The 1981 Listening Post - Bullet - Execution

 Reviewed by Tom Mott & Jim Coursey / LISTENING POST DISCOVERY

Released: 1981 Bullet Execution Genre: Überrock Krautmetal Tom's Rating: 4.1 out of 5 Jim's Rating: 3 out of 5 Tom’s Highlights: Execution Cold Hearted Woman Dancer On A Rope* Gimme Some Power Jim’s Highlights: Execution Gimme Some Power Note: due to a mixup, Tom and Jim both wrote reviews and bumped into each other at the checkout line. Tom’s review: 1981’s Execution is a clone of AC/DC and Deep Purple. 1.5 stars.--AllMusic user review Execution is a clone of AC/DC and Deep Purple, but with a sharp metal edge (and no organ). This one blasts out of the gates and delivers the goods straight through. Ich habe jetzt Metall in meinen Adern! Vier Sterne!--TomMott user review *Double highlight. Listen to it on repeat! Jim’s review: From the looks of the album cover, you would be forgiven for thinking you’re headed for a ride on the Starlight Express. Its futuristic sheen implies some synth orchestra pulsating over a disco beat with occasional stabs from a rock guitar. But I was told this was a metal album – should I ask for my money back? Thankfully, within 30 seconds, Klaus Thiele’s heavy vibrato soars over the opening guitar riffs, and we’re off. [1] The music here as throughout the album is meaty and generally mid-tempo, more in the lineage of AC/DC than proto-speed metal. Meanwhile, between the falsetto, the poor enunciation, the throat full of phlegm [1], and the wall of reverb, the lyrics are consistently hard to understand, but at least the vocals get the vibe across. I can, however, make out the lyrics to “Cold Hearted Woman,” and you can pretty much figure out from the title where this one is headed. If I’ve learned anything from listening to more 80s metal albums, it’s that metal bands make very poor dating choices. Cold-hearted women. Evil women. Succubi. Guys, if you want to avoid dating demons, maybe you should consider dropping all the devil stuff? Overall “Execution” offers a fine, if unmemorable, listen that would be worthwhile for fans of the genre, but probably not going to make it onto anyone’s Desert Island Discs. ********** 1. The long drawn out wails on “Give Me Some Power” in particular offer plenty of opportunities to tactfully suggest Klaus clear his throat.