Stephen
'Royalty Sux' is one of Demon Dolls' product highlight of 2011. They dusted this off from an old recording that go way back in 1989 where glam metal movement reached its peak, but sadly, the talents and songs of WICKED JESTER here don't fit the year where label required a more commercial approach. The same thing happened to other underrated bands like VAIN, MAXIMUM, or TORA TORA that's quickly lost in the shuffle because they aren't accessible as the others.
If only this was released in 1984, I think the band will gain a more lucrative achievement, because songs like 'Ways To Be Wicked', 'Screamin', or 'Hollywood Slide' are just plain nasty, raw, and aggressive, just like the early days of DOKKEN and MOTLEY CRUE. Actually, they also have a commercial track here, 'In Need of Love', but a single track isn't enough to catapult their position and beside this song is too short and the chorus lacks of chord variety, even though it's still a great song overall.
The strength of the band is clearly on the furious tracks. Check out 'Glitter In The Gutter' and 'Get Back Mother Fucker' which reminds me of SKID ROW's offensive attitude, and also 'Web of Desire', a glam metal gem right near the end of the album. 'Champage In The Rain' is a mandatory ballad but shame that it's too similar with 'Home Sweet Home' meets 'Never Say Goodbye'.
I love this album, I like the rawness and heaviness the band carried, and the production is great considering this is a forgotten album of the late 80s. Great stuff if you want something that reminds you of the mid-80s!