Randy Piper’s Animal (ex W.A.S.P., Alice Cooper) – Virus 2008

[spoiler]The recordings took place at Platform Studio and the legendary Polar Music Studios (LED ZEPPELIN, GENESIS, ABBA). To up the ante, the band decided to make the album both more aggressive and more melodic. It takes just one listen to realize that that’s exactly what they’ve done. In short, “Virus” combines the wrath of 2006’s “Violent New Breed” with a majestic metal feel (including Laney’s trademark backing vocals), while adding some new tricks and a unexpected cover for good measure.Heavy riffs demand heavy topics. In times when metal is usually about either devils-and-darkness-for-the-sake-of-it, silly escapism or sappy love songs, ANIMAL takes on real issues while keeping the merciless in-your-face attitude.

Several songs are about being unable to change a lifestyle that you know will kill you in the end, whether it’s about dangerous habits (“Can’t Stop”, “Unnatural High”) or working yourself to death (“Cardiac Arrest”). The re-interpretation of THE CRANBERRIES’ hit “Zombie” is a comment on political wars, while other songs depict a society that creates mass murderers, and how to deal with your own personal regrets.

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