If you’re a metal fan who grew up in the 1980s, you may vaguely remember that a metal band called Madam X had 15 minutes of fame in the middle of that decade. That’s how it seemed from the Norselands, anyway.
These days it seems like only a small select faithfuls still remember them fondly, let alone still have an ongoing passionate relationship with the band and their music.
For what it’s worth, I’m one of them. I still play their lone album We Reserve The Right (1984) regularly, and have been for the 30+ years since it was released. I love it, and have always longed (but never, ever dared hope) for a follow-up.
The fact that we got a second album from Madam X at this stage feels like a miracle. When it arrived in 2017, it had been 33 years since the previous one! Another too-good-to-be-true miracle: the original line-up from the first album is intact!
In 1984, We Reserve the Right came out exactly at the right time. The band was able to ride the popularity wave of mid-80s heavy metal for a short while. However, after the album and a tour…. nothing happened. At least that’s how it appeared to me. Madam X were just gone, or at least certainly no longer active on a level where I still saw any signs of life from them.
Who were they? The band was formed by the two sisters Maxine (guitar) and Roxy (drums) Petrucci, and also featured male members Bret Kaiser (vocals) and Chris “Godzilla” Doliber (bass).
When Madam X were inactive, Roxy Petrucci found big fame in female rock band Vixen but kept working on musical projects with her sister in the background. Titania was their most successful one, but eventually the stars aligned and Madam X reformed as a live band in 2012. After years of very successful shows and festival gigs, they finally took the plunge and created Monstrocity.
The 1984 version of Madam X sound very much like an 80s metal band, with peers like Twisted Sister, Ratt, Quiet Riot, Dokken, W.A.S.P., and so on – they are very much of that time. The album they made is rock solid – strong material, catchy melodic hooks, full of attitude, strong instrumentation, etc. The look they had was pretty outrageous even by 80s metal standards, but back then, more was more. They were cool.
The 2017 version of Madam X have not really changed their philosophy – they still play the same melodic-based metal they always did, albeit perhaps with a bit more intensity. Each and every member of the band come across as significantly better musicians.
The drums are that much more interesting and energetic, with a rock solid bass bottom giving the songs a solid oomph. The bass is pounding along with some flexibility, always giving the songs drive and a solid bedding. The vocals are just incredible, with Bret going from solid, melodic emotional delivery to occasionally screaming with the power and precision of Rob Halford (the highest compliment I can give!).
And then, there’s Maxine… Wow. I always thought Maxine was the secret weapon of the band and one of the best shredders in the genre. She was amazing in 1984, and doubly so here. I seriously wonder why someone with her amazing skills never made a bigger splash or achieved anything even remotely like the success of her sister. In any case, she’s certainly back now, and this album reaffirms her position as the engine and the key member of the band. Maxine, my Maxine. How incredible you are.
The point that a lot of time has passed and several of our musical heroes of yesteryear aren’t around any longer isn’t lost on them. This point is made on the face-meltingly intense song Nitrous, where Bret is singing his heart out in an intense performance that would make Rob Halford proud:
Riding the bullet, lie with the rest
All my heroes are dead or packing less
Well, Madam X certainly isn’t dead (hoorah!), and they are definitely intent on not packing less either.
The new album is much more intense than the first one. The music soars and pummels. It is empowering and energising. It grabs you by the throat, but will also stand by your side as you prepare to take on the world. They spent several years putting this album together, and the quality of the music and performances speak for themselves. If this genre is anywhere near your thing, this is simply one you can’t miss.
Madam X’s Monstrocity is a fantastic reminder of how much fun heavy metal can truly be.
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