Yes, concerts are currently at a stand still, but many artists are offering virtual performances to hungry fans. Not a bad option, another viable means of experiencing live music is consuming a pre-recorded concert DVD. Answering the call, Dee Snider’s For The Love Of Metal Live album, along with a killer DVD/Blu-ray, hits the public on Friday, July 31st via Napalm Records.
Before going any further, it should be noted, while Dee Snider is often associated with Hair Metal, from his days with Twisted Sister, as a solo artist, he is making new tunes on the heavier side of the spectrum. The story goes Hatebreed Vocalist Jamey Jasta challenged him to make a Heavy Metal album. So, knowing Snider’s attitude towards life and Heavy Metal, he not only accept this challenge, but created a whole new live band, surrounding himself with youthful, talented Heavy Metal musicians.
The live album itself features a set of eighteen songs including tunes from his 2018 album For The Love Of Metal, along with Twisted Sister cuts done a bit heavier, plus one of his favorite AC/DC covers, “Highway To Hell.” Created with submissions from such artists as Howard Jones (ex-Killswitch Engage), Mark Morton (Lamb of God), Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy), Joel Grind and Nick Bellmore (Toxic Holocaust), as well as Charlie Bellmore (Kingdom of Sorrow), there is no shortage of excitement.
This is while the live DVD, or Blu-ray, features top-notch footage from various locations around the world; one of which is from 2019’s Bloodstock Festival in England. Recordings that include Snider’s solid band of Nicky Bellmore on drums, Charlie Bellmore and Nick “Taz” Petrino on guitar, along with Russell Pzütto on bass, the talented bunch round out his, at times, harsher Metal styled vocals.
As a whole, the band themselves interject new life into the more classic tunes with a great stage presence that is full of energy, head-banging, and hair-whipping galore. Speaking of appealing to a younger audience, Snider has four children of his own, so he is also quite in tune with what the current Metal scene reacts to. This, matched with the fact that he was also active, and successful, in the ’80s, makes for a delightful combination during a live set.
Adding to the overall experience, the DVD also included snippets from interviews where Snider touches on a bunch of memorable milestones from his career. This includes things such as meeting his costume, hair, and make-up designer wife, Suzette; someone who has supported him and worked with him for over forty years. He also talks about having to defend his lyrics from the unwarranted government censorship back in the day, a recent hi-humored stint as a Broadway actor in the musical Rock Of Ages, and his very memorable introduction to Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead.
Furthermore, the videography of the live DVD is brilliantly executed with the interspersed interviews. Factors that provide constant excitement, also adding a fun flare to it all is the splicing of the live footage. Edited in such a way that switches between different live performances, you get to see Snider sporting both a Britney Spears Metal spoof t-shirt, as well as a “New York Phucking City” t-shirt, all in the same song.
For The Love Of Metal Live is overall a great collector’s item to own, and the style Snider seamlessly adapts too is a charming one. The moral of the story is that Dee Snider is still a light in the darkness and that Rock-n-Roll/Heavy Metal is as important to society as ever. For encouraging music, and a presentation that brings Metal to the ears of a younger generation, Cryptic Rock the For The Love Of Metal Live CD and DVD/Blu-ray 5 out of 5.
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