VICTORY – Don’t Get Mad… Get Even [Yesterrock remaster]

Yeah… I’ve been waiting this for decades; the German Hard Rock cult classic “Don’t Get Mad… Get Even“, second album by hard rockers VICTORY, finally was remastered. With attention to not kill the original analog magic, YesterRock / Universal Music Germany done a really good work with the sonic treatment adding the necessary bite.

In the Eighties there was a real boom in terms of quality Hard Rock from Germany. Scorpions, Bonfire, Mad Max, Steeler, Trance, Sinner, Fargo, among others, proved that the genre was not only a British / US bulwark.
Precisely Victory was formed in 1984 from the remnants of Fargo; bassist Peter Knorn, the two guitarists Tommy Newton & John Lockton and drummer Bernie Van der Graaf had all previously worked together in that act.

They tried several vocalists, finally the excellent former Gary Moore / Ted Nugent vocalist Charlie Huhn became the band’s singer.
After the release of the self-titled debut album in 1985, the line-up changed again when drummer Fritz Randow replaced Van der Graaf, and skilled axeman Herman Frank (later in Accept) replaced John Lockton.

Victory’s second album “Don’t Get Mad…Get Even” was released in 1986 and instantly become a metal fan favorite. This is pure classic Hard Rock perfectly following the genre’s verse-chorus-verse winning formula: breaks, pre-choruses, bridges, the catchy chorus and leads are all exactly where they should be.

In style, Victory are massive here; assassin sharp / edgy twin guitar attack, blasting drums, a vocalist born to sing this type music an a bass that works more like a guitar adding a lot of depth.
And the songs… no fillers, all killers.
Opener “Check’s In The Mail” is an all-time underground classic, even becoming a little Rock Radio hit in the USA, followed by another monster track in “Are You Ready”, one of the best ’80s Euro hard rock anthems ever.

Both songs – featured in the remixed versions, which appeared on the only available CD release of the album, the vinyl cuts are different – worth the disc alone.
But all, as said, rock awesomely: the groovy “Not Me”, the superb ballad “Arsonist Of The Heart”, the fast “Hit And Run” (you can’t resist that title), the catchy “Seven Days Without You Make One Weak” or the ultra-cool “Running Wild” are witnessing an extremely talented band.

Despite Victory would obtain their peek of popularity in 1989 with the complete, more elaborated album Culture Killed The Native (the first with singer Fernando Garcia), for me – and many fans – this “Don’t Get Mad… Get Even” is their finest moment.
We’re talking here about a fundamental piece in European Hard Rock history, a classic recording with ‘that’ original traditional sound. If you never heard it before, you’ll be blown away.
And even more with this requested YesterRock remastering; the sound obtained is awesome, devastating.
They don’t make such kick ass records like this anymore…
A Must

01 – Check’s In The Mail (remix)
02 – Are You Ready (remix)
03 – Not Me
04 – Arsonist Of The Heart
05 – Hit And Run
06 – She’s Back
07 – Turn It Up
08 – Seven Days Without You Make One Weak
09 – Sneaking Out
10 – Running Wild

Charlie Huhn – vocals
Tommy Newton – guitar
Herman Frank – guitar
Peter Knorn – bass
Fritz Randow – drums

BUY IT !
musicbuymail.com/de/shop/cd/victory-dont-get-mad…get-even-cd
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