![[Image]](../../Images/atello_wttwb2.jpg)
More info: www.atello.com
Verdict (rating): Retro metal (70%)
Atello's last album was a retro-rocking affair that impressed most when the songs displayed a Firehouse vibe. This time out the band seem to have kicked Firehouse into touch and replaced them with GnR. 'The Wrecking Ball' sees the band 'toughening up' and adopting more of an 80s sleaze metal feel.
This approach is in evidence on the first couple of tracks and resulted in my initial reaction to this album being one of disappointment. On 'Feed My Head' Larry even adopts a Axl style snarled vocal. It isn't until 'Tied Up In Love' when the band remember to introduce a sprinkling of melody to proceedings that I get reminded that my reaction to the previous album was positive.
After a couple of slow tracks there is more 80s metal posturing on 'Dirty Mind' and the Aerosmith influenced 'Meltdown'. When 'The Money Shot' arrives we get a slow burning bluesy rocker which has a more melodic edge to it. Of the ballads, 'Lifetime Away' is the best. It is a sort of almost country-tinged tune of the type purveyed by GnR & Poison. The final track was obviously written after the September 11 tragedy and is a defiant message to the terrorists.
After listening to this album I went back and revisited 'The Big Payoff'. The band have definitely gone for a more aggressive style on this album and moved from hard rock into more a metallic arena. The band put in as good if not better performance than the last album, but I prefer the style of 'The Big Payoff' to the 'The Wrecking Ball'.
