Old CDs Reviewed Anew #6 - Leather - Shock Waves

Leather

Shock Waves

Tribunal Records / Divebomb Records - 2010

http://www.divebombrecords.com

The overlooked 1989 solo gem from Chastain vocalist Leather Leone has been remastered for a new generation of metal fans. That grouping would include yours truly. I spent years trying to find out where she had gone to after leaving Chastain in 1991. Before that I had even written a fan letter that got a response back from Leone. (Still have that letter as a matter of fact.)

The debut solo album was a hit with me from the beginning. I've had the cassette for 22 years and still played it regularly until I found out this disc was coming out. It has an introductory essay and an interview with Leone herself. The interview is very interesting as it goes into the creation of this recording, why she left Chastain and what happened in the intervening 20 years.

As for the material on the album, just stand back! Leone's vocals sound fantastic here, which comes as no surprise, but for anyone who read my two recent Old CDs Reviewed Anew posts on the recent Chastain CDs I acquired, the best thing is that all the songs are superb.

David T. Chastain produced the album, which initially would give one pause wondering how much of a true solo album it could be with him involved given their musical involvement already. But according to the interview, Chastain was not as iron handed as he was with the Chastain CDs. She has songwriting help on two songs from Pat O'Brien of Cannibal Corpse.

A few of the songs start off kind of slow, sort of establishing a particular vibe, only to blow that vibe up when the tracks turn into full on rockers.

The song "It's Still In Your Eyes" is probably the slowest tune on the CD but still has a killer guitar solo.

Leone's vocals are soaring and powerful, especially on my particular favorite track "The Battlefield of Life".

Leone is making a comeback these days and has a new group she's working on called the Sledge Leather Project. They played the KIT festival on April 30th, 2011 despite having no recorded material, but have plans for a release by the end of the year. I have high hopes for it.

But it will have quite a reputation to live up to in comparison to Shock Waves. It is in my opinion a damn fine album that the majority of metal listeners were remiss in not checking out the first time around. Let's not have a repeat of that situation now.

RATING: A MINUS