Rogue Male-Animal Man

Metal Mind
1986/2008 Re-issue

After “First Visit” this band did a U.S. tour to support the album, but they didn’t make the impression they were hoping for. They returned to the UK and put out an EP called “Belfast”. Then following some shifting of drummers they put together their second LP “Animal Man”. They may have looked like a cross between the cast of “Cats” and extras from a Mad Max film, but their debut had proven they could put forth a solid release. So I don’t know what exactly happened here, but this is a rather confused sounding album. “First Visit” had a very cohesive sound and a definite, if slightly dated musical direction. This album not only fails to pick up on that direction, but it also doesn’t seem to follow any real apparent direction that I could comprehend. There are several tracks that sound like they would have been very comfortable on the debut. However, there are also songs where the music lacks not just power, but also much of any identity. Several tracks rely on a more processed drum sound and the guitars are pushed into the background far more than they needed to be. The vocals also suffer as a few songs hear some kind of pop approach that just sounds completely misguided because they are not even focused enough to work as pop music. If this band wanted to change their style then they needed to go at it with confidence and do it completely. Instead this album is such a mixed bag that it reminds me more of an album of outtakes and previously unreleased material. I don’t know if the band were upset by the lack of success at this point, if outside hands messed with their style or if their numerous line-up changes had finally taken their toll. Whatever the reason this album suffered and I guess that Rogue Male suffered as well because they broke not too long after this album. Metal Mind’s re-issue includes a bonus track and the booklet has lyrics and a band biography.