Welcome back to the Week of EPs! Each day this week, I’ll be checking out a variety of EP releases, both famed and obscure.
MONDAY: Aerosmith – The Other Side (1990)
WOLFSBANE – All Hell’s Breaking Loose Down at Little Kathy Wilson’s Place! (1990 Def American)
I only own one Wolfsbane release on CD, and it’s this EP. I remember that their Rubin-produced debut Live Fast, Die Fast didn’t sound as good as a Rubin production should. This follow-up EP was produced by someone named Brenden O’Brian, who is presumably a different producer than the famed Bredan O’Brien. Whoever it is, there’s little wrong with the production here. It has guts and clarity. The drums could use some more oomph.
The opening track “Steel” is one that I remember from Blaze Bayley’s live album. Hearing it again, it’s fucking awesome! “Tough as steel!” repeats the chorus which is appropriate for this razor sharp attack. The guitars by Jase Edwards are choppy and aggressive, and they really sell the song. I like when the rhythm guitar drops out during the solo, and all you have is bass and drums — just like it would be live.
“Paint the Town Red” is good time hard rock. It still has a toughness to it, because of the basic guitar-based production. There’s a radio-ready chorus and plenty of rocking melody, so if you had to pick one song as a potential hit, it’s “Paint the Town Red”. Then it’s on to the ridiculously over the top “Loco”. This time the guitars are almost a parody of shredding, so insane are they. I can’t say I’m overly fond of “Loco”, but it sure does rip.
In 1990, you had to have an accessible song with acoustic guitars on your CD. “Hey Babe” is that song. Blaze’s flat vocals lend it some character, but otherwise it’s a pretty standard sounding 1990 rock ballad. The dry guitars are very tasteful, the highlight of the track. “Totally Nude” is a pretty dumb title, but it’s actually a pretty good hard rocker. As the guitars blaze up and down the fretboard, song works its way into your head.
“Kathy Wilson” is a little bit of a mini-epic. Based on the classic film Invaders From Mars, it’s a little corny but absolutely cool at the same time. Blaze acts out some of the movie lines in spoken-word segments, but wails away on the choruses. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that this is an impressive little track. It’s a little more complex than the standard rockers, but has the same blitzkrieg drive.
Consider picking up All Hell’s Breaking Loose Down at Little Kathy Wilson’s Place! at a reasonable price for a nice brief addition to your metal and Iron Maiden collections.
3.5/5 stars
mikeladano.com 
I love this one, although a couple of the tracks are pretty so-so. Agree totally on Kathy, it is epic. This was the tour i saw them on and live Blaze did all the voices on Kathy himself, it rocked and was hilarious simultaneously. Ever put the cover up to a mirror?
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I have never done that but I’m going to tonight! Do you have to say “Blaze Bayley” three times as well?
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I can’t believe that in 2014 there are still people out there who don’t do this to every LP they possess!
The mysterious manuscript becomes less mysterious.
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Oh, is that all? I was hoping it would magically alter time and space and stop Blaze from joining Iron Maiden. And I’d finally get that time and money back.
I did try the mirror trick with the first Bathory album. The goat is looking in the opposite direction! It’s amazing.
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Ha! I’ve not tried Aerosmith’s Done With Mirrors yet either.
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I’m intrigued. Can’t wait to learn the secrets of the universe from Blaze.
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Yup, it’ll change you forever. Can’t believe you don’t do the mirror thing as standard, Mike!
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I would loooove to see Blaze do all the voices, live. Totally proves Wolfsbane are not just a jokey band but serious players.
Never looked at it in a mirror but I will soon!
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Are they still going? I lost track after Down Fall The Good Guys wasn’t very good.
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They did split up for a while but they’ve been reunited for a few years now I think. Newest album came out a couple of years ago. Still not heard Down Fall The Good Guys. I’ve got some singles from that period though (I think) and I like them.
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I love this one. I’m getting thoroughly into this band lately. I don’t think there’s anything so-so on this. It’s all great. 4.5/5 for me. And I just bought their latest album Wolfsbane Saves the World and it’s great fun too!
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Awesome, will have to check it out. So Blaze is doing Wolfsbane and solo stuff now?
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I believe so yes. It’s the same lineup of Wolfsbane, all the original guys. Never really heard any of the Blaze solo stuff.
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I have 2, both very good. I’ll eventually get around to reviewing them. Too much music, not enough days in the weekends.
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Awesome, I’ve been thinking about picking up some of that stuff. I was always put off by Maiden but I’ve been enjoying the Wolfsbane stuff so much I’d like to hear more of what Blaze has been up to.
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No promises because you never know what will grab my attention, but, I will try to slide those into the listening rotation and assemble some thoughts.
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Tough sell to me, I still can’t get his Maiden excursions out of my head.
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I never gave them the time of day, to be honest. I remember Headbanger’s Ball Europe played the video for Some Like It Hot over and over and I hated it everytime every bit as much as I did the first time I heard it. I also thought that Blaze Bayley blew dog!
But I was young then and I’m not that harsh anymore even though I thought that Bayley fit in Maiden just as good as Lemmy would have fit in Journey.
Thing is, I don’t think that Blaze is a good singer. I own a couple of burned solo CDs of him and they’re not bad, but I don’t think I’ll ever pick ’em up again.
Are Wolfsbane still around?
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Would it surprise you if I said Wolfsbane really doesn’t do it for me? It’s my least favourite of Blaze’s material
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