Y&T Facemelter
by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer
It’s been 13 years since Bay Area rock legends Y&T gave us a new studio album, and that was 1997’s ill-received Endangered Species. The boys have been back together (more or less, it’s Dave Meniketti and Phil Kennemore alongside longtime touring guitarist John Nymann and drummer Mike Vanderhule) and hitting the road for a few years now, so the time was ripe for new Y&T material.
Facemelter is the band’s 13th studio album, and it’s the album Y&T fans have been waiting for since the ’80s came to a close. No hair metal influences (though hair metal or not, both Contagious and Ten still kicked ass), no alternative rock influences, just pure, blues-based melodic hard rock like only Y&T can deliver. Earthshaker, Black Tiger, Mean Streak – Facemelter has the same sprit and energy as those classic albums, but with the polish and maturity that only time can grant.
After an epic/kind of creepy prelude (it’s no “From the Moon”) Facemelter gets rolling with the appropriately-titled “On With the Show,” a fast-paced rocker that – like Black Tiger’s “Open Fire” – totally sets the mood for the entire album. That one song puts listeners on notice: Y&T is back! Facemelter has those signature Y&T rock anthems (“How Long,” “I’m Coming Home”), raucous barroom rockers (“I Want Your Money,” “Gonna Go Blind”) and soulful love songs (“If You Want Me”). Think of everything that made the classic Y&T albums so unforgettable. It’s all here in spades.
Dave Meniketti is in top form here, both on guitar and on vocals. He sounds ridiculously good for a guy who has been at it so long, and the chemistry he and Phil Kennemore has is positively electric. Nymann and Vanderhule seem like good fits as well.
If you’re a Y&T fan (and you should be), this isn’t even an optional purchase. Facemelter is a must-have album and an absolutely worthy addition to the Y&T legacy. If you’re not already a fan, Facemelter is good enough to make you a believer.
And for God’s sake check these guys out if they’re playing anywhere within driving distance. Their live show is incredible.
Genre: Classic Rock, Hard Rock, Melodic Rock
Band:
Dave Meniketti (v/g)
Mike Vanderhule (d)
Phil Kennemore (b)
John Nymann (g)
Track Listing:
1. Prelude, On With the Show
2. On With the Show
3. How Long
4. Shine On
5. I Want Your Money
6. Wild Child
7. I’m Coming Home
8. If You Want Me
9. Hot Shot
10. Blind Patriot
11. Don’t Bring Me Down
12. Gonna Go Blind
13. One Life
14. Losing My Mind
Label: Frontiers
Website: www.meniketti.com
Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10