Heavy Metal/Rock legend (in his own Lunchtime) DJ, Author, Actor and Broadway regular Dee Snider returns with his second solo release since (the world’s best bar band,) Twisted Sister called it day in 2016. ‘For The Love Of Metal’ embraces Dee’s love of all things, well Metal. The record bludgeons it’s way through the light to lead the enigmatic frontman into the darker and harder side of Rock. Opener ‘Lies Are A Business’ thrashes with political frustration and the intensity of both music and vocals sit somewhere between Twisted Sister and Thrash Metal, it’s beautifully bizarre. In fact, this album resembles Dee’s Widowmaker (second album, ‘Stand By For Pain’) project. ‘Tomorrow’s No Concern’ headbangs along with a trooper backbone while Dee’s voice morphs into a gravel-gargling mature rasp. ‘I Am The Hurricane’ puts former bands and albums under the blade with a rough cutting edge that effortlessly punctures the skin.
The flag waving, chest out, fist pumping of ‘American Made’ resonates like a Detroit muscle car advert and there is a strong chance that Kid Rock will cover it at some point. The anger on ‘Roll Over You’ is obviously directed at someone or something with spat at the feet lyrics/chorus “We Fucking Despise You!” proving Dee’s not lost any of his bark or bite. The Metal continues with ‘I’m Ready’ while ‘Running Mazes’ has a multi-paced modernistic sound that chops and crackles with a genuine reborn Rock relish. A standard ‘The Mask’ gives way to the albums lead single the high energy anthemic majesty of ‘Become The Storm’. Spanish guitars usher in the left field ‘Dead Hearts (Love Thy Enemy)which features Dee sharing lead vocals with Arch Enemy singer Alissa White-Gluz and the result is simply stunning. Final track ‘For The Love Metal’ is a lyrical reminder of Dee’s former projects and his musical influences including Motorhead, Slayer and Judas Priest as well as dropping plenty of Twisted wordplay bombs. This brutal, catchy and intense album was produced by Hatebreed (who once used Dee’s face on a poster to promote an album) singer Jamey Jasta. This unlikely amalgamation of Rockstars and styles has seen the original SMF deliver his finest piece of work since Widowmaker. For Dee Snider, the Rock fire still burns deeply in his musical DNA. More importantly ‘For The Love Of Metal’ proves this leader of the pack is still hungry for more fresh and exciting artistic challenges.
DEE SNIDER
FOR THE LOVE OF METAL
NAPALM RECORDS
8.5/10