MMMMMMMMMAAAAXXX still rocks
T. Kuzmanovic | Milwaukee, WI United States | 12/15/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ah yes, the album that was played at volume level eleven. This CD is a must have for any heavy metal fan. It is chock full of great guitar runs, good lyrics, distortion, and solid drumming by none other than Gary McCracken. No one quite belts the vocals out like Kim Mitchell himself. At times, he sounds like his balls are in a vice. But this sound is one of animal instinct, not of someone who is about to lose his gonads. While Battlescar, with Geddy Lee's vocal accompanyment, smacks you in the mouth, the song Check makes you jump out of your pants like a shotgun blast that wakes you up in the middle of the night. This album led me to other MAX albums, like A Million Vacations, and Live Magnetic Air, which made me a permanent Max fan. Kim Mitchell's solo stuff is pretty good, too. It's too bad he doesn't get to the states that often. He occasionally plays in Buffalo, NY, but most of his shows are throughout Canada. I'm glad I saw them with Rush in Milwaukee during the Moving Pictures tour, or should I saw during the Universal Juveniles tour! MAX ON!"
Max Webster's SECOND Best album
ProgDog | 09/21/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"For fans of metal/prog and general LOUD, well-played, well-arranged, sensible rock, this album achieves the pinnacle of quality.
Battlescar marries two entire legendary bands: RUSH and Max Webster TOGETHER! That's right, two drummers, two lead guitars, two lead vox and enough wattage to dim the lights around Toronto when both bands played Maple Leaf Gardens New Year after New Year. This is Canadian Hard Rock at its most beauty, eh. While Mitchell's playing is awesome on this CD, the best Max Webster album stands as "High Class in Borrowed Shoes." "Juveniles" gives the listener the last fond look at ear-splitting power chords and stadium rock before the pouffy-haired eighties bands softened it to mushy schlock (if you like Journey, or even later inceptions of Triumph and Van Halen, this is too much "muscle" for you.) Comparatively, "High Class in Borrowed Shoes" offers more progressive ideas and shatters the then-emerging image of heavy metal as a "simple" music.
"Juveniles" is a great listen and was a great tour (I saw Mitchell when he was still in Webster...and am glad of it.)
Highlight songs: Check, Battlescar)
"Feel the way I-I-I ...FEEL!"
Rock on..."
Max Webster's Best Album Yet
T. Kuzmanovic | 01/12/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"UNIVERSAL JUVENILES is Max Webster's best album up to this point in their career. All of the songs are great, and the playing of the instrumentalists compliments Kim Mitchell's singing well. Any serious fan of rock & roll should order this one."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1