![]() ![]() So far as swansongs go (for Lynott, at least), Thunder And Lightning crackles with undeniable zeal and energy, new guitarist John Sykes bringing over some of the NWOBHM stylings of his time in Tygers Of Pan Tang to create what is doubtless Thin Lizzy's heaviest album. ![]() Personal problems and drug abuse were rife in their ranks and by September 1983 the band had played their last show, Lynott's death three years later putting the group to rest (for a time). Thin Lizzy had come a long way from the early folk of their 1971 debut, but while Thunder And Lightning saw the band go heavier, faster and more supercharged than ever before, it also found them at breaking point. The band even brought back some of the panache of Bomber-era tunes Sweet Revenge and Poison with the album's title track, One Track Mind and I Got Mine, Robbo wailing away like a true guitar god. The departure of 'Fast' Eddie Clarke opened the doors for former Thin Lizzy guitarist Brian 'Robbo' Robertson to join and in his only studio outing with the band he brings a sense of flair befitting a band that had topped the charts with one of history's greatest live records.Ĭompared to the lethargy of Iron Fist, Another Perfect Day is pure greased lightning from the rock'n'roll legends, opener Back At The Funny Farm showcasing Lemmy's oft-overlooked lyrical wit, while the likes of Shine, Dancing On Your Grave and Die You Bastard go hell for leather to show the nascent thrash metal scene how its done. Between the title track, Stay With Me Baby, Die For Me Only (Black Widow) and On The Run offering epic headbanging tunes, while Rock 'N Roll Made Me What I Am Today and If You Can't Live With It throw back to the sneering strut of The Runaways.ġ982's Iron Fist might have broken the run of unimpeachable rock'n'roll Motörhead had been on since 1979's Overkill, but Another Perfect Day showed that the band only needed some fresh blood to come back firing on all cylinders. Out For Blood is exemplar of the ultra-sleek, stomping rock'n'roll of the early 80s, Ford taking cues from the Sunset Strip whilst stamping her own guitar god artistry over every song. Looking back, beyond the culture shock of her new direction, it's hard to see why 80s rock and metal audiences were slow to embrace her solo band. Sadly, her debut failed to take off and it took a while for Ford to build an audience from scratch. Her 1983 debut Out For Blood was a shock to the system for those expecting more of the glam punk of her former band, Lita trading it all in for studs'n'leather with big hair and even bigger tunes. There's still plenty of arena-friendly sing-alongs to sink your teeth into on Flick Of The Switch This House Is On Fire and the title-track are all about the classic Young brothers stomp, while Nervous Shakedown feels like a knowing roar-along, but perhaps the album's greatest contribution in that post- Back In Black era is the return of all-out punkish energy on the likes of Landslide Guns For Hire and Brain Shake, bringing back the sweat'n'lightning of Riff Raff and Shot Down In Flames in an oh-so-satisfying way.Īfter The Runaways split in 1979, it took four years for guitarist Lita Ford to reinvent herself as a solo artist in her own right. While the album doesn't feature the enormodome anthems the band had still managed to birth on For Those About To Rock We Salute You - the album's title track and Let's Get It Up cracking international charts - the choice to part ways with Mutt Lange served the bluesier direction the band were returning to, feeling almost like a soft reset back to the Powerage days. While nothing could ever truly match the epic glory of Back In Black, AC/DC were still riding high by the time they got to Flick Of The Switch. Elsewhere, Sleep Alone feels like an 80s-sequel to Barracuda - particularly with its shimmering guitar tones - and Together Now touches on the glam-grunge that later defined fellow Seattleites Mother Love Bone, showing that the band were re-finding themselves and branching out after bringing together a new line-up. ![]() Opener How Can I Refuse? is a classic that still managed to claw its way to the top of the Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts in the US and set the tone for later hits like If Looks Could Kill and What About Love. Heart would make a massive comeback on their 1985 self-titled, but it was Passionwork that lay the groundwork, updating the band's sound and image to meet the glitz and glamour of 80s rock. 1982's Private Audition was their first to fail to reach even Gold status in the US, with the following year's Passionwork suffering a similar fate even with the band's label Epic trying to steer the band back to commercial glory. Heart had enjoyed massive success throughout the 70s, but by 1980's Bébé le Strange they were in a downward spiral. ![]()
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