J-Metal Reviews: JACKS'N'JOKER "JACKS'N'JOKER"

By Badman

Hello fellow metalheads, I am back for another J-Metal review! I know you all have been waiting anxiously so I made sure to come packed with the firepower to blast through those skulls. Out from the vault is a gem for the ones who love the sounds of that grimy sleaze. I present the gritty JACKS'N'JOKER!

Jump to 1989, and JACKS'N'JOKER was formed in the metal trenches of Tokyo. Despite being a “new” band at the time, their lineup consisted of a revolving door of musicians from several well-established Japanese metal acts: Tatsu (guitars) from Gastunk, Ryu (drums) from ACTION!, Ume-chan (drums) from Reaction, and Rady (bass) from Presence. The only newcomers were vocalist Nixx and bass player Riv. The band had a small handful of material before breaking up in 1993. They released a few singles and music videos, an EP, and most importantly, two full-length albums. Gear up, buck the hell up, and listen up, because a killer dose of Grade-F**king-A Japanese sleaze is on it's way! Here we come JACKS'N'JOKER’s debut self-titled album! 

"JACKS'N'JOKER" is an AMAZING joyride. The album clocks in at a whopping forty-eight minutes, but don’t let its runtime keep you away from this gem! It has everything that one could expect from a dirty sleaze record. High voltage, pedal-to-the-metal energy surges throughout the whole album. Catchy as all hell tunes; you will be chanting along like no one's god damned business. Badass hard rock grooves and blues are shamelessly littered all over. All the musicians on this record absolutely KILL it! Tatsu’s guitars bring the tastiest killer licks and riffs that will give listeners that good ol "O-Face".  Ume-chan’s drum playing is simple yet fierce which gives the other instruments and vocals more than enough real estate. Riv’s bass tone hits the deep sweet spot while having a bright lowend pop. Nixx’s vocals fit perfectly within the fold. His baritone voice gives each track that extra umph of dirty toughness this album couldn’t do without.

How do I feel about this album..? If it wasn’t obvious, JACKS'N'JOKER’s debut album is a gem that lovers of all metal should consider listening to. It’s jam packed with kissass tunes, kickass energy, and kickass players. The sleaze is real here so don’t pass this record up. Listen to it loud and proud but heed my warning. While you bang your head grooving out to this, you may suddenly find yourself along Sunset Strip.

Standouts:
Elevator Blues
Freedom Land
Joker
Texas Winter
Day By Day
Do or Die
Bad Woman
Ride On Dream

The entire album can be listened to (probably not the most authorized of sources) via the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD7-VAIfU_E