Mad Max-Night of passion

Metal Mind

1987/2010



Following their 1985 release Mad Max toured Europe with Pretty Maids, Stryper and Yngwie Malmsteen while writing material for their fourth album. The band cut down to a four piece opting for just one guitarist prior to recording "Night of passion". The band ran into some problems with their line-up as the band wanted Dirk Steffens (Accept, Sinner) to produce, but they were overruled by their label who put Dan Johnson (Savatage, Crimson Glory) in charge. The production sounds fine to me, but this move created tension between the band and their label. "Night of passion" marks the first that the band did albums that were very similar in style as the melodic metal of this release compares well with the band's previous album the 1985 release "Stormchild". Perhaps the consistency and stability in style had something to do with the fact that all involved here played on the previous album because line-up changes had been an all too frequent occurrence in this band's first several years. The guitars are solid despite being down to just founding member Jurgen Breforth. Michael Voss once again shows off his wide range and remains in control as goes along. The rhythm section of Roland Bergmann and drummer Axel Kruse work off one another creating a well need foundation for many of the songs. At this point Mad Max very much sounded like a band who had found their comfort zone. Unfortunately this was to be the last album of their first run as they would disband in 1989, but would reform years later and are still going today. This re-issue includes a bonus track and booklet with pics and a band biography.