Heart Attack

While released during the mid-'80s creative nadir of veteran metal outfit Krokus, and while generally derivative, 1987's Heart Attack was a significant improvement from the previous year's offering, Change of Address. By shamelessly aping years-old metal hits from Def Leppard and Judas Priest on the two opening cuts "Everybody Rocks" and "Wild Love," Krokus made it clear that they still weren't up to creating anything of their own on Heart Attack. But, fortunately, the superior production and arrangements make these tracks, and the entire release, more listenable than its predecessor. A few cuts like "Speed Up" and "Flyin' High" do deserve credit for not being shameless rip-offs of specific commercial metal hits. In fact, these tracks aren't really bad at all, but, unfortunately, that's about the best that can be said for this disc. There are a couple nice riffs, but the dated drum sounds, the cliché-ridden titles and lyrics, and the foolish reconstruction of more successful recordings make Heart Attack an impossible recommendation.