I'm running through Demolition today in the car. it's not that bad for what it is. If you can get pas the horrible lyrics in Machine Men there's some cool stuff on here;
MM - Pretty ripping but the lyrics are horseshit.
One on One - Groovy. A bit long and probably overstays its welcome but it's catchy.
Hell is Home - Good one. Slow and doomy with some nice melodies IMO.
Jekyll and Hyde - Not bad, was never a fav on release but didn't mind it here
Close to You - Great ballad and amazing Tipton solo. The best solo on both this album and Jugulator IMO, classic stuff.
Devil Digger - The plodding nature starts to get a bit old but this is okay.
Bloodsuckers - A bit better with a generic but very likeable riff. Crap lyrics but some old school feels here.
In Between - Probably a low point. Too ploddy after what we've heard but quite dark and somewhat interesting.
Feed On Me - This is better. A live staple for the tour and you can see why. Decent metal
Subterfuge - One of my favs. Simple riffing but I love the chorus, great underrated cut.
Lost and Found - Nah, the other ballad destroys it.
Cyberface - Thank fuck this is the only song Scott Travis tried to write, holy hell!
Metal Messiah - Another highlight. Pretty unconventional and different but great chorus, love this one.
Quoting you above me as I have not read your notes. I didn't want to read them before I listened. We usually hear things pretty similarly so I want to compare after I post.
Suffice to say, I really liked this. I have some thoughts regarding something J-Dude said comparing these to the two Blaze albums.
Anyway.
DemolitionTo me, the only drawback from this album are some of the effects, which I found quite distracting. A number of times, the solo started and I don't know what they were running it through, but it sure as hell wasn't a Marshall. The songs, as written, were generally excellent, with really only the production fucking with it. Ripper is amazing on this album.
Machine Man-I can totally hear John Bush singing this. Reminds me a bit of WCFYA Era Anthrax, which is easily by far my least favorite Anthrax album. Heavy tune. Is that a bebot solo?
One On One-I like the beginning driving rhythm. Not crazy about the tuning or the effects though. This song has some potential though. Ripper turns into Alice Cooper at 3:33. I like the solo section right after that especially the second one.
Hell Is Home-This song isn't bad at all. I'm not usually a mid tempo guy, but this keeps a good pace. Kind of a Black Sabbath/Alice In Chains mashup.
The best thing about Jeckyl And Hyde is that it's short. That part at 1:19-1:41 is awesome. I would've loved to have them extend that than go to another bebot solo.
There's something just off with Close To You. I don't love it, but I don't hate it either. That solo at 2:04 is great! Best 35 seconds of the album.
Devil Digger? Is that the actual name of the song? It sounds like a gardening tool. That's a heavy as shit riff throughout, but I'll pass.
I don't think the intro to Bloodsuckers is necessary. I would've been fine with that riff simply beginning the songs. This song kicks ass. The "BLOOD SUCKERS" in the chorus is a bit goofy. I like the bridge at 3:20, and the guitar underneath it. Yeah, this song rips.
I think In Between is also a cool underrated track. I love the "I am my alter ego" part in the middle of the song.
Wow, Feed On Me has a total Dio/Dehumanizer feel. Very cool. This song is a headbanger. What a wicked groove. A bit of Accept here too. The outro solo section in the last minute is nice.
They could've left Subterfuge off. WTF is this? The effects starting at 2:43 remind me of either Boobah or the Teletubbies.
Lost And Found is awesome. This is a nice change of pace. Classy tune. Ripper is great on the I "I stumbled through a barren land" line. So on point. 3:15...what a gorgeous solo. Great tune!
Cyberface- Wait..Cyberface?? WTF?? Another track with a useless intro. Sounds like latter day Dio, which really isn't a compliment. The prechorus is fucking badass though, but the chorus fucking blows.
Metal Mesiah has a Bush Era Anthrax verse, but that chorus..my word, is amazing and classic Priest.
The solo section is awesome. Sick rhythm underneath. Not sure that outro was needed, but ok..
I liked this track a lot.