The Headless Children

by

W.A.S.P.

Edit

This is not only WASP's finest moment, it's one of the two or three best hard rock albums of all time. Released in April of 1989, it marked a significant departure from the good-time party rock of the group's first three studio releases. The lyrical focus moved to more political and social territory, with topics ranging from drug abuse ("Thunderhead") to nuclear war ("The Neutron Bomber"). These more topical songs were nicely balanced with light-hearted tunes such as "Mean Man" and "Rebel In The F.D.G.". There's even a great motorcycle tune on here ("Maneater")!

Of course this is rock'n'roll, so the shift of lyrical focus alone would hardly serve to make this record worthwhile. So why a 5-star rating? Because the songwriting isn't just good, it's out of this world. There is just NO FILLER on this record! The weakest song present is "The Neutron Bomber", and it's a great song! Some highlights include "The Heretic" (an epic worthy of Iron Maiden and easily my favorite WASP tune), the dark and athmospheric title track, the beautiful tear-jerking ballad "Forever Free", and an amazing cover of The Who's "The Real Me". It's all great stuff.

The technical aspects of the record are every bit as spectacular as the writing. The band absolutely smokes, with powerful drums from Frankie Banalie (formerly of Quiet Riot), solid bass from Johnny Rod (check him out on "The Real Me"), and Chris Holmes' usual brand of tasteful shred guitar. And the mastermind behind it all, Blackie Lawless, turns in an incredible vocal performance. His raw, powerful voice is at it's peak here and the range of emotions he manages to convey is truly stunning. This album also features great production, with each instrument sounding crisp and clear but avoiding the overly polished sound that was epidemic in the late eighties. The bottom line? GET THIS ALBUM!!! And be prepared for the heavy metal ride of a lifetime.