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Vocals:  Dee Snider
Guitars:  Jay Jay French, Eddie Ojeda
Bass:  Mark Mendoza
Drums:  A.J. Pero

Prior to their debut, Twisted Sister toiled the New York club circuit for years, playing every venue possible.  A few demos were shipped around, including 'Under The Blade' and 'Bad Boys (Of Rock 'N' Roll)' but to no avail.  They couldn't find a record deal until 1982 when a small English label named Secret picked them up.  The debut was produced by UFO's Pete Way, a man who understood classic metal for sure.

This stands heads and shoulders above Twisted's following albums, except the follow up 'You Can't Stop Rock And Roll' perhaps. This saw Twisted at their heaviest and most metal, as witnessed by tracks like 'Tear It Loose', 'Shoot Em' Down', and the title track.  It appeared they lost the attitude somewhere along the way, especially by 1987's swansong 'Love Is For Suckers', a good hard rock/AOR effort, but hardly what was wanted from the band.  Looking at the band on the back cover sans make up, maybe they shouldn't have worn it at all.  A tough looking bunch for sure, Ojeda and Mendoza looking ready to rumble!  Obviously Twisted's best album, and not the rather dull 'Stay Hungry' which broke them so big in 1984.

Song Notes:

1. What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You) - The perfect way to open an album, fast and riff heavy with snarling vocals from Snider.  B
2. Bad Boys (Of Rock 'N' Roll) - Not so sure about this 'un.  Very light hearted in tone and hardly menacing.  Almost 'happy' heavy metal.  For a rebellious anthem it's anything but.  Could be worse though.  C+
3. Run For Your Life - The opening two minutes are reminiscent of early Judas Priest, circa 'Rocka Rolla' and 'Sad Wings', but when it kicks in it's vintage early 80's metal with a heavier series of riffs than even Maiden in 1982.  It's just that little bit more nasty than the likes of 'Invaders'.  B
4. Sin After Sin - Nothing to do with Priest but melodically very similar to 'Breaking The Law' prior to the chorus.  B
5. Shoot Em' Down - Twisted go for an AC/DC riff approach, probably even better than AC/DC themselves at the time (until 'Flick Of The Switch').  You have to appreciate the line 'shoot them down with a fuckin gun', a line which was used against Snider in the pathetic PMRC hearings in the mid 80's.  B+
6. Destroyer - Again very Priest like, in terms of 'character' based metal, 'Destroyer' Twisted's version of 'Exciter', 'The Hellion' etc.  Very slow and grinding.  B
7. Under The Blade - Another defining moment in metal history.  Metal to the bone man!  Manowar produced a fine debut in 1982 also but this somehow makes mincemeat of that.  Brutal riffs, crude as hell, in other words perfect metal.  This makes life bearable somehow.  A+
8. Tear It Loose - Then there's this, a warp speed frontburner (cheers TT Quick) that could be Twisted's finest moment along with 'Under The Blade'.  Non stop and furious, with great lyrics about 'being 'punched in and punched out' and going crazy as a result.  A+
9. I'll Never Grow Up Now - Like 'Bad Boys', another upbeat, good time anthem that doesn't quite fit in with what had just transpired.  It's not angry enough for my liking, something some geek pop punk homo might appreciate.  C
10. Day Of The Rocker - Surely a contender for rudest song title ever.  Painfully slow, but deliberately so.  They don't make 'em like this anymore.  Anthems you can believe in, that sound authentic, as if the artist really means it.  Like they are talking to you.  I feel sorry for the kids today being saddled with crap like Shadows Fall.  A+

Average Song Rating:  B+
Overall Album Rating:  A

Track Listing:
1.  What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)
2.  Bad Boys (Of Rock 'N' Roll)
3.  Run For Your Life
4.  Sin After Sin
5.  Shoot 'Em Down
6.  Destroyer
7.  Under The Blade
8.  Tear It Loose
9.  I'll Never Grow Up
10. Day Of The Rocker

Website:  www.twistedsister.com

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