W.A.S.P. Album: “Neon God, Pt. 2: The Demise”

FYI: If this CD popped up first on your search from "WASP Neon God," do a search for "W.A.S.P. Neon God" and you'll find the less expensive edition.

If you are not aware of The Neon God Part 1-The Rise, briefly, it is a concept of Blackie Lawless about a boy named Jesse Slane who suffers a horrific childhood, losing his father at a young age to be "raised" by a drug-addicted mother who eventually drops him off at a Catholic orphanage where he is confined to Asylum #9 and tortured and sexually abused by Sister Sadie. Once leaving the Asylum, the troubled youth encounters a magician named Judah who takes Jesse under his wing and teaches him to gain psychological power over others. The student soon becomes the master and Jesse gains the allegiance of a degenerate group of societal castoffs who elevate him to the level of Messiah. Part 2-The Demise takes up the story from there, but there is not much story left to tell. Jesse gains a religious mass following (like a televangelist) but, after a shocking encounter at one of his crusades, begins to question his role of prophet. He then learns that Judah is not going to let him just walk away. The story in Part 1 takes up 10 pages of text, the story in Part 2 takes up just 3. It seems to me that Lawless either ran out of ideas or just wanted to focus more on the music with this album.

Musically and lyrically, Part 1 and 2 are very similar (think more brain-driven metal like Headless Children rather than carnal, groin-driven metal on the W.A.S.P. debut). In fact, I do not think this album needed to be in two parts as Part 2 uses a lot of riffs from Part 1 and seems more like an extension than a different chapter. Although Part 2 eliminates the fillers that spread throughout Part 1 (Part 2 is 10 minutes shorter), I don't like this album quite as well musically or lyrically, but they are very close. Part 2 is more repetitive and takes too much from Part 1, but there are some gems here.

Five of the first six tracks are 5-star material. "Never Say Die" absolutely kicks. Lawless powerful screaming vocals are amazing (as usual). The chorus is very repetitive but it kicks so much fanny that energy of the track over powers the repetitiveness. "The Resurrector" just flies and incorporates the incredible "I don't believe in your God of love" chorus found on Part 1. The organ opening of "The Demise" is very powerful. It really makes the song. "Clockwork Mary" during which Jesse confronts his mother has a dark beauty. I really like the melody in this track. Lawless puts a lot of emotion in the tortured verses. "Tear Down the Walls" does not stand out like the other tracks so far. Despite the flying drums, it just rocks for rock's sake with no clear direction. The use of organ in this track, unlike in "The Demise," is just noisy. "Come Back to Black" really rocks at the verses. It has an addictive beat. The flaw in this track though is the very repetitive chorus but, like "Never Say Die," its repetition can be forgiven because the track flat out kicks. "All My Life" is a slow, emotional number with somber keyboards at the end. "Destinies to Come" is just ho hum.

All the tracks range from 2:34 to 4:39 until the final epic 13:40 "The Last Redemption." Here many riffs and verses from tracks off Part 1 are repeated with different lyrics. Things go full circle when Jesse repeats "No don't believe in your God of love" [He used this line on Sister Sadie in Part 1 but, in this case, he means himself as the Neon God; the false prophet]. In "The Last Redemption," Jesse addresses Judah, his congregation, God, and the world. The confrontation between Jesse and Judah on this track is the only dialog part on both albums that actually works, with Lawless not just singing the whole thing straight, but changing the vocals to indicate two people. It sounds like an disagreement set to music. This track is a little overdone but, considering the theme of the album, it is appropriate to end in a bang, I guess.

I really like the musical direction Lawless takes with the two CDs in this Neon God concept. I gave neither CD 5-stars because, with Part 1, there are too many fillers and, with Part 2, too much of the album is devoted to one long track. If the best of both albums (well, what I consider to be the best) were put on one CD, it would be a 5-star masterpiece. If you like metal with substance and, especially, if you liked Headless Children, get both CDs. The music is what matters, so I will not knock the lack of originality of the concept. Without giving away the ending (if there was one), it is not earth shattering. The organized religion concept seems to be overused to the point of losing its effectiveness. I think Lawless' note at the end of the story about the purpose of the concept is a little presumptuous. Really, it's just a metal album. Oh well, rock on!

Better than "The Neon Part 1 -The Rise" but not enough to wake the neighbor. First of all Mr. Lawless should get a producer instead of him trying to control everything. I'm not sure people want conceptual album anymore! Don't try to re-do "The Crimson Idol", this isn't worth it anyway. Try something new or in the vain as "The Headless Children". Highlights: "Never Say Die", "Clockwork Mary" and .....more of the same.

