Twisted Sister

It may have proved commercially redeeming at first, but one of the worst moves primal rockers Twisted Sister ever made was to abandon their no-frills image in favour of, well, far too many frills. Initially coming across like a bunch of apish bikers with just enough savvy to hammer out some four-chord rock'n'roll ― after their '70s New York Dolls phase, that is ― their formative years were full of enduring tunes and passionate purity. It's a reality confirmed by this second reissue of their sophomore full-length (initially re-released in 1999). If nothing else, this classic 1983 precursor to breakthrough effort Stay Hungry proves just how great these goons were without the neon stripes and feminine makeup. Guttural, provocative and inspired, pelvic riffs worthy of AC/DC's finest albums blare away with unbridled fury, coupled with a brashness reminiscent of Di'Anno-era Iron Maiden. It's a time when they were far from refined, but knew how to smash out anthem after anthem, from "Ride to Live, Live to Ride," "The Kids Are Back" and "I Am (I'm Me)" to the unforgettable title track and explosive bonus tune "Feel the Power." Attacking with its best sound yet, thanks to fresh remastering, riding on wheels of untarnished steel, it may be almost three decades old, but this brute proves you really can't stop rock'n'roll.