Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Vicious Mary - Vicious Mary - reviewed by: EC

Track Listing1. Love Or Hate 2. When He Cries 3. Outside 4. Million Words 5. Crying For You 6. The Call 7. E.L.I.S.A. 8. Keysage 9. I'll Be There For You 10. You Run Me Wild 11. Indian Giver

I was very shocked when I first heard this disc. I figured this would just be another power metal band playing Helloween riffs again. The band consists of Eldritch members Terence Holler(vocals), Sean Henderson(keyboards) and Maya member Pete Daniels (guitar), with White Skull axeman BB Nick on second guitar. This is why I didn't expect the hard rock vibe that I immediately got from the first track, "Love Or Hate". Few bands have the balls to play good 80s style hard rock these days (other than LA Guns, read my review). These guys sound like mid-80s era White Cross and White Lion crossed with Euro-flavored hard rock like Pink Cream 69 and Bonfire. Hell, you can even throw a little bit of Bon Jovi lovey-dovey songwriting in there as well, which ain't a bad thing. Tracks like "When He Cries" and "E.L.I.S.A" flow with melody and hard rock power. My only concern are the slow ballads that go nowhere, or the keyboards that really distract from the sound. Other than these minor annoyances, most of the songs from Vicious Mary will leave you thinking about the glory days of the 80s, and wishing that more bands would do this style of music. I've read that BB Nick has left White Skull to concentrate more on this band. I hope they continue putting out great albums like this one. Next time get a better album cover though!!--EC 2.18.03