Lizzy Borden really lived up to his namesake with this album! This, to me, is the defining record of Lizzy Borden's illustrious career, which includes 7 records released in a 10 year span between 1984 and 1994. When 'Love You To Pieces' came out in 1985, a year after the debut EP, I was happy! This is another vinyl that my friends and I almost wore out the grooves on.

This album was so unlike most of what was coming out in terms of mid-80's heavy metal. Lizzy Borden was presenting songs that described the psychotic side of real life. The production takes a big step up from the earlier EP and the tunes are stronger overall. Lizzy Borden's vocals soar over the double guitar attack and driving rhythms. This album was a great example of an 80's heavy metal band striking through without the commercial fortitude of most of the pop metal acts of that time (Def Leppard, Ratt, Bon Jovi, etc.).

There are a few tracks that really stand out on this disc. "Psychopath" is easily my favorite Lizzy Borden tune! It captures everything that was Lizzy Borden with its haunting bass and sinister guitars swirling around these lyrics about a stalker's point of view. Here are the opening words. "I see that you're all alone, I've got the need to follow you home, I'd like to be the shadow who stalks, I'll lash out send your nerves into shock". There's a part in this song where Lizzy's whispers "I want to love you to pieces" over and over and then he begins screaming "I want to play". It's hard to describe here but it really sounds like he's the psychopath in the song; he captures the perspective perfectly!

Another killer (pun intended) highlight is the track, "Red Rum", a fitting tribute to the Stephen King horror epic, The Shining. This tune rocks! The twisted words perfectly express the sentiments of that book including the opening line, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". The next tune, the title track, is a ballad of sorts and is yet another psychopathic thriller that shores up the scary premise of not letting go of the one you love.

The last track, "Rod of Iron", is a classic tune that was actually featured on an early Metal Massacre compilation before this album came out. This track touches on everything that was unique to Lizzy Borden including his intense voice that was made for heavy metal and the band's searing guitar harmonies and pounding drums throughout.

"American Metal" is the all out rocker anthem on this record. Here Lizzy displays his passion for heavy metal, and his high pitched wailing hammers this one home. "You've got to bleed - American Metal, Red white and blue - American Metal!" Lizzy screams. Lizzy wrote in the 'Best Of' CD, "[this] was the first anthem I ever wrote. I wanted something that represented the metal scene at that time (1983), esp. in L.A. Everybody seem to play along nobody took it seriously, unlike now [1995]. The scene was a lot of fun."

That's what I love about Lizzy Borden, he took his tongue-in-cheek music seriously and made some memorable tunes that I still enjoy today. If you like 80's metal with a psychopathic flavor, than this is the album for you. Lizzy wrote about topics that were, for the most part, atypical for time when most metal bands were writing about the "sex, drugs and rock & roll" lifestyle. Lizzy added the horror element not only in his music but also in his live shows (similar to Alice Cooper) and will always be remembered for that.

'Love You To Pieces' remains as one of my favorite albums of the 80's and I highly recommend it to old school metal fans everywhere. I was thrilled when Metal Blade re-released this record on CD back in 1995. My CD is the Japanese release that also contains the debut EP, 'Give 'Em The Axe'. Pick this one up if you can locate a copy unless you're inclined to be influenced by what you hear! <eg>

Track Listing:
1. Council for the Caldron
2. Psychopath
3. Save Me
4. Red Rum
5. Love You to Pieces
6. American Metal
7. Flesheater
8. Warfare
9. Godiva
10. Rod of Iron
Bonus Tracks (on CD only)
11. Give 'Em the Axe
12. Kiss of Death
13. No Time to Lose
14. Long Live Rock N Roll



Recommended: Yes