MöTLEY CRüE came screaming out of the gates with Shout at the Devil, the bands second release. After the success of the first album on a local scale the band found themselves playing bigger gigs, out-pulling everyone on the local circuit and appearing on festivals and even opening for Ozzy. Possibly the biggest gig a band could even hope for.
This album has punchier songs than their first. I hold the first album in very high esteem so I don’t necessarily think this one is better but either way it’s a killer album. The songs are more focused and to the point and with bigger choruses and easier to remember grooves the stadium crowds the band was now playing to would have lapped this up like no-ones business.
After the intro the album kicks in with the title track “Shout at the Devil”. This is absolute show stopper, and a one of the bands most recognisable songs (and they have a lot of them). The band (well, at least Nikki Sixx) have adopted a newer more evil image and an interest in the occult by this point and the songs definitely have a darker edge to them than what we saw on the first album.
The album continues on with “Looks that Kill”, a more typical Motley Crue song and the “Bastard”. By this point its safe to say this a more “Metal” effort than their first album. The band also do a cover of the Beatles “Helter Skelter” giving it a bit of a tune up and making it more metal than it was before.
“Red Hot” is another Killer track with a great chorus and riffage that anyone would have to like. “Too young to fall in Love” and “Knock ’em Dead, Kid” keep everything rokin’ and rolling nicely. This album is full of great songs with killer riffs that just stick in your head.
The album finishes up with “Ten Seconds to Love” and “Danger” which go back to the sleazier sound the band have already mastered. When I listen to this album it’s hard to not start bopping around the room and singing along to these arena rock classics. Hearing this album never fails to pick up my mood and leave me in awe at how good these guys were in their prime.
One of my all time faves for sure!
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