So you've come back for more have you? Well this cd is better musically than part one and yes it does have it's moments, but really it's just missing something in the end. Maybe it's the fact that we're tired of this story as we've heard it before in the Who's Tommy or W.a.s.p's own Crimson Idol? Either way it's been done before and it's time for a new start. The cd jacket is ok but nothing fantastic. It's like the story was told in book one and well Blackie didn't feel like writing it out again or had just given up? Either way it's an ok cd and nothing more.

The first part of this review is a cut and paste of Neon God Pt. 1...

(My rating scale: 1- Bad 2- Average 3- Good 4- Very Good 5- Excellent/Classic)

I was the biggest WASP fan back in 1984-85, when they released one of the most kick-ass albums in metal, their self-titled debut. Their second release, The Last Command was strong as well, but not quite as good. By the time Inside the Electric Circus appeared, Randy Piper was gone and WASP was no longer the band they had once been.

That's not to say Blackie Lawless hasn't continued to release some good product. Blackie however has been consumed with the concept album. As far as I'm concerned, unless you are Alice Cooper or The Who, concept albums aren't too great. Good thing for Blackie that both those bands are huge influences on him, otherwise The Neon God 1 & 2 could have been complete disasters.

The thing that makes Alice Cooper great and allows him to have great concept albums, is that he has a sense of humour. That's one thing I wish Blackie would have a little more of. While Alice never takes himself too seriously, Blackie is always deadly serious about his concept albums. I recall his interviews during the Crimson Idol days, when he actually told reporters that fans would be "outraged" when they found out what the conclusion to his concept album was....please Blackie....lighten up just a bit. It's just an album.

Part Two Review----Neon God Pt. 2 is better than Pt 1. That doesn't elevate it past three stars, but this second part rocks hard! There's really no bad songs on the disk. There's also very little in terms of innovation on the part of Blackie as far as song writing or music.

The production is better on NG II than NG I. Also, what seems to be a positive, is that the concept isn't as heavy. The story actually takes a step back in favour of the music.

Better tunes are "Tear Down the Walls", which is wicked! "Resurrection" and "Destinies To Come" are scorchers in the WASP tradition. Blackie breaks out a pretty good semi-ballad in "Clockwork Mary" as well. The CD ends with a 13 minute epic, "The Last Redemption" which, while it revisits some of the other songs from NG I & II, is very listenable. Really, the only tune on NG II that isn't good is The Demise, which is more filler, as seen on NG I.

Blackie Lawless cancelled a world tour in order to create the Neon God I & II. At the time I thought that that was merely an excuse to avoid explaining a lack of ticket sales. I'm not so sure that that wasn't the case. There's no reason that these two albums should have needed Blackie's undivided attention. They are good WASP albums, but they could have been written down on paper, or demos, and then recorded after the tour. I do have to say that if Blackie had taken all these songs from both cd's, removed the filler, and ignored making a concept album, he could have put out one cd that was absolutely fantastic from first track to last!

Again, this CD cost a lot ($27 Canadian), and while good, I suggest you buy it used to get full value.

The Neon God Part 2 - The Demise is a very difficult CD to review. Being the second part to an already released disk, it is difficult to review this as whole.

So this review will concentrate on what WASP is in 2004. A mighty metal throw back to the 80's. A rock band with deep inspirational lyrics, driving rhythms, and biting harmonies. WASP have themselves a true metal masterpiece on their hands. To say the Neon God is a masterpiece is only to reflect on what has come from metal in the last 10 years, since the masterpiece Crimson Idol was released from this same metal stronghold. The Neon God will surely be compared to Idol in almost every aspect. While Idol has had much time to brew in the minds of discriminating metal heads world wide, the Neon God Opus is fresh, thus the hands of time will have to tell this story. In 10 years I believe people will look upon this 2 CD concept and put it near the top of the heap.

Throughout part 2 Blackie and the boys borrow from themselves (as well as The Who and Steppenwolf). This is not an injustice at all and I actually found it quite interesting. Lyrically is where part 2 excels. This is definitely a "sit down and listen with CD booklet" disk. In part 1 there were some standout songs that I just loved, and in part 2 these songs and themes are further enhanced.

Standout Ballads include Clockwork Mary and All my Life. Standout Rockers include Never Say Die and Come Back to Black.

And to end it all is a 13 minute final song "The Last Redemption" taking us through the Neon God's demise. This song is the combination of what has come before and is a total and utter masterpiece within itself.

Whatever your take on music is, you owe it to yourself to find out why this band continues to grow musically. The question "Oh Tell Me my Lord, Why am I Here" will resonate inside of you. I can't stop listening.