V2’s second and final album featured new lead singer Ralf “The Rat” Dohanetz who took the place of Tommy Heart who had moved on to form FAIR WARNING.
The result was actually a heavier and much more “Metal” sounding album. Dohanetz was closer to Accept singer Udo Dirkschneider than he was Jon Bon Jovi. Musically they were leaning into Power Metal with a pace that reminded one of Helloween in some ways. The overall result was a bombastic assault of ass kicking songs.
The sad part is the band didn’t stick together and the members seemed to have disappeared form the spotlight. Guitarist Joannis Stefanidis was really freaking good, his tones cut to the bone aggressively and he could hammer out solos with the best of them.
Frontman Dohanetz was powerful too, he had a sneer to his vocals as I mentioned, but also had a wicked Lizzy Borden style to his voice. If these guys had gone more into the Power Metal or Thrash genre who knows what might have happened.
Lyrically they were writing for live shows with songs like ‘Knock Me Out’, ‘Mean Machine’, ‘I’m Insane’ and so on. It was made to be played at maximum volume and fill up stadiums. Everything about the band seemed to be amplified, the exact opposite of what was coming too in the form of grunge.
If you were into the 80’s and don’t take yourself so dang serious, find this album and crank it. I’m a huge fan of Tommy Heart, but I did really enjoy this V2 album over the first one. They’re quite different sounds, but still based in the 80’s Arena Rock sound.
It’s a shame this formation of the band didn’t do more work together, they had a reckless and loud approach to the 80’s rock that makes you wishing you could hear more.
