MADAM X
“MONSTROCITY”
Album Review By Iron Mathew

10/10

Madam X are a heavy metal band from the USA formed in 1981 by sisters Roxy and Maxine Petrucci. Recruiting bass player Chris Doliber and singer Bret Kaiser, the band released their debut album ‘We Reserve The Right’ in 1984. Four years later, Roxy left the band to join future superstars Vixen. Bret also left the band, replaced by an, at the time unknown singer, Sebastian Bach, who went on to front the sleaze metal band Skid Row. Madam X disbanded in 1988, with the original line up re-uniting at the Sweden Rock Festival in 2014. Signing to the EMP Label Group, Madam X released their second album, ‘Monstrocity’ in 2017, an amazing 33 years after their debut…

…a debut album that I remember buying, just on the strength of the album cover as, after all, I was in my middle teenage years and full of hormones . . . the scantily clad Petrucci sisters a visual dream for any young boy at that age. With such metal anthems as ‘Metal In My Veins’, ‘Reserve The Right To Rock’, ‘Stand Up And Fight’ and the hit single ‘High In High School’, the album soon became a favourite of mine. So for me, it is awesome that Madam X have made a return to the metal scene…and what a return they have made. Their new album is packed with anthemic style heavy metal, delivered with a “fists in the air” vibe. Aptly titled and positioned as the first song on the album, ‘Resurrection’ is very quickly into its stride. Galloping along at pace, ‘Resurrection’ is infectious and catchy, immediately invoking frenetic head banging. Madam X are back, and back with a vengeance, as a screaming guitar solo cuts a savage path through the airways. The title song ‘Monstrocity’ comes crashing in with the weight of a wrecking ball, and is so very heavy, a path of destruction will be left in its wake. American heavy metal has always been fiercely powerful and rampant, and after only two songs, ‘Monstrocity’ (the album) is devastatingly addictive.

The albums intensity rockets right off the scale as ‘Nitrous’ explodes into life and is top notch power metal. Big riffing, heavy hitting and packing a harder punch than a heavyweight boxing champion, ‘Nitrous’ is a genre defining example of how American heavy metal should sound. Adopting a heavy mid tempo foot stomp, ‘Freak Parade’ hits heavy like a hammer hitting nails into wood. Furious foot stomping is inevitable as ‘Freak Parade’ parades its stuff majestically, re-igniting my love for Madam X in a big way. Bringing a more melodic feel to the album, ‘Die Trying’ is so very catchy, displaying the biggest infectious groove on the album and is one hundred percent sing a long-able. ‘Die Trying’ is melodic power metal of the highest order. Continuing the melodic vibe, ‘Hello Cleveland’ is another big riffing, heavy hitting anthem. The levels of passion and desire within the band hasn’t dropped one iota over the last thirty three years, with ‘Monstrocity’ turning in a fantastic performance.

One of the best songs off the album is gonna be a huge metal anthem for many years to come…’Big Rock Rolls Heavy’ is a thunderous and infectious romp of some of the best catchiest power metal you’ll ever hear. Get your singing voices ready as the sing a long chant style chorus of “big rock rolls heavy” demands to shouted, yelled and hollered. Assuming the earlier heavy mid tempo foot stomping vibe of ‘Freak Parade’, ‘Detroit Black’ relentlessly thumps and thunders its way on and on. Advancing like an army marching into war, ‘Detroit Black’ mercilessly marches on. How much heavier can the album get? Much much more is the answer, as ‘The Rise’ comes to life with enough force to flatten trees and demolish buildings. Picking up the pace, the tempo, the intensity, hell, picking up everything, ‘Good Stuff’ is a full on and rampant slab of heavy hard rock with a huge dose of the melodic thrown in.

Since I first began listening to heavy metal and hard rock in the early eighties, there have been lots of good albums, many great albums and a fair few superb albums over the years, ‘Monstrocity’ sits firmly and squarely in the superb albums category. It is a beefy, heavy hitting and pulsating fifty minutes of some of the best American heavy metal you’re ever likely to hear. Modern day power metal albums all seem to have an obligatory power ballad, and in the shape of ‘Wish You Away’, this album follows that path. ‘Wish You Away’ will have you raising your lighters high in the air and swaying form side to side as it swaggers on its way. Great stuff from a band of very talented and experienced musicians. With the signature “school bell” intro, Madam X launch a revamped version of their 1984 hit single ‘High In High School’. Heavier and more intense than the original, ‘High In High School’ is just as awesome sounding now as it was thirty three years ago. The relentless “high in high school” chorus chant will be sung loud and proud by fans everywhere. Ending the album is the Black Sabbath-esque and sombre sounding ‘Bride Of Frankenstein’. Menacing and moody as it stomps on its way, ‘Bride Of Frankenstein’ also features Maxine taking on the role of lead vocals. Thirteen songs across fifty minutes, ‘Monstrocity’ is a superb album, with hopefully another one to come, although fingers crossed we don’t have to wait another thirty three years for it…

Overall, a superb album of top notch power metal, very heavy hitting and punchy, with every song a metal anthem. This is American heavy metal at its finest.

TRACKLIST

Resurrection
Monstrocity
Nitrous
Freak Parade
Die Trying
Hello Cleveland
Big Rock Rolls Heavy
Detroit Black
The Rise
Good Stuff
Wish You Away
High In High School
Bride Of Frankenstein

http://www.madam-x.org/
https://www.facebook.com/MadamXofficial/
https://twitter.com/MadamXmetal

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