I'm not surprised no one else is on board with this one, but an unexpected welcome surpsrise for me. I very much appreciate the kudos Chad always gives me when it comes to WASP.
In 2002, Dying For the World came out. I remember getting it in real time. It was very highly anticipated from me and it didn't disappoint. It could be a top 3 WASP album. Great songs, heavy, great production and great energy.
I remember when the Neon God was announced it immediately raised some eyebrows. I remember Blackie talking it up about a two part rock opera kind of thing and people saying he was trying to rehash the glory days of The Crimson Idol. As always, I looked forward to it. I like the separate releases months apart too. Part 1 didn't really hit me right away. The production is pretty poor and I did immediately also feel he used TCI as a blatant template. As time went on, I really did enjoy it as most WASP albums. I'm easily pleased in that respect, except Helldorado, that's crap.
I liked the little short acoustic interludes and used pretty much all of them in my concept album for Puppies. The songs themselves aren't Blackie's greatest, but it's an enjoyable ride. It's probably one of my least listened to WASP albums though. Part 2 however came out of the gates nicely for me. The production was much better and it's certainly more solid and consistent with nine real full length tracks. Never Say Die and Destinies to Come are a couple of Blackie's best, great tunes, and All My Life, again used in my concept album is one of my fav mellow pieces from Blackie. I think the Last Redemption is a really nice epic closer to the saga. Plus I love, love the reprise of I Can't from 1995's Still Not Black Enough in the second half of Clockwork Mary too. (Both songs again, used in my album.)
While these albums can't touch a hair on TCI's head, it's a gallant double album effort from Blackie late in his career. Probably considered deep cuts in the album discography but some nice things to chew on here. I will say though, while both are around 95 minutes, he could and probably should have made a single 70-75 minute album here. It would have pleased more fans I think and made for a killer, consistent album with a nice story.
EDIT: Looks like Chad nailed the best songs from each album too!