This record must be in the top ten of silly album covers for metal bands of the 80's. Released in 1986, Lizzy Borden created a killer follow-up to their live album, 'Murderess Metal Road Show', but it's too bad they didn't put as much effort into the album cover. The cover features all five band members standing atop an armored military vehicle all holding chains, a chainsaw or, in Lizzy's case, an axe. Man, what were they thinking? At the time I didn't care, but looking at it now, this cover couldn't look more ridiculous.

A friend bought the vinyl when it was released and I remember spending 2 weeks at his home in Michigan listening to this record over and over. Actually we used it as background music for a lot of stupid home movies we attempted to make. We were 18 and enjoying life. This is a terrific album by Lizzy Borden and my second favorite by them (after 'Love You To Pieces' and not counting the 'Road Show' live album). It still has many of the same qualities from 'Pieces' but Lizzy Borden got a bit more serious on this record

On 'Pieces', there was an element that made one smile when they heard it. Or maybe that was an evil grin. It's hard to smile while listening to 'Menace' because of its more serious nature. On 'Menace' Lizzy cuts right to it covering topics from Caesar ("Notorious") to teen suicide/sexual abuse ("Bloody Mary") to A Clockwork Orange ("Ultra Violence"). Actually, Lizzy has stated that the whole album was based on teenage violence. Now there's a fun topic.

Leave it to Lizzy to shake things up. Overall the music is tighter than the previous efforts and there are more harmonies between the twin guitar attack. The record kicks off with 'Generation Aliens' which races beginning to end and sets the mood with its anthem "we are the legions of youth". "Notorious" follows and is easily the best track on this disc. It portrays the notoriety of the great Caesar perfectly with lines like, "By the hand of Caesar I command you to obey, I'll slit your throat and make you choke on my royal name."

"Bloody Mary" is my personal favorite. It's a slower song about domestic abuse. The haunting bassline that carries the tune captures this creepy scenario that ends with suicide. Another slow track is the chilling "Ursa Minor" which Lizzy's vocals have an airy, spooky feel where he laments the recurring images of someone lost he's still searching for.

'Menace To Society' is solid effort by Lizzy Borden that shows improvement in songwriting. It's a great mid 80's metal album, which capitalizes on the things Lizzy knows best. My only criticisms are that the main theme is overdone making some tunes sound like a rehash of another; there's at least 5 tunes all covering the same "youth running wild in the streets" subject. Also the production is a little thin with more highs than lows but it's still one the best Lizzy Borden albums to get. I think 'Menace' is where Lizzy Borden adopts his "Me Against The World" attitude before actually recording that tune for the next album, 'Visual Lies'.

Fans of 80's metal should look past the silly album cover and pick this one up. A few years ago, Metal Blade re-released 'Menace' on CD, so you might want to grab it while you still can.

Track Listing:
1. Generation Aliens
2. Notorious
3. Terror On The Town
4. Bloody Mary
5. Stiletto (Voice Of Command)
6. Ultra Violence
7. Love Kills
8. Brass Tactics
9. Ursa Minor
10. Menace To Society



Recommended: Yes