Holy sweet fuck! I have a headache after reading the line up. I was so confused that I couldn't understand it and I just copied it and pasted it from the biography notes. I still haven't understood who the guys that form the band are. Not the additional musicians and the guest appearance shit, just the basic line up. I just hope that I didn't do all this editing for nothing. I hope the album deserves what I am going through!

I think you all know Chris Caffery. Whoever doesn't know shit about this guy should better throw away all his band t-shirts, all his Metal albums and get the fuck out of sight! Honestly, whoever doesn't know Chris Caffery doesn't deserve to be called a metalhead. He is the guitarist of the legendary Heavy/Power/Progressive (call them however you want) band SAVATAGE (RIP). After the death of SAVATAGE, he started a solo career, recruiting some of the best musicians out there. His band contains bassist Nick Douglas (DORO, BLAZE) and as you can see, the additional musicians/guest appearances on this album are something more than interesting!

Every single metalhead has loved the guitar work of Chris Caffery and definitely worshiped every... Ok, almost every album that SAVATAGE released. The two members (Chris Caffery & John Oliva) followed solo careers and I can say that they both are doing pretty well. To tell you the truth, there is no way that these two guitarists are going to release something that will match the glorious level of SAVATAGE. Anyway, the album contains 13 tracks, which means approximately 52 minutes of melodic Heavy Metal. Basically, melodic Heavy Metal cannot exactly describe this album. Caffery combines many Metal genres, which of course are close to each other. All extreme stuff have nothing to do with Pins & Needles. It seems pretty normal that 3 years had to pass from the release of his previous album, since he is back with a heavy and complete full-length effort, that reveals his class as a guitarist (even though I don't think we need proof about his abilities). This album continues exactly from where his first two albums were. The heaviness remains but this time, Caffery's vocals are more powerful and definitely more mature. This time the music is much more diverse. Heavy Metal is the law as always, but the music is now enriched with some Power Metal elements as well as some more aggressive Thrash Metal stuff. All those filtered through the 21st century's sound of course.

Caffery's sound is influenced by SAVATGE a lot and this is more than obvious in every single track. His vocals are based on the classic SAVATAGE vocal lines and the guitars are razor sharp. I think that Pins & Needles is a very good name for this album since every song pinches your fucking hairy ass to get up and headbang until your head rolls on the ground! So, now imagine all of the above with the addition of great musicians that give their own touch here and there making this album even more kick-ass. First of all, one of my favourite guitarists plays the ending solo on Sad. You got it right, I am talking about the high and mighty Alex Skolnick! The man who kicked major ass with TESTAMENT, SAVATAGE and many more well-known bands. No need to comment on his solo. This guy can be nothing more than guaranteed success.

To tell you the truth, I expected Pins & Needles to be a much more simple album, with Heavy/Power Metal songs and a just good vocal work by Caffery. I am truly sorry. How could I question the talent of one of the best Heavy Metal guitarists out there? As the two guys from the legendary movie Wayne's World said, I AM NOT WORTHY!

There is also a limited edition of Pins & Needles in digipack version including Once Upon A Time as a bonus track. If he released such an album through his new label Metal Heaven, let's hope he will change label every time he releases a new album! Just kidding...