PSYCHO MOTEL (Adrian Smith) – State Of Mind (1996) *HQ*
Adrian Smith may be the guitarist in one of the world’s most iconic metal bands, Iron Maiden, but he’s also a diverse musician who has explored other musical horizons. He recently teamed up for the excellent Smith/Kotzen project, however previously had other bands outside Maiden. Smith first got a side project in the late 80s named A.S.A.P. which released an album when Iron Maiden took a break after the “Seventh Son” tour cycle. But Smith really got his real own band when formed PSYCHO MOTEL after leaving Maiden 1989-90.
As requested, here’s the first PSYCHO MOTEL album, 1996’s ”State Of Mind”. Smith left Maiden in good terms, and the management gave him all the audition tapes they had when they were looking for a singer after Bruce Dickinson left.
The chosen one was Norwegian singer Hans-Olav Solli, previously in melodic hard rockers Sons Of Angels and 21 Guns. In fact, PSYCHO MOTEL has a strong connection with 21 Guns as drummer Mike Sturgis was part of them, and guitarist Scott Gorham (former Thin Lizzy too) appears as guest on PSYCHO MOTEL second album.
PSYCHO MOTEL’s ”State Of Mind” is completely different from any Iron Maiden, song-format tracks with heavy melodic hooks and harmonies. We hear some dark atmosphere on some songs as well.
Out of Iron Maiden, Adrian Smith took the time to form a new band. He might have been a candidate to join Def Leppard in 1992, but that never happened. When Smith resurfaced with a new band and a new album it would be to the heavy tones of down-tuned guitars and pounding drums. Psycho Motel grew out of The Untouchables, Smith’s 1993 band experiment.
The sound of ”State Of Mind” surprised many, however most Maiden fans embraced the album, as well critics. Stand-outs include the flat out heaviness of “Sins of Your Father” and psychedelic blues of the title track “Psycho Motel”.
Opener ”Sins Of Your Father” fuses heavy contemporary guitars with Smith’s trademark melodic sensibility, then ”World’s On Fire” is groovier, heavier. There’s a nice ballad in “Western Shore”. Here’s an ambitious attempt at combining the power ballad aesthetic of the late 1980s with a folk-inspired verse that could come from the mid-1970s. Smith and Solli conjure up in that chorus. A big plus is the sound of Smith’s voice doing harmony vocals.
“Money To Burn” is perhaps the most commercial song on the album, a hard rocker with rapid guitars and an ’80s feel. Another fair stab at creating an appealing track that could potentially bridge the gap between Smith’s roots and the new musical landscape of the 1990s is ”City Of Light”.
Psycho Motel released a second and final album next year – then Smith hook up with Bruce Dickinson in ‘97 and ‘98 for his acclaimed solo albums, Accident Of Birth and The Chemical Wedding. And later, 1999, both returned to Iron Maiden.
”State Of Mind” is rocking, 90s sounding album but still retaining Adrian Smith melodic sense with great playing and solid songwriting. The CD has become hard to find, sold over U$D 200.
Highly Recommended
01 – Sins Of Your Father
02 – World’s On Fire
03 – Psycho Motel
04 – Western Shore
05 – Rage
06 – Killing Time
07 – Time Is A Hunter
08 – Money To Burn
09 – City Of Light
10 – Excuse Me
Hans-Olav Solli – vocals
Adrian Smith – guitar, producer
Gary Leideman – bass guitar
Mike Sturgis – drums
with:
The Bates Brothers – backing vocals
Cynthia Fleming – violin on track 4
Vincent Gérin – cello on tracks 3 and 4
BUY
www.amazon.com/State-Mind-Psycho-Motel/dp/B00004TKR1
