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Villain: Time Machine

Time Machine is a 7-song 30-odd-minute 1980s LP called Only Time Will Tell, which has been re-released by their original label, with 7 live and rehearsal tracks tacked onto the end.

The seven live numbers are smoky club stuff pumped out of distorted amps cranked to 11, through a lousy mixing board and into terrible acoustics. Those tracks are for collectors only and the rest of us would rather skip them and play the first half twice.

By contrast, the first half is very good listening. Founding member Leon Smith's guitar work and the late Carl Alberts' vocals are the two elements that stand out most prominently. The elegant riffs and the blazing lead solos, and the standard metal-style vocals, stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of today's practitioners. Two standouts are the not-quite-ballad "She'll Make You Fall (In Love)", and the cover of Queen's "Tie Your Mother Down". The production quality, the cover art and booklet and the overall presentation are out of the top drawer.

The style is clearly from the '80s, but it was extremely good for that era and the 7 original songs have braved the ravages of 20 years very well. But one listen and it's clear that this is from the hair-metal era. This isn't progressive, it isn't heavy metal, and despite the 4-part choral harmonies it isn't power metal either. It is a gem of 1980s California metal, and it's a huge pity these guys didn't record more.

Having said all that – there is little that sets Villain apart from dozens of other Bay-area bands of the time.

Track Listing:
Studio Album

01. Kamikaze
02. Only Time Will Tell
03. Tie Your Mother Down
04. She'll Make You Fall
05. Kids Of Crime
06. Just Close Your Eyes
07. Thrills In The Night

Live And Rehearsal tracks
08. Don't You Forget It
09. Hungry For Glory
10. Loud & Solos
11. Power Of The Night
12. #3
13. Time To Fight
14. If You Can't Rock

Added: August 31st 2004
Reviewer: Duncan Glenday
Score:
Related Link: Relentless Records' Web Page
Hits: 2610
Language: english

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