W.A.S.P.
THE NEON GOD: PART 2 - THE DEMISE
Sanctuary Records

It's official - Blackie Lawless is officially the king of the concept album. Be it somewhat conceptualized releases like THE HEADLESS CHILDREN or UNHOLY TERROR, or the full on epic stories like THE CRIMSON IDOL, Lawless is better at it than anyone. His latest creation, the 2 part masterpiece known as THE NEON GOD, proves that this is a guy that thinks out his music on a much wider plain than anyone else in recorded music today.

Now, I was a very big fan of part one of this saga, THE NEON GOD: PART 1 - THE RISE. In fact, if you troll through the cd review archives, you'll find that I gave it a 9/10 rating. I thought it was by far the best thing Lawless has done since THE CRIMSON IDOL, proving once again that there is more creative energy in this one individual than virtually anyone else. That being said, THE RISE left me longing for more, and a little bit disappointed that the story of Jesse Slane ended just as the boy who would be evangelist king had made it through the raging storm of international success and had become the biggest thing in his world. To put this into perspective, leaving the story off here was much like watching the 1st tape of TITANIC, and just when everything starts happening at the end of it, you find out that you don't have the 2nd tape. Months of anticipation as to how the story would round out have now been experienced, and while the tail ends somewhat in a miserable crash for Slane, it's done so with the best artistic diversity and integrity that W.A.S.P. has ever been able to produce.

Without revealing the story (you'll just have to buy it if you are that curious), there is no doubt that this is the most lyrically expansive collection of songs Lawless has ever ventured. Songs like "Tear Down The Walls" and the pleading "All My Life" are easily the greatest lyrical leaps Lawless has ever attempted. Add to this the fact that this album is so musically powerful, and you'll understand just why this album is so perfect. Guitarist Darrell Roberts, has easily moved into the realm that Lawless himself created as a guitar player on CRIMSON IDOL. It's not a Holmes-esque slamfest, but more a tempered rollercoaster of subtlely and shock from song to song. The band as a whole put it all together to close out THE DEMISE on what I would say is the most perfectly structured and performed song in the W.A.S.P. catalog, "The Last Redemption". Coming in at 13 minutes, it literally takes you on a recaptured ride through the rise and demise of Slane and his foray into evangelistic obsession.

PITRIFF RATING - 10/10 - Hands down my favorite album of the year, replacing it's predacessor for that honor. When W.A.S.P. is bad (STILL NOT BLACK ENOUGH, HELLDORADO), they are really bad. But when they are good (THE CRIMSON IDOL, THE HEADLESS CHILDREN, K.F.D., LAST COMMAND, etc.), they are one of the best, most underrated metal bands out there. Without question, THE NEON GOD: PART 2 - THE DEMISE is in the top 2 releases in the W.A.S.P. catalog...bettered only by IDOL in my opinion. Blackie Lawless reigns once again.