Slaughter--Back to Reality (1999/CMC)
Rating--8.8
Take Me Away--RealAudio Bad Groove--RealAudio
A ripping return, as this is the heaviest (in places) and best Slaughter effort, with numerous metal tendencies last heard
during the 'Fear No Evil' and 'Stick It To Ya' eras---and even the days of the Vinnie Vincent Invasion.
Mark Slaughter sounds as good and razor-edged as ever, and nasty guitar work is everywhere, as the band bounces back
from the loss of Tim Kelly.
The grinding and thick notes of "Killin' Time" gets the disc off and running, and is the first of six
tracks that absolutely rip. "All Fired Up" swaggers like VVI, and the nasty guitar chomping and accompanying harmonics of
"Take Me Away" bring the slashng and heady style of Zakk Wylde to mind.
"Trailer Park Boogie" is a shredding piece with
thick slide-and-stutter chops, while the sassy, thick, and L.A.-style attitude of "Bad Groove" follows nicely. Mark Slaughter drops down
an octave on the latter track to add even more bulldozing power to the verses.
"Dangerous" has a nice bluesy metal feel, and the album
also features two thick, semi-ballad cuts: "Love is Forever" has a powerful chorus, and the potential to break through on heavy
radio, while "On My Own" reminds of some of the thick, emotion-power ballads of Slaughter's VVI days.
In all, this is a tasty--and even
somewhat unexpected--treat! But a great return to nasty groove-and-riff metal.... so no complaining here.
TRACK LIST: Killin' Time/All Fired Up/Take Me Away/Dangerous/Tralier Park Boogie/Love Is Forever/Bad Groove/On My Own/
Silence of Ba/Headin' For a Dream/Nothin' Left To Lose
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