W.A.S.P. has always been known to push the boundaries of metal ever since Blackie Lawless burst on the scene and raised the ire of the PMRC. Conversely, the band has yearned to be on the course to create a grandiose offering that stood alongside such works as Tommy by The Who (a big influence of Lawless).

On the band's latest release, the conceptual The Neon God Part I, Blackie and company aim to fulfill both destinies, as the 14-track record explores one young man's journey through loneliness and despair, as he experiences firsthand inhumane abuse, the hypocrisy of religion, the power that sex and drugs wield, the spirit of redemption and its cost, and even go so far as to question the meaning of existence, all to the soaring melodies that made W.A.S.P.'s songs so memorable.

The storyline behind The Neon God is a bit dramatized for the sake of being theatrical, yet when put to the score which W.A.S.P. pounds out, it stands up as a potential (albeit very dark) hit on the Broadway stage Once again, W.A.S.P.'s body of work, which has garnished everything from praise to disgust, criticism and adulations, will work your brain, seep into your subconscious, and ultimately, stick in your brain for years on end. Look for Part II later on this year, but fear not, this release has enough to keep your interest and intrigue at the highest levels possible.