In 1987 my friend and I had just turned 18… of course the first thing we wanted to do as “adults” was to go out and vote, but seeing as there were no immediate elections, we decided to go to our first strip club instead. I remember this raw, rocking song playing as a beautiful blonde dancer wearing nothing but Ray Bans strutted onto the stage… the music was a throwback to the days of Aerosmith with a raunchier, harder edge and it was nothing like the bland, “they all sound the same” hair “metal” bands of the day. I was enthralled by this song I had never heard, and the naked bombshell before me added a whole other dimension to the experience. After the show, my friend (who was more of a “Morrissey” than a “Maiden” guy) was a bit annoyed by my rantings about the music. The song was “Welcome To The Jungle” and before long it would saturate the airwaves. 30 years later, I again feel like I’m hearing that song for the first time, but now it’s a 72 year old audio wizard exciting me by adding a whole other dimension to the music. How times have changed!
Elliot Scheiner’s surround mix is on par with all his previous, excellent efforts and I’m thrilled that he’s still at it. The rear channels are very active with prominent vocal, percussion, and guitar activity (both leads and rhythm). There’s a moment midway through the album where Axel’s scream travels around the room and I couldn’t help but smile. The fidelity is dynamic and full. The cymbals (at rare times) seem a little distorted, but this is a minor quibble that doesn’t distract from my overall enjoyment. The content is classic. Add in all the bonus songs mixed in surround, and we’ve got ourselves a 10!
I'm a huge fan of Appetite...can't wait to crank the bda!
