Review - 21st Anniversary

GIRLSCHOOL

21st Anniversary - Not That Innocent

Communiqué Records

Reviewed in Metal Maidens #28/June 2002

By: Toine van Poorten

Rating: 9 points (out of 10)

Have I waited a long time for this, but finally it's there! Here's the new GIRLSCHOOL album, and it's a true killer. The band consists of Kim McAuliffe on guitars and vocals and Denise Dufort on drums.  We can still hear Kelly Johnson on most of the songs, but she's being replaced by Jackie Chambers - a blonde guitar goddess, who knows how to shred her guitar to pieces. And we also welcome back veteran Enid Williams, who replaces Tracey Lamb. But what about the music? What do you think? GIRLSCHOOL still sounds like GIRLSCHOOL. You know, the younger bad sisters of MOTÖRHEAD. Great heavy rock music, that sounds like it was written in the early eighties. A few ballads  here and there, but after these pauses, they press the pedal to the metal  again. I really love opener "Coming Your Way", which really grabs you by the balls (metaphorical speaking)!  While "Little Green Men" (MOTÖRHEAD-ish) and "Innocent" (which has some TED NUGENT influences and some excellent double bass drums by Denise!!) are two other highlights on this new album. "A Love Too Far" is much to sweet for me.  This song could be cool for THE SPICE GIRLS, but not for these cool metal ladies. But I guess there is a very special, personal story behind this one, so I forgive them for this small mistake. Thirteen new songs fill your room, done by four metal girls, who may be not that innocent, although they've just reached the age of twenty-one (!?!).

Happy Anniversary, ladies! It's so good to hear from you again!!