Jackyl-Jackyl (Geffen '92)

At long, lizardly last, a shambling band of mischief makers wicked this way comes, packing a rare shakedown of party metal sounds most akin to '70's obsessed rumbling train Salty Dog, Jackyl reign from the South, and the isolation in the land of heat and stuck pigs does the party proud, this debut just cookin' with sterling crisp recordings of open wide, strong-arm hard rock structures, evoking images of Bon Scott and the emotional legacy of Highway to Hell. Simply a splendid blunt rock album, Jackyl is a perfect blend of past values and present levels of quality, mustached maniac Jesse Dupree considered by some to have revived the dormant spirit of the Motor City Madman himself. Faves would include the memorable Down On Me, Back Off Brother, and lead cut I Stand Alone, all emphasizing the band's excellent harmony vocals come chorus time. There's no reason these mildly X-rated dogs can't be big news of the strip. The attitude's dead on, keeping the proceedings well within the finest intentions of simple rock'n'roll. One of the best power chord party records of the year, one that put deceptively better acts like Slaughter and Rhino Bucket in a curiously bad light. Became notorious for their chainsaw solo in boogie buzzard hit The Lumberjack, and solidly respected for their support slot success on Aerosmith's Get A Grip tour.

Rating 8

Martin Popoff-From the book "the collector's guide to heavy metal"