Album Review: Dee Snider - For The Love of Metal

Listeners of Jamey Jasta's podcast will acknowledge that the Hatebreed frontman; a) often pitches ideas to guests; and b) has numerous high-profile friends within the heavy music scene.

After challenging former Twisted Sister singer, Dee Snider, to create a bona fide metal record on one episode, the onetime Headbangers Ball host enlisted a host of said pals to collaborate on the album, which he also produced.

Aside from contributions from members of Lamb Of God and Kingdom Of Sorrow, Arch Enemy's Alissa White-Gluz — lending her pristine clean vocals to power ballad Dead Hearts (Love Thy Enemy), one of the highlights — and Light the Torch's Howard Jones appear. The enthusiasm for the project almost pours out of the speakers at times.

Opener Lies Are A Business makes a statement; fast and furious, littered with fleet-fingered leads and a whiff of Painkiller-era Judas Priest. Stomping Tomorrow's No Concern continues the momentum. Snider, who bristles with energy even at 60-plus, smartly plays to his strengths vocally. At times the LP can stoop to stock radio hard rock fare a la American Made and Become The Storm; while likely to appeal to Twisted Sister fans, errs on the side of too cheesy for its own good. But the intent is there, and the closing title track's numerous references to classic metal tunes prove endearing.

Post-Twisted Sister, pursuing a more aggressive direction may just afford Snider's musical career a new lease on life.