For anyone who has been a W.A.S.P. fan since the beginning (like myself), “The Neon God” project could seem to be a bit of a problem. My initial interest in the band stemmed from the shock rock scenario. In the early days, the blood spattered promotional photos and outrages live performances, coupled with the brash music, served up a tongue in cheek stab at conformist society. Along with Motley Crue, W.A.S.P. defied the norm and raised a well-planted middle finger at everything that had gone before. Everything was thrown into the excess of the Rock ’n’ Roll lifestyle, hard living and hard partying bands pushing every limit to the max. Mainman Blackie Lawless, had and still has a defining voice in Hard Rock/ Heavy Metal history, easily sitting up there with the Ozzy Osborne’s, Ronnie James Dio’s, Dave Lee Roth’s etc, etc. 

The difficulty, for me, is that this isn’t W.A.S.P., or certainly not the W.A.S.P. I worshipped (and secretly still do!). This is altogether a different beast, gone is the outrageous and gone is the image. Now, obviously Sir Lawless has grown, matured if you like, but that voice is still the same, raw and guttural and an instant reminder of twenty years ago. So when you hear the 2004 version of the band your mind is instantly cast back, but this is possibly the clever bit. Anyone being introduced to W.A.S.P. today, having no knowledge of the past, can judge the material with a more objective point of view. 

I recently had the pleasure of seeing the band at a packed Rock City in Nottingham and am delighted to say that they were still as vital and relevant as they were nearly twenty years ago. Band members may have changed but His Majesty IS W.A.S.P. and thankfully always will be. 

Having listened to “The Neon God Part 1 (The Rise)” and now part two (The Demise), it is clear that Blackie Lawless has successfully reinvented himself as a storyteller, almost breaking into “Rock Opera” territory. I can’t yet decide whether the album can be listened to as single tracks or should be digested as a whole. One thing is certain; the album grows on you with every listen and therefore will take a little patience before it sinks in. Every time I’ve played this, I’ve expected a big “hooky” chorus that will lodge into my head like, say  “I Wanna Be Somebody” or “Blind In Texas” and I think this is where Lawless is inviting his audience to listen and concentrate on the songs and find something for each individual. The music is well written and has a refined edge, softer, ethereal moments and balls out rock sections. “The Demise” and “Clockwork Mary” stand out for me. Just well crafted pieces of music, as is the whole album, it just takes a little time to sink in. The playing and production is fantastic and that voice still has the power and savage grace it has always had. 

In conclusion, I would say that Blackie still has to write his “Sergeant Pepper” and am utterly convinced that it will come; he has developed into a songwriter of some obvious quality and certainly still has the live presence of an absolute master. Take in the lyrical content and understand the Lawless mindset and all becomes clear. I said, after four dates of the first U.K. tour and I say the same now twenty years later: “dude, you fucking rule”. The rock rolls forever on. 

Let us know your views on 'The Neon God Part II'

Track List

Never Say Die
Resurrector
The Demise
Clockwork Mary
Tear Down The Walls
Come Back To Black
All My Life
Destiny's To Come
The Last Redemption

Line Up

Blackie Lawless - Vocals/Guitars/Keyboards
Darrell Roberts- Guitar
Mike Duda - Bass
Frankie Banali - Drums