Rough Cutt: Rough Cutt
ROUGH CUTT
ROUGH CUTT
Released on November 30, 1985 (Warner Bros.); remastered on May 13, 2016 (Rock Candy Records)
Review:
Ronnie James Dio‘s protégés Rough Cutt should have been huge. The band had the chops, songs and the talent to be a contender. However, it wasn’t meant to be and the band issued two albums before ultimately disbanding in frustration with the music business.
Rock Candy Records recently issued a remastered copy of the ‘self-titled’ debut album with expanded liners featuring new interviews with guitarist Amir Derakh, producer Tom Allom, and singer Paul Shortino written by famed U.K. journalist Malcolm Dome.
Rough Cutt in its formative years had more in common with ‘metal’ bands than bands like Ratt, Mötley Crüe, or the like. Songs like “Take Her,” “Black Widow,” “Dreamin’ Again” and the bordering on thrash metal track ‘Cutt You Heart Out” is proof of that. In addition to the aforementioned originals, the album also featured a blistering cover of the Erma Franklin track made famous by Janis Joplin “Piece of My Heart.” The slower, sludgy tempo, crushing riff along with Paul Shortino’s soulful vocal is near perfection. The dual guitar attack of the young gunslinger Amir Derakh and the seasoned Chris Hagar made for ‘eargasmic’ listen experience throughout the album.
In our 2011 interview, Shortino said about Rough Cutt: “Yeah, it’s my favorite as well. I think that the only song that might be ‘too happy’ is “The Kids Will Rock.” He went on to say, “The debut album was ‘slower and heavier’ and the second was ‘more upbeat.’ ‘Wants You!’ should have been heavier and faster than the first record.” What could have been, huh? If you’re looking to discover an overlooked metal gem, look no further than Rough Cutt. You won’t be disappointed.
Track List:
01. Take Her
02. Piece of My Heart
03. Never Gonna Die
04. Dreamin’ Again
05. Cutt Your Heart Out
06. Black Widow
07. You Keep Breaking My Heart
08. Kids Will Rock
09. Dressed to Kill
10. She’s Too Hott
Band Members:
Paul Shortino – lead vocals
Amir Derakh – guitars
Chris Hager – guitars
Matt Thorr – bass
Dave Alford – drums, backing vocals
Production:
Produced by Tom Allom
Reviewed by Ruben Mosqueda for Sleaze Roxx, June 2016
Rough Cutt‘s “Piece Of My Heart” video:
rough cutt – piece of my heart
the first video from this band