W.A.S.P. - Discover Hidden Heavy Metal Gem

Heavy metal icons. The band that has controversy written all over them. Or if I’m more specific written in their name. Literally. I am talking about W.A.S.P. of course. A super polarizing music group. Fans either love them, or hate them. But their music in my opinion has many awesome hit songs.

If you are looking for a powerful, nostalgic 80s heavy metal sound at its best, look no further. W.A.S.P. has it all: heavy riffs, melodic guitar solos, recognizable vocals, sometimes shocking lyrics. And if you watch their old videos, you will also get plenty of theatrical performances. You will also think to yourself: “yeah, they don’t make ’em it like that any more”.

In all seriousness, they did remain under the radar. So unless you are looking into rock history, you might even hear about this band for the very first time. And maybe it’s good. Because you get to hear their music without any prejudice and just see if you like W.A.S.P. as it is.

What You Need To Know About W.A.S.P. the Band.

W.A.S.P. is an American heavy metal band formed in 1982 in Los Angeles. They are known for their shock rock image, dramatic live shows and rather controversial lyrics, which attracted a lot of media attention in the 1980s. They were heavily criticized by Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) who demanded for warning labels on recorded music. W.A.S.P. did not shy away from the criticism and even used the argument to fuel their music. Though to be fair such publicity might have caused them some rejection from recording companies.

Nevertheless hits like “I Wanna Be Somebody”, “Blind in Texas”, “Wild Child”, “Mean man” and others helped them sell over 12 million records worldwide. Led by vocalist and guitarist Blackie Lawless, the band has continued to record and tour, releasing their latest album, “Golgotha,” in 2015.

For the latest news about W.A.S.P. you can always check their official website.

Music Style of W.A.S.P.

W.A.S.P.’s music style combines heavy metal, hard rock, and some glam rock. Their sound features aggressive guitar riffs, strong bass, forceful drumming, and the powerful raw vocals of Blackie Lawless. You get a heavy yet melodic sound that is easily recognizable.

Early songs like “Animal (F**k Like a Beast)” are pretty provocative. While later tracks like “The Idol” showcase deeper emotional layers. Plenty of their hits have a high tempo, high energy rhythm. But they also have songs with complex structures and darker themes. If you listen to the debut album and compare it to “The Headless Children”, you will understand what I mean right away.

What makes W.A.S.P. so special?

Their music, their style of performance, the lyrics, the controversy. Everything at once in combination is what sets the band apart from your typical hard rock groups. With W.A.S.P. you get this raw energy and unique vibes that are difficult to get anywhere else.

From my experience their music is especially cool when listening on the road. Some songs are blasting with high octane energies (check out “Wild child”, “Mean Man”, “Harder Faster”) so you almost want to put the pedal to the metal.

Others bring in nostalgic feelings of good old times, vibes of an era gone but not forgotten. And whenever music is able to evoke such strong emotions, it’s definitely worth your attention.

Best Song by W.A.S.P.

If you never listened to W.A.S.P. and just want to explore heavy metal scene of the 80s, the band’s hit “Wild Child” is the best to start with. It’s from their second album, The Last Command, released in 1985. It perfectly mixed the band’s signature heavy metal riffs and melodic hooks, as well as Blackie Lawless’s powerful vocals.

And If you want a perfect 80s power ballad with W.A.S.P. unique sound, I highly recommend “Heaven’s Hung In Black” from the album Dominator released in 2007.