Customer Reviews

Wasp

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm writing due to a bad review by another person. Most of the reviews for this album are 4-5 stars, but one individual gave them two stars because "it's hard to tell if they are taking themselves seriously or if the whole thing is a big joke." He continued to lump WASP in with the bands from the 80's as a whole saying "Fans of eighties metal like Motley Crue and Ratt may find something of interest here, but bands like this were a dime a dozen in the eighties and most created music far superior to this."

Wow. This guy is way off the mark. I was around in the 80's, and I was (and still am) into much of the rock/metal from that era. I feel it is my duty to set the record straight.

Do they take thelmselves seriously? Yes and no. WASP's leader, Blackie Lawless, is a very intelligent, well-spoken person. He knows reality from fiction. The outlandish costumes, obnoxious lyrics, and over-the-top stage persona are not to be taken seriously. But their dedication to their fans and their intense, roaring, screaming brand of metal comes straight from the heart.

Fans of the 90's grunge sound do not realize that at one time Rock Stars and their bands were bigger than life. They were charismatic, confident icons who captivated legions of fans with live shows that were closer to a circus than a mere musical performance. Their songs were a vehicle to escape the BS we must deal with in the real world. THAT is WASP!

Those 90's grunge bands think they should be taken seriously because they whine, moan and complain about the pain and anxiety in today's world? HA! They are so depressing they make me want to slit my wrists. They say "Our live shows are all about the music, not the flash", so they go onstage in T-shirts and jeans and have no fireworks, effects, or anything. What a rip-off. I've been to many shows by many of today's leading rock bands and left feeling like I was ripped off. The laugh at the pics and video's from the 80's metal bands and say "It was all about the look...they didn't even care about the music." WHATEVER! For us fans the music was ALWAYS the main attraction to the band. WASP is still releasing albums and touring after 20 years. If the music was weak they would have faded years ago.

WASP started in the 80's, but trust me...the average Bon Jovi fan did not listen to them. WASP is obnoxious, in-you-face, loud, screaming, crank-it-up, party-till-you-puke, no-frills Heavy Metal, and this album is one of their best.

If you are depressed, hate life, hate the world, and constantly feel like blowing your brains out I would recommend Nirvana, Pearl Jam and a good psychiatrist. If you are an arrogant snob who feels that intelligent people only listen to songs that tackle the social issues of the day I would recommend REM and a good dose of reality. Conversely, if your idea of dealing with today's world is throwing a finger in the air an screaming, "Bring It On!", then this album is for you."

When KISS and ALICE COOPER came out with a shocking show, sticky tunes, easy listening songs; too many bands tried to copy the same line. Just a few ones evolve into something good (WASP, MOTLEY CRUE, TWISTED SISTER and maybe another one that I don't remember right now).

Well, WASP at first sight, when they came out (1983) seemed like a tight band, just as Van Halen, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Etc. The members seemed to have a good time but in a few months the one that standed out and stayed in the band was Blackie Lawless. And they seemed tight because they sounded great together. Maybe they weren't as big as some other bands did in the 80's but with this CD they printed a mark on those days.

WASP had a bad attitude with melodic songs, they sound hard and fast but very melodic. Blackie has a voice that only his image could fit, deep and very high range. This album almost did it as a classic, maybe if they had stayed together more time they would have been bigger.

The uptempo part of the CD is "I wanna be somebody", "L.O.V.E. Machine", "School daze", "On your knees", "The torture never stops", we have a very slow (at least for them) and very nice song "Sleeping (In the fire), and not as fast but very dark and crushing are "B.A.D.", "Tha flame", "Hellion", "Tormentor". The music on this CD is very diverse and enjoyable.

On this new edition they included the first EP that they released and it was called ANIMAL (F*!" like a beast). For my taste, they spread the songs cleverly. First they put "Animal" and at the end they include "Show no mercy" and "Paint it Black". This EP was very hard to find in those days (well, at least here in Mexico).

"Animal" is almost as good as any song on the original release, very fast and raw. "Show no mercy" pretty much the same and "Paint it black" is a cover from the Stones and all I can say is that WASP should stick to their music. The cover is bad and frankly I don't like it.

On this edition they included a lot of band information. They printed the original pictures that came on the album but the quality is quite bad because the photos are very grainy and it looks like a copy of a copy.

Is this one recommended? Yes, of course it is.

