Originally, the main attraction of the Brides of Destruction for many was Nikki Sixx getting back to good old-fashioned heavy metal. With Motley Crue on what appeared to be an indefinite hiatus, the Brides (or as they're known by fans, B.O.D.) seemed to be Sixx's new full-time gig. But with renewed interest in the Crue thanks to their best-selling tell-all book, The Dirt, and the megabucks that a reunion tour would bring, Sixx returned to the Crue after only a single B.O.D. album, 2004's Here Come the Brides. Instead of waiting for Sixx to return from his tour of duty with the Crue, Tracii Guns and company decided to forge ahead without their former leader, issuing a follow-up in quick succession, 2005's Runaway Brides. The group has enlisted the aid of renowned producer Andy Johns (who has worked with such giants as Led Zeppelin and the Who...and Cinderella), who co-produces the disc with Guns. What you get is an album that follows the direction of the debut -- raw, in your face, guitar-riff rock, with lyrics that usually focus on the darker side of life, as evidenced by the Motorhead-esque "Dead Man's Ruin" and the Guns N' Roses-esque "White Trash." Although he's no longer in the band, Sixx offers some help in the songwriting department, as he co-penned several tracks prior to his departure ("Criminal," "This Time Around," and "Blown Away"). Also included is something that is sure to become a phenomenon in the world of hard rock/heavy metal -- a tribute to fallen guitar hero Dimebag Darrell, with the album-closing "Dimes in Heaven." ~ Greg Prato|

Rovi