CoC : Wardogs - Scorched Earth : Review

Wardogs - _Scorched Earth_
(Metal Blade, 1996)
by: Adrian Bromley (3 out of 10)

After several listens of _Scorched Earth_ I am reminded of the many 80s metal bands still trying to find room for themselves and their music in 1996. Examples would be: Sacred Reich, Helloween, Iron Maiden, etc. But the thing about Wardogs is that they are a somewhat new band (formed in 1993 in New Mexico) that manage to play VERY Iron Maiden-influenced songs. Hell even lead singer Chris Catero sounds like Bruce Dickinson on several numbers and listen no further than "Sounds Of War", "Nothing Left" or the title track to hear this. Throughout the record it becomes evident that the band stuck to one song style or mold when creating their material. Their bio says, '... what we do is metal,' and sure enough they stick true to those words, but this is metal of the 80s, an era where Judas Priest, Ozzy Ozbourne, Iron Maiden and Anthrax ruled the airwaves, and in my eyes that is an era maybe remembered and dear to many hearts but a style that does nothing more than bring back memories other than get the toes tapping. Old and outdated is the material on _SE_ and when placed up against 'metal' bands of the 90s like Fear Factory, Misery Loves Company and Edge of Sanity does little to keep me interested. If I want to listen to 80s tinged metal (stuff I can still get off on) I'll slap on Ozzy's _Blizzard of Oz_ or Maiden's _Piece of Mind_. If anything good is to come out of this record review it is the fact that this record may appeal to the FEW who still live in their parent's basements and play air-guitar riffs alongside their Judas Priest's _Defenders of the Faith_ LP. Get the point?

(article published 17/7/1996)