Highlights: I wanna be somebody, Sleeping (in the fire)
Lowlights: Paint it black

Unlike most 80's metal like Motley Crue, Bon Jovi and Poison, WASP was the only glam band with teeth to it, they had an argressive sound and some preety shocking song subjects. Notice i didn't call them "pop" metal either, that was one of the greatest things about WASP back in the day, they didn't write BS about partying or breaking up with your girlfreind like %90 of 80's cheese rock bands did.No,they wrote about "F"ing like a beast and being tortured,having orgys of blood at their concerts.WASP is the only 80's band i like,they were just different from the pack of jovis,ratts,sisters,cindrellas,and wingers of the day. WASP's debut album is there best (the last command is ALMOST as good as this) there is the outragoues "f" like a beast, the obnoxious fist pumping "i wanna be somebody", the hilarious "school days","the flame" and more on this album.
it's weird because i ussaly don't like 80's rock, espessicaly glam metal, but i love this. Blackie lawless was just a bad @$$ frontman,he rules. Overall, this album is nothing short of perfect and you will have a fun time listening to it as i did, just don't expect any intelligent or meaningful songs here.

This album is truely great. This is by far their best album. People say the lyrics are not-up-to-perfection, but comparing to other bands, they are on top of there game. The album came out in mid 80s' so you know its good automatically. If other bands and albums were this good, then the world would be a better place. This album kills other genres and proves to be a stomping stone for metal.

W.A.S.P. was formed in the late 70s by Blackie Lawless who had been in the New York Dolls (post Johnny Thunders) and London with Nikki Six. Their first single Animal (F*ck Like A Beast) was produced by guitar connoisseur Mike Varney. It was refused release due to the title, but it is included on this re-issue! I have good memories of getting this on cassette by skipping church (sinner!) and going to my favorite music store. I think I bought it along with Grim Reaper's debut. Anyways, about half of this album is classic metal. My favorite songs are I Wanna Be Somebody (great chorus!), L.O.V.E. Machine (cool drums by Tony Richards), The Flame (good time rocker), School Daze (amusing lyrics), and Sleeping In The Fire (haunting ballad w/ great solo by Chris Holmes). This re-issue also includes a good cover of the Stones Paint It Black, making it a great bargain. Get it and crank it!

W.A.S.P. may have changed a lot over the years. Like Black Sabbath and Megadeth, W.A.S.P. has had a rotating assembly of players with one man being the anchor of it all. Blackie Lawless is W.A.S.P. I have listened to W.A.S.P. since their debut when I was in 8th grade and never went away.

This is one of the greatest 80's albums and an awesome debut for a band that was to go on for over twenty years. All the songs here are great and some are classic. The opening "I Wanna be Somebody" was and is a great anthem. This song will never die. It doesn't slow up with L.O.V.E. Machine either.

"The Flame" is one of my all time favorite WASP tunes and I wish Blackie still performed this one live.

"School Daze" is everything why the glory of 80's metal is so fondly remembered. It's furious, juvenille, and rebellious. I love it.

The Hellion is a favorite of Blackie's and 'The Torture Never Stops' kicks ass.

If you want your old school metal, W.A.S.P.'s debut will kick you into high gear. Chris Holmes stood by Blackie the longest and has some great guitar solos.

But what the hell ever did happen to drummer Toni Richards? After this album he just disappeared off the face of the earth. Blackie claims to have shot him for having bad breath, and back in the 80's you would have believed it. So who knows.

W.A.S.P. was at the top of their game on this release and they were only to grow and get better as time went on.

W.A.S.P. is sometimes inexplicably categorized as an 80s hair metal band, but that simply ain't so. An 80s metal band? Yes. Hair band? No. Actually W.A.S.P. was the next generation of 70s bands like KISS and Alice Cooper, but darker than KISS and rawer & edgier than both. When they performed it wasn't simply a band playing a live concert, it was like the freakin' circus coming to town.

This debut 1984 album is chalk full of early 80s hanging-chord anthems with hooks galore and incredibly creative choruses. Songs like "Animal (F**k Like a Beast)," "L.O.V.E Machine," "Hellion," "On Your Knees" and "Tormentor" are all 5-Star examples of this style.

What really sets W.A.S.P. apart is singer/songwriter Blackie Lawless' vocals. Once you hear his primal shrill screech you'll never confuse W.A.S.P. with effeminate 80s glam bands. Take, for example, the opening verses on the album's sole ballad-of-sorts, "Sleeping in the Fire": Blackie's passionate and mournful voice sounds like someone in incredible emotional torment; it's equal parts moving, exhilarating and beautiful. No kidding. But that's only the beginning to this ingenious song; the chorus, post-chorus, lead solo and ending are all spectacularly infectious and stimulating.

