Tim Ripper Owens Play My Game
by Ken Mac Vicar
Staff Writer
Whether out of necessity or choice, one of the toughest things for any artist to do is step out from the comforts of a famous band and pursue a solo career. The bigger the band, the more difficult it is to establish their own identity and break away from the fans’ expectations, just ask Vince Neil, David Lee Roth or Robert Plant. Ozzy is really the only example of a singer whose solo career surpassed that of his original band. Fending off comparisons to a classic sound that you helped create is not an easy path to success nor to peace of mind. It’s not Motley or VH and it’s certainly not Zeppelin are all comments that Messrs. Neil, Roth, and Plant have had to deal with during their solo careers
Ripper Owens is in a unique position when it comes to this quandary for while he does carry some of the baggage (perhaps sac cloth would be more appropriate) of his priestly past, he will always be, much like Sammy Hagar was in VH, the other singer in Judas Priest. This is not to demean Owens, as his story, loosely chronicled in the shallow Rockstar feature film, is a heavy metal fairy tale come true. Although now almost common place, one should remember that Owens was the first “fan” to assume the lead singer mantle for an established band. Not to mention the fact that he replaced the original metal god in Halford himself.
Yet even with all that baggage he allowed Priest to carry on in during a difficult period in their career and managed to cultivate his own following among die hard fans. The question then becomes is Owens just an extremely talented Halford imitator or does he have something to offer beyond the confines of Priest and what was expected of them?
Owens debut solo album, Play My Game puts that question to rest with a resounding yes and shows that he is much more than Halford’s understudy. In fact, the songs themselves seem an affirmation of his solo career with titles like “Starting Over,” “Believe” and “To Live Again.” While never straying far from his influences, Owens manages to deliver a surprisingly diverse hard rock record that may bring him a whole new audience and should establish him as a bona fide solo artist. The record is a superb blend of classic and modern metal featuring an all star cast of guns for hire, including Rudy Sarzo, Bob Kulick, Billy Sheehan and Simon Wright. Ripper’s vocal range a is a superb match for the diverse musicians assembled as he becomes more singer and slightly less Ripper, an amazing cross between Geoff Tate and Ronnie James Dio.
The album opens, appropriately enough, with “Starting Over,” a masterful melodic rocker that displays just how special his voice is. The vocals are more “Revolution Calling” than “Hell Bent for Leather” with a riff that’s pure classic metal without sounding dated. Ripper’s wistful vocals in the chorus echo love lost and one can’t help but imagine them written for his former band, the love of his life. The riff fest continues, only in a more metallic fashion on “Believe” with Ripper falling back on his more familiar wailing vocal style. The anger and passion spill out as he cries “believe in me” and one can’t help but see it as his own personal notice of emancipation. “The Cover Up” is a Roswell themed alien story that roars into life with pounding drums and some mean guitar work with Ripper’s voice sounding as unleashed as the guitars. The alien theme may be a little cheesy, however the performance is first rate.
The pace slows a little for the intro to “Pick Yourself Up” with understated vocals in the verse laid over a simple beat and riff. The songs builds into a hard driving chorus that keep Ripper’s vocals in the lower register of his range, and proves that’s he much more than a screamer. The solo and rhythm work in this track are outstanding and gives the track an early Alice In Chains feel. “It is Me” is a quick hitting rocker that relies a little too heavily on the Halford vocals at the end though it’s built on a great heavy modern riff. Owens delivers the chorus in superbly angry fashion before the song breaks into a refreshing melodic solo break that really adds some depth to this steamroller. “No Good Goodbyes” is modern metal at its best with Owens sounding like Layne Staley throughout out the opening verse .He quickly makes the song his own with his soaring vocals as they build around an almost STP like riff(think “Vaseline” on HGH) with a driving rhythm section that breaks nicely while Owens fills the gaps.
Owens channels another metal god, one Ronnie James Dio on “The World is Blind,” a heavy riff laden melodic tune that has a classic metal feel. Billy Sheehan’s work on bass is a highlight of the song, interacting with Owens voice in an almost spoken bridge to the solo. Owens follows this up with the almost companion piece of “To Live Again,” opening with his gravelly whisper over some of the best guitar work on the album. The song teeters in power ballad territory, but a ferocious solo and Owens impassioned vocals provide it with a welcome harder edge. The rhythm section highlights “The Light”, a mid-tempo rocker that also has some funky industrial grinding guitar work. A definite modern rocker, Owens vocals provide it with a human eye in the industrial hurricane of noise.
The title track “Play My Game” is a crunchy, growling challenge to any and all naysayer, complete with a Rob Zombie like vocal approach laid down over a completely infectious riff. “Death Race” takes the time honored rock and role theme of life as a car race and actually makes it something interesting. It opens with a “Detroit Rock City” like effect and has you racing down the highway in minutes, “I Can’t Drive 55” through the looking glass.
The album closes with “The Shadows are Alive”, Owens softest vocals to date, working over some moody guitar. It quickly evolves into an atmospheric rocker built around a Soundgarden like riff and Owens’s evil musings before exploding into a hail of guitars and Simon Wright’s pounding drums. All in all a ferocious and fitting climax to Play My Game.
Label: SPV/Steamhammer
Track Listing
1) Starting Over
2) Believe
3) The Cover Up
4) Pick Yourself Up
5) It is Me
6) No Good Goodbyes
7) The World is Blind
8 To live Again
9) The Light
10) Play My Game
11) Death Race
12) The Shadows are Alive
Available at timripperowens.com and steamhammer/spv.com
HRH Rating: 9/10