Dual Edge

Item: Knock 'Em Alive
Author: Doug Van Pelt

Knock 'Em Alive

(1987)

Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt

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Label Intense RecordsHeaven's Metal #11March 1987

glam metal hard rock heavy metal pop metal

Their tape, entitled Knock 'Em Dead, was recorded on a 16-track studio and was produced by Brian Bart, who plays in the hottest bar band around Minneapolis. The opening number seems to promise an album full of pop-metal, but don't be fooled. These guys eventually kick it out, but not until the fourth song: "Be With You." It's kind of like a Def-Leppard song. "New Life," the fifth song, is the second real rocker on side one. It's got a good and raunchy rhythm, but the anticipated lead break of the song is mixed too low. The title track kicks off side B and is loud, hot and aggressive. "Take It To The Bank" has some good vocal and guitar harmonies. There's some really good hammer-on and vibrato work here. These guys really go after it. They don't metal you to death, but they rock real tight. The lyrics are a bit repetitious and cliche, but not to the point of being annoying. "The Light" is a good commercial number, while the rest of the songs are similar to Ratt and Bon Jovi, but with much cleaner and "nice boy"-sounding vocals. Overall, this tape is worth buying - if not for the packaging alone. I love to watch the gold-colored reels go round and round inside the clear-plastic cartridge.