After ejecting original vocalist/bassist Gary St. Pierre, Marty Friedman's Hawaii broke in their expanded four-piece lineup via 1984's Loud Wild and Heavy EP, which achieved immediately positive results in terms of both sound and songwriting quality. Less polished than most L.A.-based hair metal, but not quite frenetic enough for thrash, standout tracks like "Bad Boys of Metal" and "Escape the Night" (reworked from the band's under-whelming debut album) recalled first-EP-era Ratt or perhaps New Wave of British Heavy Metal maniacs Raven, with their equal doses of good hooks and raucous head-banging. Meanwhile, the lengthy instrumental "Rhapsody in Black" served as a showcase for Friedman's startling abilities, and helped make this possibly the band's strongest effort ever. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia|

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