(TheBRHM.com) It’s an 80s L.A metal trifecta for “Greatest Album Debuts”! We looked at the debuts from Mötley Crüe and W.A.S.P, now we’ll look at opening salvo from a pretty “If You Know, You Know” band in Lizzy Borden with their 1985 full-length debut Love You to Pieces.
What stands out to me about Lizzy Borden is that they’re one of those U.S bands that contributed to power metal. Mind you, Love You to Pieces isn’t exactly along those lines of fantasy/sci-fi/folklore and operatic presentation. They’re a band that had the presentation to run amongst the L.A bands of the time but didn’t have a ton of mainstream bangers on deck like some of their contemporaries.
What to Expect from Love You to Pieces
On this release, Lizzy Borden ran with the speed of acts like debut-period Jag Panzer and Omen but the lyrical content is more along the lines of a not-as-sleazy or aggressive W.A.S.P. While we haven’t gotten to this band yet, a spot-on similarity would be yet another L.A band in Savage Grace.
Lizzy Borden just didn’t have the storyline of a CHP officer who is also a sexual predator in their debut album like Savage Grace. Love You to Pieces does have some murderer/stalker tracks but there is a mix of lyrical themes here.
Sonically, the band had a speed metal approach to their power metal anchored by the clean, nimble vocals of Lizzy Borden. They would take this approach with 1986’s Menace to Society and 1987’s Visual Lies.
Version
The version I listened to is listed as the 2001 version released by Metal Blade available on Apple Music. I looked and saw a release for 2002 and the song placement has “Save Me” on the B-side and “American Metal” closing out the A-side.
The A-Side
Things get started with the speedy opener “Council for the Cauldron.” It serves as a strong introduction to the band if a listener didn’t catch their demos. Actually, the production makes this a great intro for newcomers to Lizzy Borden as it’s not rough for this time in the 1980s. Bigger acts had slicker production, sure but the production on this album—when paired with the music itself—works.
As for the rest of the A-side, you have the strongest bangers in “Psychopath” and the self-titled track. In the middle area of the A-side is “Red Rum” which is a good song on its own. However, it’s pretty much the “Psychopath”, “Love You to Pieces” and the anthem “American Metal” show on this side.
Standout Tracks: Psychopath**, Love You to Pieces**, American Metal***
The B-Side
On the review for Too Fast for Love, I said that it had the most B-side B-side I’d heard. The tracks firmly belonged on that side of the album and few would’ve made it to the A-side. Like W.A.S.P’s self-titled debut album, Love You to Pieces has a very un-B-side B-side. This side would’ve made for a tremendous A-side.
“Flesheater” is a good B-side opener but I would’ve put “Godiva” or “Rod of Iron” there and move “Save Me” to the middle. Just to break up the ass kickery. “Warfare” is one of the stronger tracks on this side but it’s really held up by the speedster “Godiva” and the anthem “Rod of Iron”.
I love ending both sides with an anthem and bonus for “Rod of Iron” having an open that sounded like a ballad—only to slam the gas. Good sh**. I’m not a big ballad fan but I could’ve done one for Lizzy Borden since the rest of the album slams.
Standout Tracks: Godiva**, Rod of Iron***
Strength of the Opener: Council for the Caldron
I believe “Council for the Caldron” is an extremely strong opener for the album. A speedy opener that gives the listener an idea of what kind of party they’re getting into? Perfect. You’re getting mostly uptempo tracks running between 3 and 4-minutes. Not only that, most of the songs feel shorter because of the track placement.
“Council for the Caldron” could hold it down on either side and it would work perfectly. As for other possible openers “Psychopath”, “American Metal”, the self-titled track, and—actually, just the entire B-side. This album has a lot of might to it and is definitely an album to check out if you haven’t.
If you’ve already listened to it and enjoyed it—it’s almost 42 minutes, a pretty light listen. Give it another spin.
Staff Writer; James “Metal” Swift Jr.
This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.