Inside The Electric Circus [Remastered] - WASP

If any band signified the excesses of 1980's glam-metal, then W.A.S.P. have to be at the forefront.

W.A.S.P. (standing for We Are Sexual Perverts) managed to carve a niche pretty much on there own, and very few bands managed to appeal to so many different factions.

Like a lot of glam rock bands (Poison, Tigertailz to name a couple), W.A.S.P. were popular with girl rock fans, despite their suggestive lyrics. And whilst ...
...rock, they were hard rocking enough (and not too heavy on the make-up and women's clothes) to appeal to your average Iron Maiden fan too.

There are a few artists that have pulled this off - Alice Cooper being one, and Motley Crue being another, and W.A.S.P. seemed to take the excesses of these artists, namely the drinking, sex and shock stage antics, and interpreted them in their own unique way.

ELECTRIC CIRCUS was W.A.S.P.'s ... more

If any band signified the excesses of 1980's glam-metal, then W.A.S.P. have to be at the forefront.

W.A.S.P. (standing for We Are Sexual Perverts) managed to carve a niche pretty much on there own, and very few bands managed to appeal to so many different factions.

Like a lot of glam rock bands (Poison, Tigertailz to name a couple), W.A.S.P. were popular with girl rock fans, despite their suggestive lyrics. And whilst it wasn't the coolest thing for blokes to like glam rock, they were hard rocking enough (and not too heavy on the make-up and women's clothes) to appeal to your average Iron Maiden fan too.

There are a few artists that have pulled this off - Alice Cooper being one, and Motley Crue being another, and W.A.S.P. seemed to take the excesses of these artists, namely the drinking, sex and shock stage antics, and interpreted them in their own unique way.

ELECTRIC CIRCUS was W.A.S.P.'s third album outing, the previous two gaining respect from many quarters, and this album was certainly no diversion from the sound of it's predecessors.

Joined by new band member Johnny Rod (bass) saw frontman Blackie Lawless switch from bass to guitar, though the sound barely changed. W.A.S.P., with their ability to write catchy choruses, were hardly reknowned for their expert musicianship. Most songs are three chord wonders at the most.

The album builds up a frenzy with the intro 'The Big Welcome', followed soon after by the corkingly catchy title track.

We're also treated to a couple of cover versions - namely a rocking version of Ray Charles' "I Don't Need No Doctor", which subsequently was used as a single for the album, and an enjoyable rendition of Uriah Heep's "Easy Livin'"

No W.A.S.P. album would be complete without a ballad, and the song "Restless Gypsy" takes care of that more than adequately.

More than subtle sex references ensue with the tracks "95 N.A.S.T.Y.", and the almost 'carry-on-film-esque' "Shoot from the hip".

However, the album does tend to tail off into run-of-the-mill cliched rock towards the second half, with songs like 'Mantronic", "I'm Alive", "Sweet Cheetah", and "King of Sodom and Gomorrah". Whilst these songs are fine in their own right, they are not overly memorable, and not classic 'A-grade' material, and they seem to pass by un-noticed.

Interestingly, the record redeems itself at the end, with the completely unoriginal, but catchy "Rock rolls on", which wouldn't have sounded out of place on a Twisted Sister album, if it wasn't for Blackies distinctive vocal style.

This remastered CD also includes a couple of bonus songs, "Flesh and Fire" and "D.B. Blues" - though these don't really make it worth buying this new remastered version over a cheap second hand copy of the album.

Drinking, sex, and rock and roll definately sold to your average teenage metal-head in the 80's, and the ability to shock your parents was always going to be an added bonus.

This album has the lot, and it's fun to get nostalgic, remembering how much fun we had in the 80's as teenage metal fans. However, 19 years later, and it's dated pretty badly.

I think you'll enjoy listening to it, but don't let anyone 'catch you'. Especially if you're wearing spandex and hairspray.

 

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