An uncomfortable trip down memory lane
Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 12/04/2007
(2 out of 5 stars)
"It's funny now, but I remember being incredibly impressed by the band Odin when I originally saw The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: the Metal Years back in '88. Maybe it was the band name (which I still think is cool), the rock star image (aside from Randy O's assless chaps, the band seemed like they had it made), or the fact that I was only 13 at the time. Whatever it was, the band stuck in my head and I was excited to finally be able to hear one of their albums. After hearing Fight for Your Life, I kind of wish I hadn't bothered.
It turns out that Odin was a completely unremarkable hair metal band without very much going for them. They had a decent guitarist, but it takes more than that to make a great (or even good) band. The songwriting is your typical uninspired 80's fare and "huge rock star" Randy O's screeching vocals are more annoying than entertaining. And I say all of this as a huge fan of 80's rock and metal in general, and the L.A. Scene in particular.
I think I like the half-remembered idea of Odin better than the actual band. The album is tolerable enough, but it's definitely nothing you haven't heard before from plenty of better hair metal bands."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1