Customer Reviews

Loose 'n' Lethal

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album fully captures the sound and feel of early 1980's New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). The guitars are some of the most powerful to come from this scene, with only Iron Maiden and Saxon being of a higher octane level. Chris Bradley's vocals are spot on and his bass playing is right up their with Algy's from TANK; THUNDEROUS! The first 8 tracks were done with drummer Mark Brown, who was a bit more pop influenced, and this is the only area that SAVAGE appear to be lax (definately not weak though). Dave Lindley hit the skins for the last 3 tracks and is much more NWOBHM oriented.
The only flaw in the album is that the recording technology was not really up to par and some tracks have a "fuzzy" sound. I still listen to vinyl too, so this doesn't bother me at all.
There ain't a bad track on this disc, and if you don't find yourself fully enthralled by tracks like "White Hot" and "Ain't No Fit Place", you need to take off your leather jacket and find another genre.
"Loose 'N Lethal" is a quintessential part of any NWOBHM Collection and I advise strongly that any Metal Fan that is into this era of Metal purchase this disc immediately.

If someone were looking for the perfect example of what the vaunted New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) sound was all about, Savage's 1983 debut Loose n' Lethal does the job nicely. Unlike more polished bands like Iron Maiden and Saxon, Savage had a rougher sound with a lot more distortion and an almost punk attitude. The resulting sound is somewhere between Angel Witch and Raven. It's crunchier, dirtier and all metal.

Loose n' Lethal is a fast, heavy and aggressive album, and one that remains a NWOBHM classic. If hearing this album doesn't have you dusting off the leather jacket and studded wristbands, nothing will! If you're a NWOBHM fan, you have to check out Savage, and this is the perfect album to start with. I'd also strongly recommend it to any fan of the `80s heavy metal sound. Loose n' Lethal is so metal it hurts!

Edition Notes: The 1997 Metal Blade reissue of Loose n' Lethal features digitally remastered sound and three bonus tracks (the band's full 1980 demo No Cause to Kill) as well as expanded liner notes. It's not quite as deluxe as some of the Sanctuary NWOBHM reissues, but it put a long out of print classic album back on the market, so I can hardly complain.

I haven't written a review in years and noticed this record only has 5 reviews. Shame cause of the 300 or so metal and heavy rock albums I own, it's in my Top 10, no joke. If you're reading this, then I assume you listen to metal and kinda know what you're looking for. Closest reference I can give would perhaps be Motorhead, but songs are less rock 'n' rollish and more guitar-driven. Just dirty, loud, and in-your-face for 8 tracks of NWOBHM madness. "Berlin" (monster riff)and "On the Rocks" (great groove) are my favorites, and tracks 3-6 comprise as good a run on any album I know of. The bonus tracks are pretty weak and watered down, with nowhere near the heaviness of Darryl Johnston's torrid production. Savage never amounted to anything like most NWOBHM bands, so give this record a spin and hoist a pint to some lost NWOBHM glory.

These guys came long just a little too late in 1983, by this time the NWOBHM had been abosorbed by the American thrash bands, as 83-85 was the years that those bands who had been filling their heads with this vile racket from England had taken the first steps needed to metal glory (Metallica in particular who covered the title track), however that is no reason to skip this album by as it is by far one of the best albums from the time. There were a lot of inconsistant NWOBHM bands (Satan, Jaguar, Samson, Tyrant) but the obvious masters of the genre (Venom, Tygers, Angel Witch, Saxon, Motorhead, Priest, and the obvious Diamond Head) have carried the torch into legendary metal lore for years to come, these bands never made it like our most famous and well known headbangers did but they're not forgotten. And Savage's 1983 debut album Loose 'N Lethal is one of the most "metal" records out there. It doesn't thrash to the point of monotiny, it just rocks out, plain and simple. The guitar sound is one of the most brutal and powerful ever caught on record. This is rock and roll straightforward. Dirty, raw, fun, and in your face. Of course these guys are obvious diciples of the more well known bands (AC/DC, Priest, Motorhead, and to a lesser extent Thin Lizzy). But who was original during this blooming time for the metal genre anyway? It's not the point. Tracks like Dirty Money, The China Run, White Hot, and the crushing Berlin (which might be the best track here) are perfect slices to educate anyone on real heavy metal. Of course like most of these bands of the time, they faded away not to soon after for the most usual reasons (bad management, bankrupt indie labels, personal disputes etc). But the tunes are still here years later and the 2008 Metal Blade re-issue features 3 great demo bonus cuts. All just as good as the album itself. While this may not be the exhausting platter other reissues like Angel Witch or Venom's albums feature, in today's music world, when something like this even gets the time of the day, it doesn't really matter. This is a true masterpiece for any self respecting heavy metal fan and while it may apply to the more simplistic and fun side of metal (i.e. Motorhead, AC/DC, Priest) and may not be enough for fans who prefer bands like Exodus, Slayer, or Kreator, you still owe it to yourself to get this record.

an absolute sonic assault of the senses. Loose n Lethal has the honour of having the all time OVER THE TOP distorted guitar works that truly sets this album apart. album's material sat on the shelf as the band toiled the UK pub scene and it was finally put on vinyl as the NWOBHM had already begun to set apart the mainstays like Maiden and Saxon from the soon to be obsure. For that reason, Savage never really stood a chance. but nevertheless,an @ss kicking metal album for the ages.

Blistering metal from Mansfield based band who never quite followed this classic.
The album boasts a fine collection rifftastic aural assaults which sound like they were recorded yesterday, not in the early '80's. The guitar sound leaves your speaker cones in shreds, an effect I understand the band acheived simply by turning all levels up to the max !
Metallica's "Kill 'Em All" owes more than a nod to this album. Indeed, so impressed was a young Lars Ulrich that Metallica regularly covered album opener "Let It Loose" in their early days.
Simply a classic. Now remastered with bonus tracks. A must for fans of full on metal. Buy this album - it rocks !!

One of the greatest, and most obscure bands from the NWOBHM scene circa 1981-82. Melody -wise similar to early Maiden or maybe VERY early Def Leppard, but what sets this album apart from the rest is its truly brutal guitar sound. Incredibly raw, like being hacked to death with a giant chainsaw, overmodulated, way in the red, and barely restrained. This album still sounds as awesome today as it did on vinyl in 1982. Highly recommended to fans of the metal genre esp. NWOBHM.

Very strong song writing & riffing make this an essential addition to any NWOBHM collection. Excellent extra trax help add to the running time. Well worth checking out just as Lars Ulrich of Metallica did way back then....!

a cool band from the early 80s to have their cdreissued by metal blade with bonus tracks[cool] if you like the oldies in metal and looking for some thing to pick up then this is a safe bet.songd let it loose kicks it off cool song and china run one of my favs so if your sick of hearing metallica pull of these classic covers and want to hear it done right pick up all of the metal blade re issuse coming out.