Currently living in Oshawa, it's a shame that I haven't done a review of the band that put my hometown Oshawa, Ontario on the map in terms of metal. Released in 1990, it was one of the band's bigger albums, coming in the wake of opening for a string of dates for Iron Maiden the same year. Let's jump in and see what the local boys got.
"Dirty Weapons" was one of the biggest songs for the band and can occasionally be heard on classic rock radio today. I've always liked the song, a great example of late-period glam/hair metal, much bluesier and fuller than a lot of the crap released by bands such as Britny Fox and Nitro during the late 1980s. The band never really fit totally into the glam scene, and were more in the vein of Skid Row and the edgier hard rock acts of the late 80s and early 90s. A great track, with some great vocals from singer Russ Dwarf(Graham) and some great solos from Mike Dwarf (Hall). The adoption of Dwarf as a surname of each band member is perhaps one the most remembered aspects of the band, which is still a pretty funny idea today. Anyways, "Nothin' Gets Nothin'" shows the band moving towards more commercial territory compared to the band's early sound. A big song sonically speaking, you can see the band's sound moving more towards a stadium-rock sound. I like the song, and the band's rhythm section is especially of note, very powerful drumming from Darrell Dwarf (Millar). A pretty good tune, but a bit less raw than earlier albums, much more slickly produced.
"All That We Dream" sounds like a mix between Tesla and Iron Maiden, which is pretty much how I would describe the band's sound. I mean this is the best possible way, as the band combine both American metal influences while still maintaining elements of the NWOBHM sound. The bass work is especially of note on the track,a great sound. I like the song quite a bit, and it's nice to see a band move a little away from the sleazy subject-matter that dominated metal at the time. Oshawa's a town full of heart and soul, and these Canadian boys had that in spades. "Doesn't Matter" reminds me very much of Tesla, a country-tinged rock song that isn't very metal at all, but is pretty uplifting and catchy. I like the acoustics, and great backing vocals. A Dwarfs classic with a very nice solo from Hall.
"Last Laugh" is the most traditional 80's metal tune on the album. Dokken would be the reference point here, a little darker and heavier. I like the song, one of my favorite on the album. Hall's leads are solid throughout the album, and the song features some of his best with the band. Another solid song about what seems to be getting revenge in a relationship gone wrong. A tad short, as are most songs on the album. "Comin' Through" takes us back into Ratt territory, full of swagger and bravado. I like the edge to the song, more rough and tumble than some of the more commercial-sounding tracks. Good stuff.
"One Way Out" shows the growing incorporation of a bluesy/pop sound among many glam/hair bands during the late 1980s. Not crazy about the chorus, but I love the heavy drumming from Millar, a very powerful sound. Not bad, but not one of my highlights. "Appeal" reminds me of Winger for some reason. Very powerful vocals from Graham show off the song. Unfortunately, the vocals are a little low in the mix. However, it's nice to hear the bass come to front as well. A solid rocker, with another great solo.
"Not Foolin" is the bluesiest track on the album. I like the rawness of the track, a very live-sounding recording. The song reminds me of a Cinderella song, without the sometimes grating vocals of Tom Keifer. The best track on the album, pure bluesy rock and roll at its best. The album closes with "Want It Bad". The opening riff is pretty heavy, and in a sense, musical complex for their genre. I like the effect-laden verses, pretty trippy and atmospheric. The chorus picks up the tempo, with some memorable lead guitar and great vocals. A great song.
"Dirty Weapons" doesn't contain one bad song. Despite a few less-than-killer tunes and the band becoming a little more polished, it, and their other early albums remain some of metal's best kept secrets. A very solid band, they eschewed the brainless subject-matter of many peers, and produced some interesting music, Give them a shot.
Rating-8/10
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