Come Out & Play - Fun Outdoor Games for Kids & Families | Perfect for Backyard, Park & Beach Activities

In 1984, thanks to their big MTV hit "We're Not Gonna Take It," Twisted Sister were catapulted into the mainstream with said number's rather cartoonish accompanying video that received repeated airings on the cable music channel. I really think that that's what MTV did to this great long running New Jersey hard rock/heavy metal institution -- painted them into a corner with a new image that in reality their classic heavy metal sound didn't fully support. "Stay Hungry," the band's third album which contained the aforementioned single, peaked at #15 on the U.S. charts whereas the follow-up "Come Out and Play," released in December of 1985, didn't even manage to crack the Billboard Top 50. That's truly a shame, because the album being reviewed here "Come Out and Play" is the better album and remains one of the best releases from one of the best heavy metal bands America had to offer in the '80s.I truly think that everybody was expecting more funny videos and cartoonish imagery, but at the core of it "Come Out and Play" is just classically inspired heavy metal at its finest. Sure, there are a couple more commercial numbers to be found here, most notably "Be Chrool To Your Scuel," which even enlisted the likes of Billy Joel (!) on piano, but I think that people who only focus on that are missing out on some classic metal numbers and "Come Out and Play" has them in droves. "You Want What We Got" is a true headbanging anthem about people who put others down, out of secret feelings of insecurity and jealousy. This is a theme that anybody can relate to and that was previously addressed in the punk realm by Black Flag on the song "Rise Above." "I Believe In Rock 'N Roll" is an ode to heavy metal music that ranks with other songs from the past that have dealt with a love for the music, such as Rainbow's "Long Live Rock & Roll." The final two tracks on the original LP are sure to get your neck bobbin' and air guitar playin', namely the great riffing to be found on "Lookin' Out For #1" and the fast heavy metal of "Kill or Be Killed." I say the original LP because the track to close the CD is "King of the Fools," which was not on the original vinyl record but was on the cassette that I have. (According to a rock discography book that I have, this album was also available on CD even with its original 1985 release, when CDs were still a brand new thing, so maybe this song was also on the initial CD pressing.) Finally, I have to recommend the ballad here "I Believe In You," which features a simply beautiful melody and vocal performance from Dee Snider.This band does not get the credit it deserves for its contributions to American heavy metal and one listen to "Come Out and Play" should prove the naysayers wrong. Classic metal here.