This record was first released to the rest of the world in 2008 and only in early 2009 did the U.S. get to bear witness. So what does it sound like? Well, imagine The Misfits: Project 1950 crashing into Load/Reload-era Metallica with Social Distortion as the overall lyrical and sonic background and it gets close. There is a dominant Hard Rock vibe with enough Metal crunch tempered by Rockabilly and Punk to satisfy those with varied tastes in music. Bottom line: It's a quality listen that should appeal to fans of late-era Metallica, Social D, The Misfits, and Life of Agony. In fact, Life of Agony's Keith Caputo is more often than not referenced vocally, whether intentional or otherwise, though others would claim a debt to the melodic crooning of Glenn Danzig, which isn't completely unfounded.

The Misfits' classic "whoa-oh-oh's" appear on "Back to Prom," "Maybelenne I Hofteholder," and "We," while Metallica is invoked on "Still Counting," once past the pseudo Reggae vibe, "Wild Rover of Hell," and throughout the album vocally with that Hetfieldian "ooh-uh" to punctuate certain vocal phrases. Additionally, Social D is recalled on "Back to Prom" and necessarily on "Making Believe," which Volbeat covered after the Social D version. Further, the album title invokes a Social Distortion song, "Nickels and Dimes" off of the under-rated Sex, Love & Rock-n-Roll album. The lyric is "I'm a guitar gangster without a tune," though these Danish guitar gangsters have plenty of tunes to satisfy and should go far. Not the most Metal of albums, no, but extremely enjoyable nonetheless. Didn't even mention the Hank Williams cover tune or "Hallelujah Goat." Oops....

written by Tony Belcher

Playing time: 48:23