Album review: W.A.S.P. – s/t

May 10th, 2026 by jason

Madfish

Record label Madfish have been working some of the early W.A.S.P. catalogue, including The Savage 7 CD boxset. Here is the band’s 1984 debut and in line with all the other Madfish releases I’ve encountered, it screams quality. Screams being the appropriate word with W.A.S.P.

In fact it is safe to say that for Madfish, anything less is simple not an option.

The cover feels good quality, as does the full colour inner sleeve (lyrics, photos). Then there’s the vinyl, a deep marbled purple that is thick, it literally feels solid, good quality.

Then there’s the sound quality – which is (assuming you have a half decent system) better than some CDs I’ve heard. Really. Depth and warmth, something too many reissues lack.

On to the album. Which many will be familiar with. The band formed in the early 80s, although bassist/vocalist Blackie Lawless’ career can be traced back to the mid 70s. Often labelled ‘Hair Metal’, they were far too heavy, rough’n’ready, for that. Mid 80s glam and hair metal went hand in hand, a genre that the band really didn’t fit.

The band featured drummer Tony Richards and guitarists Randy Piper and Chis Holmes alongside vocalist/guitarist Blackie Lawless, the latter switching to bass (he’d later revert to guitar later is W.A.S.P.’s career).

Their debut single “Animal (Fuck Like A Beast)” their label dropped from the album, released via a licencing deal with Music For Nations. When asked it he was disappointed by that, Blackie told me “Probably initially, but you realise these things happen for a reason. But at the same time you take the press”.

The opening track here, giving a definitive statement of intent (at least musically), is “I Wanna Be Somebody”. A drum roll and the whole band come in all screams a blazing. Fast, frenetic, very memorable. The video for the single proved very popular on VH1.

Then “L.O.V.E. Machine”, not only with a good guitar solo but some decent guitar interplay. Then “The Flame”, the structure of the song nodding back to 70s classic rock, but with the screams and rough rock’n’roll all turned up to 11.

W.A.S.P. have since covered tracks by Deep Purple and Uriah Heep, so you can tell the influences.

“School Daze” another change of tempo, but just as heavy, and another single.

“Tormentor” has a solid chorus and chunky sound and the chord progressions in “The Torture Never Stops” stand out. The latter (and album closer) has always been a favourite of mine. Another sound guitar solo too, a wonderful journey on that one alone.

Obviously depending on tastes, but this is a good and genre defining debut. And this is as good a way to enjoy it as anything else. ****

Review by Joe Geesin

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