W.A.S.P.--W.A.S.P.

W.A.S.P.--W.A.S.P. (1984) Rating--7.3

Image, image, image. Blackie Lawless and troupe walk onto the stage of the metal world looking a bit like Alice Cooper, Kiss, and even something like a less-threatening Slayer. Musically, the band is still thin at this point. There are lighter areas which remind of Twisted Sister and Krokus, and some of the stronger points are slightly Ozzy-ish. Still, despite the shock-me image, the lyrics and punch of the songs don't really stack up. Interesting, though---that's for sure. And as the band's musical talent has grown in time, these older "classics" have garnered more, well... "mystique".
Both "I Wanna Be Somebody" and "L.O.V.E. Machine" are upbeat rockers, and "B.A.D." has a strong, driving rhythm. "Hellion," "Tormentor," and "The Torture Never Stops" all contain good riffs, and are farily swift movers.
Possibly the top song on the disc is the slower "Sleeping (In The Fire)," which has a great buildup and powerful chorus.
The band will pick it up in a couple of years, but for now enjoy the show and smile at Blackie's ever-cool voice, a la Dee Snider...
TRACK LIST: I Wanna Be Somebody/L.O.V.E. Machine/The Flame/B.A.D./School Daze/Hellion/Sleeping (In the Fire)/On Your Knees/Tormentor/The Torture Never Stops

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