HARDWARES

In the ‘80s, ‘Smash Your Skull With Power’ and ‘Hot, Wet Leather & Bondage’ were mantras, words to live by. Two decades later, the Clevelanders have less hair (grayed, but still there!), matured as players, as well as chronologically, yet haven’t forgotten how to thrash. The opening ‘Tear Down the Heavens’, complete with tasty swath of lead guitar, sets the table for the headbanger’s smorgasbord to follow. ‘Straight To Hell’ appears to be their attempt at outdoing Slayer - vicious. Not too many current songs begin with all-out riffage, like ‘World Of War’ (or, to a lesser, more technical extent ‘Precision Devastation’). Heads down banging or feet flailing overhead crowd surfing? Then ‘Unleashed’ is the ticket! Unabashedly old school.