Back To Reality Arizona

Back To Reality

Slaughter

CMC International Records, 1999

REVIEW BY: Christopher Thelen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 08/13/1999

While listening to Back To Reality, the latest disc from Slaughter, for thetenth time today, I got to thinking that this was probably theperfect title for the disc. After all, the band was coming off ofthe tragic death of guitarist Tim Kelly and the tour which showedthe band's resilience hiring guitarist Jeff Blando.

But now, the accolades were gone, and the band had to settle inand prove that they could rock as hard as they did in their glorydays. Back To Reality proves not only that Blando is more than asuitable replacement for Kelly, but that the band has lost verylittle of the magic they've carried throughout their career.

Their style has changed little from the days of Stick It To Ya, though they don't gravitate towards theballad that much these days. Sure, there are the gentler numbers,like "Love Is Forever," which is a very pretty song that has morethan a little bite to it, and the instrumental "Silence Of Ba" isan incredible piece of work that I wish they had expanded on for alot longer than this track lasts.

But when it comes time to let shred, the band - Blando,vocalist/guitarist Mark Slaughter, bassist Dana Strum and drummerBlas Elias - still know how to lay down the groove and lock thelistener in for the duration. While the album gets off to a weakstart with "Killin Time," the band quickly bounces back with trackslike "All Fired Up," "Dangerous," "Bad Groove" and "Trailer ParkBoogie".