Europe – Prisoners in Paradise (1991: Epic)

Clichéd, squeaky clean
radio rock - trite but not to

Countdown nausea.

http://www.europetheband.com/discography.html# (scroll “then” til you hit it)

Earl Slick – In Your Face (1992: Metal Blade)

Late to shredfest surge,
less flash, more blues, grooves throughout -

fine for guitar moods.

http://www.guitar9.com/inyourface.html

Obituary – Dead (1998: Roadrunner)

Zombliciousness
of mid-paced, grisly death knells;
old school never dies.

http://obituary.cc/index.html

Triptykon – Eparistera Daimones (2010: Century Media)

Leaden dirges drone,
bruise as body blows tally;

Giger artwork fits.

http://www.triptykon.net/triptykon/index.html

Madder Mortem – Deadlands (2002: Century Media)

Hypnotic, smooth to
shrill herky-jerks test comfort,

win more each listen.

http://www.maddermortem.com/

Gamma Ray – Power Plant (1999: Noise)

Jer’cho walls recur
but miss Scheeper’s throat dearly;

still rocks regardless.

http://www.gammaray.org/index.php/discography-albums/discography-1999-pp.html

Chrissy Steele – Magnet to Steele (1991: Chrysalis)

Canuck chick misses
pop metal train by eight years;

Lee Aaron mocks, cries.

http://www.heavyharmonies.com/cgi-bin/glamcd.cgi?BandNum=257&CDName=Magnet+to+Steele

Behemoth – Evangelion (2009: Metal Blade)

Percussive barrage
throttles, wearies exhaustive;

for darkest of days.

http://www.behemoth.pl/site/index.php/eng#evangelion

Dirty Little Rabbits – S/T (2010: The End)

Slipknotter breeds new
alternapop mish-mash;

few hops move forward.

http://www.theendrecords.com/releases/dirty-little-rabbits-dirty-little-rabbits

Tommy Bolin – Private Eyes (1976: Columbia)

Like mayo in sun,
time sitting has not been kind;

short, short rock half-life.

http://www.tbolin.com/history/private_eyes.html

Madder Mortem – Where Dream and Day Collide (2010: Peaceville)

Folk gone to flapper
vocal show with crunch dabbles;

rock quirky, swing true.

http://www.maddermortem.com/

The Quill – In Triumph (2006: SPV)

Soundgardening past
ratcheted back for more groove;

rootsy, earthy sounds

http://www.thequill.se/disc/triumph.htm

Aerosmith – Rocks (1976: Columbia)

The fall yet to come,
stellar spirited tone lives

up to Rocks title.

http://www.aerosmith.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/400034

Smashed Gladys – Social Intercourse (1988: Elektra)

“Classy” as artwork,
sleazers sure exploit frontchick;

drunk, dumb, bluesy fun.

http://www.sleazeroxx.com/bands/smashedgladys/socialintercourse.shtml

Hurricane – Over the Edge (1988: Enigma)

Warrant’s doppelgang
of hum-drum radio rock

but lacks Jani’s tunes.

http://www.sleazeroxx.com/bands/hurricane/over.shtml

Iron Fire – Blade of Triumph (2007: Napalm)

Dungeon module
power metal misses mark,

saving throw needed.

http://www.ironfire.dk/discography%20-%20blade.html

Nevermore – The Obsidian Conspiracy (2010: Century Media)

No room for joy - prog
gut punches without relent;

Queensryche with roid rage.

http://www.centurymedia.com/artist.aspx?IdArtist=39

HIM – Uneasy Listening Volume Two (2007: Sony Universal)

Milks cash cow’s last drops
context 'side, catchy as hell;

power chords add sap.

http://www.heartagram.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Uneasy-Listening-Vol-2-Him/dp/B000PC6FYS