Artist: Girlschool 
   Title: Legacy
   Label: SPV Records

Ever since my little heavy metal self got into denim and leather and all things rock n' roll, there has always been a clandestine soft spot in my heart for the Girlschool, as did all of my metal friends of that age. 

After some 30 years in the biz the girls are still top of many hard rockers list when it comes to Hard Rocking females whom they still hold dear to their hearts. 

I remember having a poster of the original line-up on my bedroom wall as well as several covers of the bands 'Hit And Run' album, which I came by on a visit to HMV in Newcastle one Saturday afternoon and after a show at the City Hall, the band were so kind to autograph one for me, which I still have to this day in shocking pink vinyl no less. 

So to say the band are part of my own Rock N' Roll legacy is an understatement and now the band are back with the aptly titled ‘Legacy’ album.  An album that still retains all that what was great about the band with Kim McAuliffe still leading the pack on guitar and vocals, with ‘Enid Williams on bass, Denise Dufort on drums and Jackie Chambers on lead guitar. 

This is old school rock at its finest and with guest artists like Lemmy, Phil Campbell Eddie Clarke, JJ French, Eddie Ojeda, Ronnie James Dio and Tony Iommi lending their god given talents to the album, the girls are on to a winner. 

The album opens up in true Girlschool style with ‘Everything’s The Same’, a track that unifies everything the girls have been since 1978.  Hard rocking heavy guitars with a thumping rhythm section, it's pure Girlschool all the way. 

The heavy vibe is continued with ‘From The Other Side’ with Kim McAuliffe’s unmistakable vocal which has been the stalwart part of the band since the beginning. 

There are a few songs on the album that took a couple of listens to get into first up the Girlschool Korn mix of ‘I Spy’, a much darker vibe which took a little getting used to but after a few listens I soon warmed to this darker side of the band.

The first of the special guest artists to appear on the album is non other than Twisted Sisters JJ French who lends his guitar skills to ‘Spend, Spend, Spend’, a gritty riff filled track that again is Girlschool old school and this trend continues with ‘Whole New World’, which this time features the bass might of one Neil Murray, with Motorhead's Phil Campbell giving us a blast of six string magic on the guitar solo mid track. 

Campbell again makes an appearance on ‘Just Another Day’, but it’s the drumming of Denise Dufort that really shines on this one as she tub thumps like no other female drummer around today. 

One track that stands out from the others on the album is ‘Legend’, a track where the band pay tribute to Kelly Johnson who tragically lost her fight with spinal cancer on 15/07/07.  This is a fitting tribute to the founding member of the band and a firm fan favourite who will be missed. 

One of the biggest tracks of the album for me is the might ‘Still Waters’, a track that immerses you into two worlds, the band of yesterday and the band on today.  This track amalgamates all that is great about the band and their willingness to still sound fresh with Jackie Chambers and McAuliffe still firing out the riffs that made the band the phenomena that they are. 

The band really go to town with their version of Motorheads ‘Metropolis’, with a rare guest indeed none other than Fast Eddie Clarke, who whips up a storm on this classic.  Another guitar wiz makes an appearance on ‘Don’t Mess Around’ as Twisted Sisters Eddie Ojeda gets in on the act on this no holds barred rocker. 

The band still have a zest for pure hard Heavy Metal and this is shown in bunches on the massive ‘Zeitgeist’, but what anniversary album from the band would be complete without Mr Kilmister himself and on 'Don’t Talk To Me’, the legendary vocalist lends his un-equalling vocals and bass tones to this metal monster.

The album also boasts three bonus tracks, firstly we find another version of ‘I Spy’, this time it’s the Dio/Iommi mix this version I liked first time around, then the massive ‘London’, then final track on the album is another classic ‘Emergency’.  A track that unites all Girlschool fans, this one is probably the one that got all us older fans into the band (no it wasn’t just four leather glad females) which rounds off another superb slice of pure bred British Heavy Metal from the longest lasting female rock band around. 

For those who thought the girls might change their style after thirty years in the biz will be disappointed, but those who take the band for what they are a Hard Rocking Female Heavy Metal band they you won't be disappointed, this album is pure gold Girlschool.

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