Ever wondered what happens to the material that bands record and release but then disband several years later after their formation? Also, do you ever wonder why they didn't release it outside of their own country? I bet sometimes you wonder where the music is and I also bet you probably wonder when you'll get a chance to hear it. Sometimes all you can do is pray and hope that you either know someone who can get a hold of it for you, or to make it easier, wait until a label picks up the music to re-master it and re-release it. This is exactly the scenario that will play out in today's review with a re-issue of the final studio album recorded by a Canadian Hard Rock band called SLIK TOXIK.

The group formed in 1988 in Ontario, Canada, and in 1991, they released their debut EP "Smooth and Deadly". A year later in 1992 they released their debut album "Doin' the Nasty" followed by a second album in 1994 before doing some touring for the album and then eventually disbanding the same year. The second album, entitled "Irrelevant" was never released outside of Canada at the time, so for a long time, it was never available to international fans. That changed this year when the guys over at Perris Records decided to re-master it and release it, and so this is my review of the groups second and final album before their disbandment.

Clocking in at around 60 minutes across 12 tracks, the final album from this Canadian Hard Rock quintet opens up with the heavy hitting "Twenty Something" and closes with the fast paced "Just Fade Away", with 9 other songs in between, including the first of two singles, "Dive", among others. Because this is a reissue, we get bonus content aside from the re-mastering, and on this one, we get a demo of the song "White Lies/Black Truth", which is originally from the groups debut album "Doin' the Nasty".

As I listen to a Hard Rock record, there's a lot I expect from it, including riffs that kick me hard in the nuts, fast paced rhythms that get my blood pumping, and vocals that are punchy and heavy to accompany the already bonkers melodies. Unfortunately this album doesn't really have any of that. It does sort of have heavy ball kicking melodies and blood pumping rhythms, but because this was originally released back in the mid 90's using basic technology, the end result doesn't sound that great to me.

This is kind of odd really, as there were bands around that time who probably had access to the same recording technology but they could produce higher quality material. SLIK TOXIK didn't seem to be one of those, as the overall sound just feels a bit weak to me and a couple of songs just seem so long winded, to the point where you get bored easily.

Also, for an album that's supposedly been "re-mastered", I was expecting the overall feel and sound to be even heavier, and overall, more hardcore but I just wasn't really feeling it. The same goes for the performance, as there are places where I will give it points for being mildly enjoyable, but there are a few songs where it sounds either lifeless or lazy.

Bottom line, the reissued version of the final SLIK TOXIK album is a Hard Rock record, that unfortunately, does not really sit well with my musical preferences, as there's a few things about it which puts me off. I'll give it points for trying and creating a couple of songs I can kind of enjoy, but overall, it's not something I'd spin on a daily basis, as it's nothing special in my eyes.<