Maximum Metal Rating Legend

The Rods Vengeance Company: Niji Entertainment Release: 2011 Genre: Traditional Reviewer: Jonah Haze

Shit

Founded by guitarist David "Rock" Feinstein (Elf, Feinstein) this gritty street sound of a band tried to ram into the 80's rock scene. But the scene rammed them right back almost into obscurity. Pretty much where they belong as a band.

"Vengeance" has been a long time coming for Feinstein and company and NOT worth the wait. Davids voice, guitar playing and songwriting are undeniably the worst of his career. Every song sounds like it was rushed to complete an albums worth of material. I have a theory behind that.

David Feinstein is a cousin of Ronnie Dio. He played on the first Elf album, which for him was his last Elf album. They never rocked together again until Ronnie was diagnosed with cancer in 2010. During their years of absence with the same blood; definitely not with the same talent, David tried to hold up his Rods and soon disappeared before they even materialized. Later in 2003 he started phase one of his revenge plot with one of the best albums of the year, Feinsteins solo debut "Third Wish" featuring cult vocalist John West (Artension). It was cleanly produced and pumped up with soaring melodies over metal riffs that made hooky sense. As a follow up Feinstein hurriedly pieced together a ricockulous second solo release, "Bitten By the Beast". This was a precursor to the preexisting immaturity of David's comeback with his Rods just last year. In both cases, "Bitten By the Beast" and "Vengeance" were recorded with Ronnie in the hospital, granting them the opportunity to bond again. From beyond the grave Dio sounds as alive as ever on "Metal Will Never Die" and "The Code", respectively.

Feinstein has left no legacy except to milk the fact that Dio is his cousin. Without Ronnie, David would have never had a chance to play his guitar or much less sing like he has gargled with the left over nails falling from Kevin Dubrow's mouth. Unless you need anything and everything Ronnie, this CD will bite the hand that buys it. "The Code" is such a frustrated mess...Jimi Hendrix never expected 3rd grade writing from "pros!". Its easy to miss a hook when you don't really write choruses. Listen hard enough to Dio to find a note or two to shamefully address Feinstein's disillusioned prowess. Dio's vocals are pushed back into the shadows with the drums sounding like you're beating the bottom of an empty five gallon cardboard bucket from Baskin & Robbins. I've mixed drugs better than both of "Rocks" recent releases. Dwayne Johnson might have something to say about the name "Rock". Because "Rock" everything but David Feinstein.
The only thing memorable about this particular posthumous Dio single is that it's immediately unmemorable.

"A must have for Dio fans."

A must have if you have the extra money and enjoy spending it on shit you can conveniently place around the house and step in. If you could listen to my printed word impersonations, you woud hear the monotone of Steven Wright, the robotics of Al Gore and the excitement of a 9 year old getting socks and underwear for Christmas.