Dee Snider: ‘For The Love Of Metal’
DEE SNIDER
FOR THE LOVE OF METAL
To be released on July 27, 2018 (Napalm Records)
Review:
In 2009, I spoke with Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider for Sleaze Roxx. At the time, Dee was doing press for the Still Hungry album. While Dee has done solo stuff in the past, we learned this from the singer about a Twisted album; “That [Love Is For Suckers] was supposed to be my first solo album. The thing was the record company and management pressured me into making it a Twisted Sister record.” So there you go, Dee had a visions of a solo album as far back as 1987.
Since then, Dee has done Desperado, Widowmaker, the Dee solo albums Never Let The Bastards Wear You Down (2000), Dee Does Broadway (2012), We Are The Ones (2016) and the recently issued ‘For The Love Of Metal. Unfortunately, Desperado and Widowmaker — actual bands that Dee put together — didn’t get their due. As a solo artist, Dee has been spotty at best. He’s done an album of standards from the world of Broadway, which is right up there with Pat Boone’s In A Metal Mood, a ‘novelty’ but not exactly essential listening. Then there’s We Are The Ones, which was more or less a power pop record. It didn’t exactly suit Dee Snider to enter the pop world. There’s not many kids wanting to buy pop music from a 60 year old man! That’s ‘goofy’ at best. The inclusion of a ‘piano’ rendition of “We’re Not Gonna Take It” was cringe worthy. Then Dee upped the ante and made “We’re Not Gonna Take It” into a political statement, when he hopped on board the Standing Rock bandwagon, which in turn, didn’t do him any favors. Dee bailed on We Are The Ones like a roach to sunlight and who could blame him? It was a horrific effort.
For The Love Of Metal came to fruition when Hatebreed frontman, Jamey Jasta, suggested to Snider that he do another record which would be contemporary metal and Jasta offered to be a part of it. Snider mulled it over and then took Jasta up on the offer. Dee relinquished control of the songwriting and gave the reins to Jasta who would collect the songs and bring them to Dee and determine which would be the best fit for the album. While For The Love Of Metal isn’t a ‘perfect’ album, it’s got some pretty damn fine moments on it. In addition to guest songwriters, Jasta hooked Dee up with a band to cut the tracks. The result is a bombastic sounding album that sounds akin to Dee’s Widowmaker album Stand By For Pain. While that wasn’t as accessible as the Widowmaker debut album, it was metal and after We Are The Ones, he can only go up from there.
The standouts on For The Love Of Metal include the ferocious “I Am The Hurricane,” the patriotic and anthemic “American Made” and the duet “Dead Hearts (Love Thy Enemy)” featuring Arch Enemy singer Alissa White-Gluz, which works incredibly well as ‘the’ ballad for an album like this. The jury is out if For The Love Of Metal will bring in ‘nu-fans’ in droves. Given the state of the music industry, it’s highly unlikely. Who wouldn’t pull for Dee Snider to get a little pop much like Tony Bennett did back in the ’90s? Don’t hold your breath. For The Love Of Metal did however offer Dee Snider an opportunity at redemption. This is very much a ‘metal’ record.
Track List:
01. Lies Are A Business
02. Tomorrow’s No Concern
03. I am The Hurricane
04. American Made
05. Roll Over You
06. I’m Ready
07. Running Mazes
08. Mask
09. Become The Storm
10. The Hardest Way
11. Dead Hearts (Love Thy Enemy)
12. For The Love of Metal
Band Members:
Dee Snider – vocals
Charlie Bellmore – guitar, bass
Nicky Bellmore – drums
Additional Musicians:
Howard Jones – guest vocals (10)
Alissa White-Gluz – guest vocals (11)
Tanya O’Callahan – bass (10)
Production:
Produced by Jamey Jasta
Mixed by Nicky Bellmore
Band Websites:
Official Website
Facebook
Reviewed by Ruben Mosqueda for Sleaze Roxx, July 2018
Dee Snider‘s “Become The Storm” video:
DEE SNIDER – Become The Storm (Official Video) | Napalm Records
Order “For The Love Of Metal” here: http://smarturl.it/ForTheLoveOfMetalOne of the most powerful voices in rock & heavy metal is back…and more ferocious th…
Dee Snider‘s “Tomorrow’s No Concern” lyric video:
DEE SNIDER – Tomorrow’s No Concern (Official Lyric Video) | Napalm Records
Pre-order “For The Love Of Metal” here: http://smarturl.it/ForTheLoveOfMetalOut July 27One of the most powerful voices in rock & heavy metal is back…and mo…
Dee Snider‘s “I Am The Hurricane” lyric video:
DEE SNIDER – I Am The Hurricane (Official Lyric Video) | Napalm Records
Pre-order “For The Love Of Metal” here: http://smarturl.it/ForTheLoveOfMetal Out July 27! One of the most powerful voices in rock & heavy metal is back…and…