baby
oh, come on fingers take it home
all right take it down boys
your time is comin'
so you be ready
to show the world to rock 'n' roll
we'll show them feelin'
we'll send them reelin'
they'll know we've got the music in our control
we'll be in our glory
we'll stand tall ruling over the land
we'll live forever
and then we'll never
give up the power once it's in our hands
so 'til our day has come, baby
i want you all to raise your battle cry
the day of the rock-rock-rock-rocker
the day of the rock-rock-rock-rocker
the day of the rock-rock-rock-rocker
ahhh, ain't nobody gonna stop us now
let's go
rock-rock-rock-rocker
yeah, i want you to move your mouth now
rock-rock-rock-rocker
you gotta shout baby, you gotta scream
rock-rock-rock-rocker
i'll tell you what what i'm singin' man
i'm singin' the day of the
rock-rock-rock-rocker
yeah, everybody's gonna be singin' like this
rock-rock-rock-rocker
hey you in the back
whatcha you doin' wackin' off or somethin'
come on
rock-rock-rock-rocker
oh yeah, let it go
rock-rock-rock-rocker
let it go, go go, go go, go go...
11 Leader of the Pack (03:57)
-----------------------------------Hey, is he really goin' out with her?There he is, let's ask himHey man, is that your ring she's wearin'?Uh, huhMan, it must be great ridin' with herAre you pickin' her up after school today?Uh uhBy the way where'd you meet herI met her at the candy storeShe turned around and smiled at meYou get the picture?Yeah, we seeThat's when she fell forThe leader of the packHer folks were always putting me downThey said I came from the wrong side of townThey told her that I was badBut she knew I was sadThat's why she fell forThe leader of the packOne day her dad said find someone newShe had to tell me that we were throughI stood there and asked her whyBut all she could do was cry
"I'm sorry I hurt you"The leader of the packShe was so smallAs she kissed me goodbye,Her tears were beginning to showAnd as she drove away on that rainy nightI begged her to go slowIf she heard I'll never knowNo, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, noI felt so helpless what could I do?Remembering all the things we'd been throughThe gang they all stop and stareI can't hide my tears but I don't careI'll never forget herThe leader of the packLeader of the packAnd now she's goneLeader of the packAnd now she's goneLeader of the packAnd now she's goneLeader of the packAnd now she's goneLeader of the packAnd now she's goneLeader of the packAnd now she's goneLeader of the packAnd now she's goneLeader of the packAnd now she's goneLeader of the packAnd now she's goneLeader of the packAnd now she's goneLeader of the packAnd now she's goneLeader of the pack
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