Great Metal Albums of 1986: CJSS- World Gone Mad

First of all, I like to give a huge thanks to Boppinsblog who has come into fill in some blanks on a couple of recent posts. He was able to supply the musicians who played on Rhett Forrester’s “Gone With the Wind” album and a couple of week’s back, when I posted on Chastain’s album and lamented over not finding the songs which appeared on the Metal Sister’s compilation tape, he directed me to this album by David Chastain’s other band, CJSS, “World Gone Mad.” So once again, thank you Boppinsblog!

The two tracks from the album which appear on the tape are “No Man’s Land” and a cool cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Communication Breakdown.” Maybe it’s because the song was so familiar to me already, but I have to say that “No Man’s Land” is the best track on this album. Hearing it again after so many years, (I finally modernized in 2007 when I got a car with a CD player, so that’s when my tapes were retired), I still really dig the track. On it, all the members of the band get to step forward and show their stuff. Great vocals, drumming and a very cool bass-line from Mike Skimmerhorn and of course, like with the entire album, the guitar mastery of David.

After a great start, with the two songs mentioned and a good opener, “Hell On Earth,” the album takes a tiny dip with the title track. I think, the band was trying to experiment or possibly trying to be a little new wave and it’s not a bad attempt, but the constant repetition of “I pledge allegiance,” gets a little annoying by the end. Fortunately, it redeems itself with “Run Another Day,” which starts off as it’s going to be a power ballad but speeds up to a mid tempo rocker with David cranking out a cool solo. It also highlights the vocals of Russell Jinkens, who really shines here.

After a couple of cool rocking tracks, the album goes into a more power metal course on “Welcome to Damnation.” The bass intro is amazing, especially the way it brings in the guitar. David shows that he is more than someone who just wants to solo away but can hit the power chords on the rhythm guitar parts as well. Then again, he does some cool guitar soloing here as well. Closing out the album is “Living in Exile,” which reminds me a little of Dio’s “Stand Up and Shout,” which is a bit strange because that song is an opener. However, “Living in Exile” is the best choice for closer as it does punctuate the album very well on its way out.

Track Listing:

1. Hell On Earth
2. No Man’s Land
3. Communication Breakdown
4. World Gone Mad
5. Run Another Day
6. Gates of Eternity
7. Destiny
8. Welcome to Damnation
9. Living in Exile

CJSS

David T. Chastain- guitar

Russell Jinkens- vocals

Mike Skimmerhorn- bass

Les Sharp- drums

It’s obvious that David T. Chastain was a very busy boy in 1986 with an album from Chastain and this one with CJSS. This band also put out another album at the end of the year and if it’s anything like “World Gone Mad,” then I can’t wait to hear it.

Next post: Responding to demand, I am going to post, “The Metal Sisters Compilation Tape.”

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com