Oz - Burning leather 4/5

Reviewed: 1-1-12





Tracklist:

1. Dominator
2. Search lights
3. Let sleeping dogs lie
4. Fire in the brain
5. Seasons in the darkness
6. Turn the cross upside down
7. Burning leather
8. Gambler
9. Enter stadium
10. Total metal
11. Third warning


The heavy metal heroes from Finland are back with their first CD in decades called - 'Burning leather'. Just like a ragin' fire which shoots through your brain like a shock, these megalomaniacs deliver total metal, and are ready to dominate or create another burning decibel storm!

Actually, this "new" AFM Records release consists of re-recorded classics from most of their earlier work, and a few new gems like the here-to-for tune "Dominator", for which they have made a sleek, candid video. Other endemic novelties include the brooding "Seasons in the darkness", which is reminiscent of "Black candles" and the fist pumping Majesty-like "Enter stadium", which recalls such vintage relics as "Black tattoo" and "Saturday night".

This highly anticipated reunion consists of 3 original members including the ever active lead vocalist Tapani "Ape De Martini" Anselm, and 2 new guitarists whose fresh ideas and classic inspiration allow for the band to adapt to the ever changing metal milieu, without forsaking their trademark total mettle sound.

Of course, anyone familiar with these rockin', roll the dice gamblers' sound of speed will appreciate the updated versions of such classics as "Fire in the brain", "Search lights", and "Third warning".

Most readers to this site should be familiar with Stormwarrior's excellent rendition of "Turn the cross upside down" with its "evil", yet infectious lyrics that you would expect to hear from some satanic black metal act. Interestingly enough, Oz first licensed the CD pressing of 'Fire in the brain' to Black Mark Records which was started by Quarthon and run by Börje "Boss" Forsberg from Bathory. To this day Quarthon's family still operates the label, even if an act like Oz would seem "odd band out" for their roster.

Oz began in the late 70s. I first heard the song "Stop believin'" the same time I heard bands like Pretty Maids, Silver Mountain, and Bodine back in 1984 on the radio show: "Metal Shop".

Surprisingly, when I first heard "Free me, leave me", I had only just begun to listen to Ozzy's solo work the year before, and I am not sure if these rather knight riot starriders borrowed the riff from Randy Rhoades, or vice versa, as both albums came out about the same time in Europe. Perhaps both artists were influenced by the heavy riffs from "Helter skelter" by The Beatles.

Either way, I was hooked on Oz from the initial needle etching of 'Fire in the brain', unto its abrupt conclusion, as it was hard to imagine that the entire and excellent album was under 30 minutes long!

I never let sleeping dogs lie, and I have remained loyal to this band despite their continual line-up changes over the years, and their more commercially developed approach, even investing big money into a CD version of the expensive import of 'Roll the dice'.

Thankfully, this release incorporates all the aspects of their past and promising future, so if you want your metal tried and true, it is time to heed their warning and start believin' in Oz again!


MICHAEL




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