Wet Animal - Wet Animal (CD)

All Music Guide

Although it's pretty clear cut which leading ‘stoner metal' acts lead the ‘70s and ‘90s (Black Sabbath and Kyuss, respectively), the ‘80s are not as easy to pinpoint a leader of the pack. But for many, Trouble would certainly be in consideration. Despite issuing some of the genre's most classic albums (namely 1984's Psalm 9), the Chicago band has never truly received their ‘props,' so to speak. Not having issued a new album since 1995, the former Trouble men can be spotted elsewhere nowadays, including Wet Animal, which includes both Rick Wartell (guitar) and Jeff ‘Oly' Olson (drums), as well as vocalist Shane Pasqualla and bassist Michael Diprima. Although there are some elements from Trouble that have been passed on (guitar riffs galore), Wet Animal's self titled debut is a more straight forward rock act than its predecessor. "Left Behind" bears a slight resemblance to the Allman Brothers' "Midnight Rider," but heavy rock abounds throughout, especially on such standouts as "Fade Awa...y," "Outside a Hole," and the album opening "Soul Alone," which puts all the modern day Alice in Chains clones to shame. Wartell and Olson can still riff and grind with the best of them, as evidenced Wet Animal's debut set. - Greg Prato, All Music Guide Read more Less