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W.A.S.P. (1984)
W.A.S.P.’s self-titled debut was released in August 1984. The music itself is solid heavy metal, loud, aggressive, and straightforward. The whole album is filled with great riffs and solos, really capturing that classic ’80s metal sound. Compared to some of the other big releases that year, like Bark at the Moon, Metal Health, or Stay Hungry, W.A.S.P. sounds rougher and less polished, which works in its favour.
The songwriting is mostly solid. There are a couple of weaker tracks, like the skippable “School Daze,” but the rest of the material more than makes up for them. “Tormentor” is slower and darker, with background vocals that remind me a bit of Paul Stanley from KISS. “The Torture Never Stops” possesses a similar atmosphere but it’s faster and feels more urgent. “Sleeping in the Fire” shifts into a more somber, epic mood with strong vocals and a solo that adds to the atmosphere. The reissue includes the B-side “Show No Mercy,” which is just as good, if not better, than some of the songs that made it onto the album. It’s a solid example of the band’s early power and shows just how strong the material was around this time.
The band definitely leaned into the glam visuals, but don’t make the mistake of dismissing them because of their hairstyle or stage clothes. Take a look at King Diamond’s Abigail and you’ll see the same big hair and tights, but it’s still a classic metal album. Sadly, this is their only essential release, as they moved toward a more radio-friendly direction after this. Whether you want to call it heavy metal or hard rock, it doesn’t change the fact that W.A.S.P.’s 1984 debut is a classic and serves as a big middle finger to the world.
The songwriting is mostly solid. There are a couple of weaker tracks, like the skippable “School Daze,” but the rest of the material more than makes up for them. “Tormentor” is slower and darker, with background vocals that remind me a bit of Paul Stanley from KISS. “The Torture Never Stops” possesses a similar atmosphere but it’s faster and feels more urgent. “Sleeping in the Fire” shifts into a more somber, epic mood with strong vocals and a solo that adds to the atmosphere. The reissue includes the B-side “Show No Mercy,” which is just as good, if not better, than some of the songs that made it onto the album. It’s a solid example of the band’s early power and shows just how strong the material was around this time.
The band definitely leaned into the glam visuals, but don’t make the mistake of dismissing them because of their hairstyle or stage clothes. Take a look at King Diamond’s Abigail and you’ll see the same big hair and tights, but it’s still a classic metal album. Sadly, this is their only essential release, as they moved toward a more radio-friendly direction after this. Whether you want to call it heavy metal or hard rock, it doesn’t change the fact that W.A.S.P.’s 1984 debut is a classic and serves as a big middle finger to the world.
(6 June 2025)
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