Germany’s contribution to the 80’s Metal scene is painfully underrated. Many of their great bands didn’t break into the states, so it’s really a treat to go back and listen to them now decades later. Many of the albums are very dated in their sound and lyrical content, which actually makes that even more entertaining.
One band that only put out a couple albums was V2. Lead Singer Tommy Heart would go on to have a more successful career with FAIR WARNING. But V2 was in a similar style, just more raw and unrefined. Heart’s vocal range is just ridiculous, he’s hitting crazy notes and his natural vibrato makes him one of the better singers of that, or any other era.
Where the critics are probably right is the content and lyrics of the songs. NOT the bands strong points, but in 1988 songs like “Hot Line”, “Run For Your Life”, “Rock The City” and “Make It Hard” sounded much cooler. We must remember that bands like V2 were almost mocking Pop music, daring radio to play their style of over-the-top rock.
The production of the album holds back the band to some extent as well, it’s a decent mix for the time period, but it should have probably featured Hearts vocals even more (strong words from a drummer btw). Much like a lot of this stuff it’s a little too much high end and not enough mids and bass. But it is what it is and V2 is a snapshot of the mid 80’s where the sound was a bit more raw and still had a “Metal” edge.
It’s not for everyone, but 80’s fans will enjoy the album for what it is. At the very least listen to hear Tommy Heart’s vocal acrobatic performance.
