UZI-Madhouse

Eonian
2009


Chicago's UZI formed in late 1986 out of the ashes of KIDD. They started out as Dillinger, but soon changed to UZI. They played around the area,recording a number of tracks and playing shows in the Midwest. In late 1990 the band earned a trip to Los Angeles to perform at Concrete Management's "Foundations Forum" music clinic and promotional event that was headlined by Judas Priest. After that they decided to move out to LA and take their chances.The entire music scene was already changing and the days were numbered for many hard rock bands. UZI recorded a few more tracks and played some shows, but eventually called it quits in 1992. This collection captures ten of their songs and gives a decent snapshot of what this band was like. There are a variation of styles represented here and that's to be expected because the songs were written over a seven year period and recorded over a six year period. Most of the songs from the 1980's reflect the hard rock sounds that were in style back then. I hear Ratt, Skid Row and even Guns and Roses as influences. The production quality is consistent throughout even if the styles very slightly. They opt mainly for a mid-tempo approach, but handle a ballad good enough as well. Some of their later tracks are slightly heavier and much like someone like Skid Row on "Slave to the grind" they were attemting to keep up with the trend of heavier music becoming slightly more in fashion at the time. Really they still sound good on these songs even if it may not be their first choice in musical directions. I found the majority of the tracks on this album to be instantly likable because they know how to sell a good hook. Although I can't say they were doing much different from a lot of other bands running around the scene back then. There were so many bands like this pushing to get noticed that some were bound to get left by the wayside and UZI were one of those casualties. At least they are getting chance to see some of there music get released even if it is two decades after the fact.