As a big WASP fan ever since their first ever show in the UK many moons ago, I looked forward to hearing new material with much anticipation. As a band there have been many line up changes through the years, with some members coming and going. But the back bone of the band has always been Blackie Lawless.

A man of great vision and song writing ability that seems to go unnoticed at times. The bands image and the ability to shock taking the forefront. WASP’s latest offering ‘The Neon God’ takes both these aspects of the band and puts them together.

‘The Neon God’ is a two part concept album, part 1 ‘The Rise’ tells the story of an abused, orphaned boy who finds out that he can read people and manipulated them. And by using these gifts he develops a following and is thought to be the dark Messiah for the 21st Century. The opening track ‘Overture’ is an instrumental and as the fanfare is heard, then we enter the dark mind of Blackie Lawless.

‘Why am I Here’ starts the album of proper with the opening line ‘Oh tell me lord, why am I here?’ And so sets the mood for the onslaught that you are about to hear from the start. This is a very powerful and deeply emotional album. Musically sound with Blackies vocals staying true throughout and with Frankie Banali doing a superb job on the drums again. Also, on bass we have Mike Duda and some excellent guitar work from Darrell Roberts.

Highlights of the album are the stirring ‘Sister Sadie (and the Bad Habits)’ the awe-inspiring ‘Asylum #9’. The totally over the top ‘XTC Riders’ and the raunchiness of ‘The Running Man’.

I know a lot of people will compare this album to ‘The Crimson Idol’ because that was seen by many to be a perfect example of the concept album. But ‘The Neon God’ goes that one step further and if the second instalment is as good as the first then Mr. Lawless and Co have achieved what they set out to do and make an album worthy of the WASP name.