W.A.S.P. – Golgotha

[schema type=”review” name=”W.A.S.P. – Golgotha” description=”Label: Napalm Records” author=”Basak Günel” pubdate=”2015-10-02″]

When it comes to heavy metal, W.A.S.P. is one of the names loved by many. With 15 studio albums and the success that has been growing even today, the band still keeps it rocking since 1982. The band is back with “Golgotha”, their 15th studio album.

I remember when I first heard the news of the new album and from that moment, the album cover and title caught my attention. The cover artwork reminded me of black metal album covers and it turns out that the concept of ‘death’ is associated with the record. According to the mainman Blackie Lawless, the band decided to name the album ‘Golgotha’ due to the importance of the place (Golgotha is Hebrew for place of the skull and it’s where Christ was crucified) and the meaning it carries.

Back to the album… Considering the albums the 80s bands are putting out nowadays, I can say that W.A.S.P. still kicks ass. From the first song “Scream”, I was relieved to hear that the band still has the soul and that wild energy that we all love in those W.A.S.P. songs. Songs like “Shotgun” and “Last Runaway” will make you love the album even more! At this point, the mainman Lawless needs to be praised over and over again; I know very little vocalists who still have that energy and who can sing from the heart even after so many years! We shouldn’t forget the riffs though; the typical 80s heavy metal lovers who crave for those classic riffs will also love the record. Throughout the album, we get to hear solos as well as catchy riffs.

Apart from that wild energy, the album also has a dark and deep side; considering the concept of “Golgotha”, some songs like “Miss You”, “Fallen Under” and “Golgotha” show us the emotional and even personal side of W.A.S.P., making the album even more interesting. As a fan of W.A.S.P., their emotional songs (like “Heaven’s Hung in Black) always moved me deeply and these songs were no exception. So in general, I liked that balance between the wild/typical rock’n’roll sound and the melancholic side of the album.

“Golgotha” is definitely one of the highlights of 2015. Especially lovers of the 80s metal and even metal in general will fall in love with the vocals and the riffs once more! Get ready to feel that W.A.S.P. energy!

Line up:
Blackie Lawless – vocals, guitars
Doug Blair – lead guitars
Mike Duda – bass guitar
Mike Dupke – drums*

Tracklist: 01. Scream 02. Last Runaway 03. Shotgun 04. Miss You 05. Fallen Under 06. Slaves Of The New World Order 07. Eyes Of My Maker 08. Hero Of The World 09. Golgotha

Links:
W.A.S.P. Facebook
W.A.S.P. Official

*Mike Dupke parted ways with W.A.S.P. after nine years. The band’s current drummer is Patrick Johansson.