Time for some 'Leather Love', oh yes!
I think it's finally fair to say that the science of Cryogenics is a complete success because there is no way on this earth that Sweden's Bullet are from this decade. Acting as if the last twenty-five years had never happened, Bullet, both musically and visually, are from a different metal era. Even their promotional photographs, which see the band dressed up in a denim and leather garb, are eerily similar to those early shots of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Def Leppard. It's not just their get-up but also their haircuts and fist raising poses are very authentic, so much so, that I reckon the musky smell of patchouli oil was wafting around the photo shoot that day.
Classic aromas and guffaw worthy pictures aside, Bullet are on a mission. Not only are they 'Heading for the top' but they also wasn't us to 'Bang our heads,' 'Speed in the night' and participate in some 'Leather Love.' Hopefully from these song titles you'll grasp an understanding of Bullet's lyrical prowess. Sensibly avoiding those mine-field subjects of politics, religion and medieval war, Bullet stick to the tried and tested topics of rocking out, riding one's Harley and sex. And a good decision it has turned out to be because in 'Turn it up loud' we are told to 'Turn it up! Turn it up loud, that's what we gotta do!' and you can't say it any better than that.
Musically we're not too far from the realms of Krokus and Saxon. The band has some genuinely foot-tapping ideas namely 'Midnight Riders' and 'Heading for the Top.' There are also moments on this disc that go beyond foot tapping and are just too damn catchy for words. Tracks such as 'Hard luck lady' and 'One deal with the devil' really get that head and foot moving in tandem even if you don't want them to. Vocalist Hell Hofer sounds the spitting image of Brian Johnson, but it's the simplicity of the rhythms, the half distorted guitars and twenty-five year old riffs that really give this album that AC/DC feel.
For all of Bullet's boasts about wanting to 'Rock out' they never really manage it. The production is clear enough but is far too weedy to generate any real passion in the listener. As mentioned before the guitars are only half distorted and don't have the type of impact that, for example AC/DC's Back in Black's guitars do. Even on the edgiest tracks 'Speeding in the night' and 'Bang your head', the rebel within us all is scarcely aroused. The album only really manages to cause a little head bobbing and finger tapping just out of sheer catchiness than classic heavy metal power.
Deep down I love this album but for all the wrong reasons. Their image, promo pictures, subject matter and the music's failure to live up the first three reasons unwittingly make 'Heading for the Top' quite comical. I can't deny however, that it's catchy at times and it does generate a nostalgia trip for those amongst us who lived through that early metal period. I think the phrase 'So bad it's good' can be affixed to this long player, the band are trying so hard to be classic heavy metal that you can't help but like them. It does seem like they've ridden in on a time-travelling Harley. But my guess is they've been taken out of cryogenic stasis after twenty-five years, and in their naivety formed a band expecting the music scene to be the same as it was. Is that patchouli oil I can smell?