Album review: SAMI YAFFA – Satan’s Helpers War Lazer Eyes And The Money Pig Circus

Livewire/Cargo [Release date 08.03.24]

Friends will tell you that I am a huge fan of the Stones, Guns N’ Roses, Motley Crue or Def Leppard, and they are right, but for me there is one band that will always remain my favourite and that band is Hanoi Rocks.

Releasing a handful of albums before their triumphant rise was tragically cut short, the Finnish band influenced more bands then you could ever give them credit for and each surviving band member went on to make some great albums following the band’s break up in 1985, and continuing on that path bassist Sami Yaffa will shortly release new album “Satan’s Helpers War Lazer Eyes & The Money Pig Circus”.

The album may have one of the most unusual titles we have seen recently but follows on nicely from 2021’s “The Innermost Journey To Your Outermost Mind”. The album was produced by Yaffa himself and alongside his solo band members the likes of Hanoi Rocks bandmates Michael Monroe and Nasty Suicide, Backyard Babies’ Dregen and Monroe bandmates Steve Conte and Rich Jones all make an appearance.

There is a blend of musical styles on the album, something that Yaffa is a master at creating. Album opener, and title track, “Satan’s Helpers War Lazer Eyes & The Money Pig Circus” is a sparse bluesy affair, “Silver Or Lead” is a more frantic slice of punk n roll whilst “Down Home” is a slower number that is a great example of what a superb songwriter Sami Yaffa is. Other highlights include the album’s lead single “Crashing Down”, “Hurricane Hank”, “Death Squad”, “Chemical Life” and “Far Star”.

“Satan’s Helpers War Lazer Eyes & The Money Pig Circus” is a great record and will greatly please Yaffa fans, only time will tell if we get to hear these songs live, I really hope we do. *****

Review by Nikk Gunns

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)