Blues based hard rock / metal of the best calibre. The 'Led Zeppelin' handbook was put to good use throughout the writing of this and the next album, but I'm not taking anything away from these guys, this is top notch stuff, with first rate performances all round.

The album opens up with my favourite track 'High Wire', which feature some blazing guitar work and superb 'Robert Plant' style vocals from one of Metals most understated vocalists, the lyrics are catchy, and the groove factor is "through the roof". The blue's heavy vocal treat 'Dreams in the Dark', features a magnificent guitar break from 'Jake E Lee', who incidentally does as much on this album as he ever did for 'Ozzy'. 'Winter's Call' starts off as an exquisitely subtle number, with haunting atmosphere and refined vocals, however at the minute and a half mark it picks up to a superb 'Zep' style drift, for an all-out laid back groover. 'Dancing on the Edge' is a carefree rocker which typifies 'Gillen's' marvellously strong vocals on this tasty rhythm and chorus heavy number. The blues influence is again felt on the intelligently written 'Streets Cry Freedom', another track that picks up late on for all out jam. 'Hard Driver' is another highlight, with its delicious rolling rhythm and grooving melody, lyrically catchy and sweetly performed. Next up is the plodding speciality 'Rumblin' Train' which again sees some choice guitar and powerful yet controlled vocals. The 'Zep' influence is prevalent on the building bluesy 'Devil's Stomp', slightly drawn-out but enjoyable. Lastly is the ballad 'Seasons' an emotionally executed number, displaying 'Ray Gillen's' incredibly melodious voice.

Its easy to see the Zeppelin influences in this album i.e. the instrumental 'Jades Song' sounds like its straight of 'Physical Graffiti', but there are no weak tracks on this album and why 'Badlands' were not more successful is criminal.