Album Review: Immortal RANDY RHOADS – The Ultimate Tribute (Various Artists)

Immortal RANDY RHOADS – The Ultimate Tribute
Release Date: March 3, 2015
Label: UDR Music

My first thought when I saw that there was going to be a tribute album done for Randy Rhoads was, “Is there nothing sacred anymore?” I mean, just looking at the line up for this album screamed “shit sandwich” but I decided to put all bias aside and give this an honest listen. The minute the first song kicked in, “Crazy Train” I could feel myself delivering the biggest stink face known to man. Serj Tankian from System of a Down on vocals with Tom Morello on guitar. I know right? If reading that alone didn’t give you diarrhea I don’t know what would. It sounds like it was recorded in four different rooms, four days apart and then put together. Don’t get me started on the atrocious guitar solo by our boy Tom Morello. That shit made me want to eat glass. Tribute? This is more of a desecration in my opinion. These guys might have well just gone and pissed on Randy’s grave.

Just reading the cast list of this album is enough to make you laugh. For the most part it’s a long list of washed up players who will pretty much take any job they can to make enough money to pay their rent. Ripper singing “Over the Mountain” is one of the most hilariously horrible things I’ve heard in years in addition to hearing him demolishing the remaining 7 out of the 11 songs. I’m guessing since his failed career as frontman for Judas Priest he’s currently making coffee money appearing on every tribute album known to man and this one is no different. The reason I have such a huge problem with this one is that you have pretty much taken some of the most sacred, hallowed metal songs by a late, great genius and dragged them through the mud.  This “tribute” album is just something to be shelved alongside such classics as Numbers from the Beast: An All Star Salute to Iron Maiden and Kickstart My Heart: A Tribute To Motley Crue. Now that you’re done laughing out loud, yes, these are actual albums.

The performances on this album (yes, I unfortunately listened to EVERY FUCKING ONE OF THEM) are absolutely lifeless. There is no heart, no passion, and no real love behind any of these songs. They sound exactly like what they actually are; cut and paste songs. There is no chemistry among the players and it is something that I can’t believe some of these people (yes, you Chuck Billy) would even put their name on. This album has zero, nada, redeeming qualities. As a matter of fact, as a huge fan of Randy Rhoads for nearly 30 years, I find this collection to be downright insulting, tasteless, and completely unnecessary.

Immortal RANDY RHOADS – The Ultimate Tribute has done nothing but cheapen the legacy of Randy Rhoads while taking this timeless, inspiring classic material making them completely unlistenable. If you really want to pay homage to Randy Rhoads, go guy the albums and if you have them already, listen to them again. The only reason I would see a need to buy this album would be for as either a gag gift for your next White Elephant party or if you need something to keep the water rings from your beer can off of your coffee table.

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