Girlschool – WTFortyfive? (Silver Lining Music)
Wednesday, 26th July 2023
Originating in the mid-1970’s as Painted Lady, this UK four-piece soon transformed into Girlschool by 1978, releasing demos and singles into the marketplace while NWOBHM was taking hold of the scene. They would release seven albums during the 1980’s – efforts such as Demolition and Hit and Run standing up well against many of their contemporaries. Now celebrating forty-five years together as a band, WTFortyfive? is the group’s fourteenth studio album and first since 2015’s Guilty As Sin – a testament to the vitality of these ladies, still cranking out catchy anthems in that early plug in to play spirit that never wavers to the heavy metal cause.
The sound of the band builds upon the energetic riffs of guitarists Jackie Chambers and Kim McAuliffe, as well as the supplemental steady rhythm section factor bassist Tracey Lamb and drummer Denise Dufort provide. Add in the snarky, raspy melodies vocally that Kim delivers and its easy to find favorites out of the eleven originals beyond the closing Motörhead cover. Most of these tracks subscribe to a shorter, punchy arrangement philosophy – early hooks musically, extremely infectious chorus parts full of gang-like harmonies, and quick hitting guitar breaks to keep the energy level high. There’s a bit of a punk vibe to a lot of the tempo/riff combinations for “Barmy Army” or “Up to No Good”, while old school blues-based hard rock influences crop up during “Believing In You” that bring Bon Scott-era AC/DC to the table. Alcatrazz shredder Joe Stump contributes a co-write plus dazzling solo sequence to a hot rod effort “Are You Ready?”, while legends Biff Byford, Phil Campbell, and Duff McKagan appear on closer “Born to Raise Hell”, a fitting tribute to Motörhead and the unmistakable charm of Lemmy, sadly no longer with us. Recorded once again in a quick two-week fashion ensures that conventional, down-to-earth production quality that will have no problem translating at peak volumes when aired across stages worldwide.
It’s been a banner year for UK classic heavy metal – put Girlschool in the mix with Tygers of Pan Tang and Raven for killer records that can compete with acts in their twenties and thirties. WTFortyfive? makes this scribe hopeful for another long touring jaunt as the fiftieth anniversary is closing in.