But what's the meaning of this song? At first glance I thought it was (ambiguously) about satan worship -- and it is, sort of, but not the cliched and silly way you think. Actually the song's about living for sensuality, living focused on carnality and always trying to "feel good." There's a lot of pain involved with living such a lifestyle, but to the naive and foolish, it's worth it. The problem with this lifestyle is that it never truly satisfies and enslaves the person who's constantly searching for more -- "drunk on love," "makes you numb." Not only is this yearning and lifestyle "Lucifer's magic," but the "spell is [a] lie."

Needless to say, the song is a masterpiece and one of my all-time favorites. Even people who normally don't like metal will appreciate it. In fact, the CD's worth buying just for "Sleeping in the Fire"!

So why not 5/5 Stars? Most of the rest of the songs I failed to mention above don't do much for me, plus they're kinda samey-sounding. Regardless, the 6 songs cited are all stellar. So I give it a very strong 4/5 (but I wouldn't argue with those who give it 5/5).

WASP's debut album is my personal favorite, that may be because I'm not that big of a fan. The songs have a great Motley Crue or Kiss feel to them, two bands that I love. If you like either of those bands, you will probably like this album.

1. Animal (F*** Like A Beast)-5/5. This is my favorite WASP song. The lyrics aren't as vulgar as you would think, with the F-bomb only being dropped twice. The music and chorus are very catchy. The vocals are great.
2. I Wanna Be Somebody-5/5. The original lead off track from the album. Another very catchy song, particularly the chorus, with a very anthemic feel to it. Great music and vocals.
3. Love Machine-5/5. As cheesy as the title may sound today, this is a great song with excellent vocals and lyrics. One of their best songs ever.
4. The Flame-5/5. Another superb song. Chorus is very catchy and the music and lyrics are excellent. A great head-bobbing rocker.
5. B.A.D.-4/5. This song is a bit of a step down. Not quite as catchy and sounds too much like Motley Crue filler material. Not bad, just not great.
6. School Daze-4/5. Also a bit cheesy. The music is cool, but the lyrics are kind of Who-ish about how dull school is. That topic kinda went out a long time ago.
7. Hellion-4/5. Fast paced and aggressive, this one is better than the two that proceed it. Great vocals, with Judas Priest type lyrics.
8. Sleeping (In the Fire)-5/5. A very cool slower song, but not really a ballad. The Lyrics are really good and the vocals are excellent.
9. On Your Knees-4/5. Another filler song. Fast paced like Hellion, but not quite as good. Lyrics aren't up to par, but the vocals are good.
10. Tormentor-4/5. Very catchy riff with good lyrics and good vocals. A very good track.
11. The Torture Never Stops-4/5. Great riff, with a catchy chorus. Excellent vocals, cool lyrics.
12. Show No Mercy-4/5. Although this was originally a b-side, it's an excellent track. Fast paced and musically catchy, with great vocals.
13. Paint It Black-2/5. Another b-side. I don't really like the Rolling Stones version of this song, so I don't really care for anyone else's either. For some reason this happens to be a favorite among metalheads, but I don't like it.

Overall, this is great 80's metal without all of the glam and hair or an alternative to thrash metal that was starting to take hold in the rock world. If you like it heavy, but not too heavy, this is a great record.

You have to pretend it is 1984 when you listen to this. Compared to ratt, bon jovi, even motley at this time WASP blew them away. Especially this cd. Great videos, outfits lots of controversey they had it all. Perefectly matched with tongue in cheek. Get this cd if you get any wasp at all.

When it comes to 80s metal, I gravitate more towards the aggressive sounds of thrash metal. There's a raw purity in that music that the glam bands of the day couldn't touch. Whether or not WASP qualify as a glam metal outfit is up to the listener's ears, but these guys definitely had more to do with Motley Crue than Sodom.

To say that WASP were better than Poison or Bon Jovi is an understatement. Mainstream metal wouldn't see a band that rocks this hard until Guns N' Roses burst on the scene three years later. WASP's creatively titled debut, WASP, remains their best album. Blackie Lawless had a real knack for writing catchy tunes with a playful bite. This is one of those albums you want to crank in your car stereo during a Saturday night drinking binge. WASP walks a fine line with this album but it never falters. It never succumbs to the lameness prevalent with so many of their peers. It rocks through and through. It's a mindless blast.