Great Metal Albums of 1981: The Plasmatics- Metal Priestess
Before I launch into this great mini LP or EP or whatever you want to call it from The Plasmatics, I must give forewarning that I might not be posting very much over the next three or four weeks due to family problems. My father in law passed away last week and the funeral is on Wednesday which means we will make the 200 mile trip to Grimsby on the Tuesday. I know for Americans, that distance is just a Sunday drive. The following week, I’m off to the States to visit my mother who I haven’t seen in eight years and hasn’t been well since her accident Christmas time. I know, I’ll get plenty of time to hang with old friends and my brother and sister but I can’t be sure of how much computer time I will get. I have always endeavored to post twice a week here but please bear with me if I can’t post that many times over the next few weeks. Thank you.
The best way to bring us out of the melancholy feeling I’ve just produced is to look at an album that has been left out of the spotlight for so many years. “Metal Priestess” was made because of the success with The Plasmatics’ previous album “Beyond the Valley of the 1984.” The producer, Dan Hartman, (you may have heard of him) thought that the band should have something to build on that success and since a full length album wasn’t on the cards at the time, the six song “Metal Priestess” was made. There may have been only six songs on the album but wow! What great six songs they are proving that quality is sometimes better than quantity. Each song is an explosion of pure metal mania. Things begin with an impressive guitar opening in “Lunacy” and those guitars dominate but it’s the voice of Wendy O. Williams that gives it the extra edge. Her sinister sounding vocals give meaning to the title of the song. That combination works equally as well on the track “Black Leather Monster” and I love the beginning of “Twelve Noon” as well. It too is a brilliant song and the live recording of “Masterplan” as the closer was stroke of genius for this LP. If you want a pure metal album from 1981 and that’s exactly what this album is, pure metal, there are few which are better than “Metal Priestess.”
In the past and even more so in the future, I have paid and will pay tribute to rock goddesses and metal queens. I have already mentioned such important ladies as Pat Benatar, Debbie Harry, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Grace Slick and even the first true queen of rock Janis Joplin. Future posts will include lovely ladies like Lee Aaron, Lita Ford and Doro Pesch. However, when any of these queens are mentioned, the name Wendy O. Williams seems to be missed out and to me that is a travesty. Speaking as red blooded male, Wendy is just as hot as any of the ladies I’ve just mentioned, hell, look at the album cover. And vocally she’s no less talented. So let’s give Wendy to adoration she so richly deserves when we talk about the great females who have contributed so greatly to our beloved genre of music.
Track Listing:
1. Lunacy
2. Doom Song
3. Sex Junkie
4. Black Leather Monster
5. Twelve Noon
6. Master Plan
Wendy O. Williams- vocals
Richie Stotts- lead guitars
Wes Beach- rhythm guitars
Jean Bouvoir- bass
Neal Smith- drums
Proof that sometimes less if more, the six songs on “Metal Priestess” can all be counted as great metal tunes. I rocked out to each one of them when I listened to it. Another album from a band that didn’t last longer into the 80s and this album as the previous has me asking why. Maybe I’ll get the answer further down the line.
Next post: TBA
To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to http://www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html
Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London
This entry was posted on October 12, 2014 at 8:50 am and is filed under 1980s, Death, Heavy Metal, Heavy Metal and the 1980s, Music, Rock, Uncategorized with tags Ann Wilson, Beyond the Valley of the 1984, Classic Rock, Dan Hartman, Deborah Harry, Doro Pesch, Grace Slick, hard rock, Heavy Metal, Heavy Rock, Janis Joplin, Lee Aaron, Lita Ford, Metal Priestess, metal queens, Nancy Wilson, Pat Benatar, punk, rock goddesses, The 1980s, The Plasmatics, Wendy O Williams. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
11 Responses to “Great Metal Albums of 1981: The Plasmatics- Metal Priestess”
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October 12, 2014 at 9:09 am
Love The Plasmatics. Great choice again!! The guitar sound on this is fantastic. RIP Wendy.
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October 12, 2014 at 9:42 am
Thanks and definitely RIP Wendy
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October 12, 2014 at 9:14 am
Sorry to hear about your father in law. How you and your family are all ok and have a great time in the States. Looking forward to more posts when you get back.
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October 12, 2014 at 9:43 am
Thanks again and I hope to get a few posts out whilst I’m there. Thanks for all your support.
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October 12, 2014 at 12:00 pm
Take care. Family is always first! Than Rock!…lol
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October 12, 2014 at 1:38 pm
Thanks, I will be back, I have another 7 years plus of metal history to go through.
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October 12, 2014 at 12:03 pm
I work with a friend who just over 30 yrs ago seen the Plasmatics open for Kiss. She had no idea who they were and she just said the singer had a Mohawk and she that she cruised the stage carrying a sledgehammer and smashing things! She also told me her brother dug there performance so much that he left halfway thru Kiss’s headlining set!
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October 12, 2014 at 1:39 pm
I guess you can say that The Plasmatics blew Kiss away that night. I would have loved to have seen them live.
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October 12, 2014 at 5:42 pm
Reblogged this on BRAIN TRUST MUSIC and commented:
If you’re into punk and don’t know the Plasmatics, you have some ‘splainin to do! 80s Metal Blog has done a nice write up about Metal Priestess. Check it out.
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October 12, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Great album and thanks for writing about it!
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October 13, 2014 at 6:50 pm
You’re welcome and thank you for the re-blog. It’s always an honour.
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