Here we go with the second album from W.A.S.P. entitled “The Last Command” from 1985. Hot on the heels of their debut this one came racing out of the gate with “Wild Child” and from the outset Blackie Lawless’ haunting voice hits you straight in the heart. I love this guys vocals and the way the songs are structured around his vocals. No other voice could pull these songs off the way he does.
Next up is the very catchy tune, “Ball Crusher” very catchy stuff indeed… That chorus! The brilliance both musical and lyrical continue with “Fistful of Diamonds” and “Jack Action”. Blackie is a great lyricist and for me absorbing a lot of his lyrics are almost as fun as the music itself!
The mood gets darker with “Widowmaker” starting off with a brooding bass line and then into the slow pounding heavy riffs. I should also mention lead guitar player Chris Holmes puts in a brilliant performance on this album, his leads complimenting the songs perfectly while showing off his skills nicely. This is pure gold. The second single off this album is up next, “Blind in Texas” is an ultimate party song and really brings back my youth.
W.A.S.P. manage to combine some great old fashioned rockers and some darker heavier stuff in a package that not many bands could ever hope to. “Cries in the Night” show cases this perfectly. This is another classic for the ages type metal album and while the “The Last Command” and “Running Wild in the Streets” are kind of deeper cuts that don’t stand out as much as the other ones they are great songs.
The album closes off with party anthem “Sex Drive” a great rock and roll riff (But highly distorted), may as well leave the punters with something to remember you by! All in all a great album and one that everyone with an interest in metal and how this all developed should check out!
For more great heavy metal reviews and other stuff be sure to keep checking back on Metalhed.com as often as you can!