Universal Juveniles

by

Max Webster

Edit

For fans of metal/prog and general LOUD, well-played, well-arranged, sensible rock, this album achieves the pinnacle of quality.

Battlescar marries two entire legendary bands: RUSH and Max Webster TOGETHER! That's right, two drummers, two lead guitars, two lead vox and enough wattage to dim the lights around Toronto when both bands played Maple Leaf Gardens New Year after New Year. This is Canadian Hard Rock at its most beauty, eh. While Mitchell's playing is awesome on this CD, the best Max Webster album stands as "High Class in Borrowed Shoes." "Juveniles" gives the listener the last fond look at ear-splitting power chords and stadium rock before the pouffy-haired eighties bands softened it to mushy schlock (if you like Journey, or even later inceptions of Triumph and Van Halen, this is too much "muscle" for you.) Comparatively, "High Class in Borrowed Shoes" offers more progressive ideas and shatters the then-emerging image of heavy metal as a "simple" music.

"Juveniles" is a great listen and was a great tour (I saw Mitchell when he was still in Webster...and am glad of it.)

Highlight songs: Check, Battlescar)

"Feel the way I-I-I ...FEEL!"

Rock on...