Ready to Strike

Personnel: Mark Free (vocals, background vocals); Mick Sweda, David Michael-Philips (guitar, guitar synthesizer, background vocals); Johnny Rod (bass guitar, background vocals); Carmine Appice (drums, percussion, background vocals).
Audio Remasterer: Jon Astley.
Liner Note Author: Malcolm Dome.
Recording information: Pasha Music House, Hollywood, California.
Photographer: Neil Zlozower.
Arrangers: King Kobra; Spencer Proffer.
For every Poison, W.A.S.P., and Ratt that made it famous during the reign of hair metal in the '80s, there were plenty of other bands like King Kobra that released metal songs equally full of glam, hairspray, and fury. Drummer Carmine Appice's outfit really presents nothing new to the style, yet still delivers a session of hard rocking, tightly performed songs, with "Hunger" standing out with its melodic driven moments that wouldn't be out of place on a Trixter record. It's definitely not groundbreaking stuff, but albums like Ready to Strike aren't made for analysis, they're just simply made to rock & roll, and this definitely does the trick. ~ Rob Theakston