SickthingsUK

Yeah, I can't say i'm a big fan of RYFAY. It's an improvement on Constrictor which suffered from awful production and poor songs (He's Back being the only saving grace).

The tours that came with these albums though are great milestones in his career, and ones I wish I was old enough to attend.

While Heaven Wept wrote:Yeah, I can't say i'm a big fan of RYFAY. It's an improvement on Constrictor which suffered from awful production and poor songs (He's Back being the only saving grace).

The tours that came with these albums though are great milestones in his career, and ones I wish I was old enough to attend.

Yes those very bloody tours were indeed great.

Great Album.
"Step on You","Time to Kill" and "Gail" are my favorites.

I don't like industrial(BP),but I like heavy metal.

I quite honestly love RYFAY. It is in my top 10 alice, maybe even top 5.
I brought this on some generic caravan holiday with my family (i was already a fan but didnt have constrictor or RYFAY at this point) . I had no means to play it at all. So i literally studied it from top to bottom for like 4 days! I was nearly salivating by the time i got to listen to the album. And boy did it not disappoint!
The energy and drive on the album is undeniable - the vocals are some of Alices best ever, the aggression, hunger and power are just stunning - along with his trademark sneer which is in full effect.
Kane Roberts Managed to perform sterling heavy metal with a unique twist that no one of the time replicated, his unique style of playing allowed alice and the band to push the energy higher and carve a niche in a crowded market. His trademark guitar sound was a rally cry to anyone into energetic heavy metal.
Ken Mary on drums is a powerhouse performer who matched kanes bravado beat for beat. Barely letting up the pace for the whole album.
Kip Winger is the unsung hero in this, his bass is not showy or competing with anyone, it is just a through line for the band to follow. And if nothing else the haunting Gail wouldn't be the same without him.
I know some people sneer at the lyrics and how cheesy they are etc. I don't follow this at all, he is delivering a horror movie in musical form. Horror can be smart and creepy, it can be over the top and bloody. Alice went straight for the jugular! The second side ("summer of blood" collection) is a shining beacon in this regard.

I have read the comments and I think some people have written some intelligent pieces on this albums time and place etc.
But i got into it outside of its time and place (around '94) I just adore it and i would give anything to have seen that tour.

Fave songs:
Lock Me up - that ken mary drum start and Robert englunds intro is just killer

Step On You - Lyrics are so-so, but i dont care, Kane is on fire on this song and you can hear the energy and enthusiasm in alices voice, especially in the guitar break.

Prince Of Darkness - A epic song to hold the album together - A stunning guitar break from kane (although not my fave of his) with every band member delivering the goods.

Summer of blood (time to kill/chop,chop,chop/gail/roses on white lace) - i love them all but if i had to pick one its roses on white lace. One of my top guitar solos of all time (from anyone) with ken mary matching him all the way, alice is at his malicious best with a deliciously twisted end to the album absolute killer track.

One of my dream scenarios would have been this line up recording in the studio a best of compilation, all the old hits, in the style of how they played them live. I love that they tore up the rule book and just kicked ass live - nightmare returns is my fave alice live dvd bar none (i think unless live in the flesh comes out )

Having followed Alice since early 1970s I had become accustomed to changes in musical direction- I am not a great fan of heavy metal but at the time I liked Prince of Darkness, Time to Kill and Chop,Chop,Chop.. These songs fitted the Alice horror image- the cover is lacking in everything considering the Classic act that it is promoting, but hey it must have met the design brief (if there was one lol)

Twisted Sister was putting out smarter albums at this time.

Twisted Sister was putting out smarter albums at this time

hahaha Smarter. Maybe, but as mentioned previously, it does what it tries to do very well. In your face 80's heavy metal with screaming guitars, pounding drums and rumbling bass. All of it dripping in horror imagery and blood soaked energy.

Smarter is great sometimes. Sometimes the above is just what the doctor ordered.

I would love a good re-issue of Constrictor/RYFAY + B sides/demos etc and a nice DVD bonus live footage from both tours.
A bloody long shot, but would be nice

Saint&Sinner wrote:

Twisted Sister was putting out smarter albums at this time

hahaha Smarter. Maybe, but as mentioned previously, it does what it tries to do very well. In your face 80's heavy metal with screaming guitars, pounding drums and rumbling bass. All of it dripping in horror imagery and blood soaked energy.

Smarter is great sometimes. Sometimes the above is just what the doctor ordered.

I would love a good re-issue of Constrictor/RYFAY + B sides/demos etc and a nice DVD bonus live footage from both tours.
A bloody long shot, but would be nice

I hear ya on that...I would LOVE a professional released dvd concert of the Live in the Flesh tour...easily my favorite tour to watch with Brutally Live and Theater of Death and Nightmare Returns as 2, 3, and 4....

Love this album. Lots of fun imo.

I would love a good re-issue of Constrictor/RYFAY + B sides/demos etc and a nice DVD bonus live footage from both tours.
A bloody long shot, but would be nice

I contacted Rock Candy (record company specialising in reissues of predominately 80's rock) about the possibility of doing reissues of the album as discussed. They said they have tried to do this but have been denied the rights.
Anyone know why they would be denied the rights? is anything going on with these albums already that would clash with this?
Seems bizarre they would be refused, they put the effort in (and they are a good company who put a good reissue out it has to be said) and MCA(or whoever they are nowadays) and alice get a up front payment + presumably a portion of profit.....
They said they would try again next year but i doubt it would be successful having already been refused. Any know anything?

From Saint&Sinner:
"Anyone know why they would be denied the rights?"

An insufficient financial offer may have been made.

> and MCA(or whoever they are nowadays)

Universal Music Group now own those albums.

The fact that Universal now owns the right is positive as they put out many boxsets.
So we can still hope.
Universal understands that there is money to make with the super deluxe editions. Every month there are many titles released so why not for Cooper?

That would be very cool. Rock Candy has some great releases. They always do a good job.

mestreech wrote:The fact that Universal now owns the right is positive as they put out many boxsets.
So we can still hope.
Universal understands that there is money to make with the super deluxe editions. Every month there are many titles released so why not for Cooper?

I doubt this one would fly off the shelves.