Review MAD ANTHONY ‘Party Heaven Hell Whatever!’

Mad Anthony, that means glam rock from the Bay Area. The San Francisco Bay Area is for sure on the radar of all metalheads, thinking about the rich history. Many bands and musicians are strongly connected to this area of the metropolitan city. Thinking about thrash metal, the Bay Area was even a cradle for a whole new genre that has roots at the US Westcoast.

This furious metal style isn’t what Mad Anthony has on their agenda. As mentioned, the band has a passion for ‘80s based glam- and sleaze rock. If you listen to ‘Party Heaven Hell Whatever!’ you will be reminded of bands like Ratt, Mötley Crüe, Dokken and Stryper (musically, not lyrically). Heavy riffs, a massive groove and great hooks is what belongs to the key elements of the sound of Rik Burnell (v), Ralph Longo (g), Mark Freseman (g), Bryan Lujan (b) and James Bohn (d). This quintet, always well-equipped with hairspray, let 13 songs off the leash, real party generators. It’s not the wow-factor influencing new elements that fascinates here. It is the positive vibes and the party feeling that grows with every note played. In a time when parties didn’t happen that much and the media confronts with news that are depressing, it is longplayers like ‘Party Heaven Hell Whatever!’ being the light at the end of the tunnel. After an 18 months period in various lockdowns it is time to reactivate denim, leather and hairspray for the next rock’n’roll party.