Wall of Sound

Phil Spector surely had other things in mind than the rampant cacophony unleashed by Belgian metal maniacs, Killer, when he formulated his trademark Wall of Sound recording technique -- but, hey, the shoe still fits! 1982's aptly monikered Wall of Sound album was the mustachioed trio's second in as many years, and it actually managed to trump its predecessor in terms of focused energy and aggression (welcoming powerful new drummer Double Bear into the fold certainly helped), though not necessarily distinctive songs. Fans and critics still disagree, though, and both records are close enough, in essence, to make for a good starting point for first time listeners, but suffice to say that Wall of Sound boasted of a more unified creative direction, but also fewer surprises. Nevertheless, energetic album highlights such as "Battlescars," "Blinded," and even the dubiously named "Maybe Our Interests Are the Same" offered top-notch head-banging in the classic, early-'80s mold; while the frenzied title track and closer "Kleptomaniac" book-ended the LP with evident, but still welcome, Motörhead-isms that are difficult to resist. A pair of slower and somewhat overlong numbers ("No Future" and the particularly forgettable "Bodies and Bones") only serve to bog down the album's mid-section, but the similarly formulated, surprisingly bluesy "Hellbreaker" rescues it in the nick of time, making Wall of Sound a very entertaining listen almost from start to finish. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia|