"Top Heavy", the brand new album by the US Bluesy influenced Heavy Metal trio of ON TOP, is a tribute to the intoxicating sleazy Metal Glamsters and Hard Rockers of the 80s. I might also add that even the production has attributes that were a part of the old guard's amazing classic sound. On the other hand, nearly every 80s oriented album might end up being called a tribute, but I do believe that there have been closer affiliations among the pack load of bands that showed their appreciation in their material. ON TOP is one of those bands even though its album in general didn't turn out to be the most valuable around.

I think that ON TOP's strongest weapon in their small arsenal is their sole guitarist Alex Kulick. Fans of the great Hard Rock and Glam Metal guitar heroes like Mick Mars and George Lynch will get the kick out of this guy as he is a true master with his guitar work, both in the classic oriented rhythms and for his amazing ability on producing some great lead guitar solos and licks. Usually there is a tad by public relations to brag too much about guitarists, but in the case of ON TOP it is the real deal of steel. All in all, his playing sounded energetic as if he is one of those old heroes. Furthermore, Kulick is also the dominant of my positive notes that made me like this album. To be honest I was less fascinated by the other roles in the band not because those weren't good but because of their regularity. That same feeling, no matter how excellent the guitar was played out, helped me came up with a solid opinion regarding the whole turnout.

It is not that "Top Heavy" wasn't exciting at all, yet it kept on presenting the same stuff over and over again. ON TOP might have been fortunate with a great guitarist yet what about the actual songs? There were several of promising and even beyond tracks like the closing "Too Much", "Die High", "Another Night Of Sleaze", "Into The Night" and "Success And Excess". From those I could feel the glorious years where those kinds of bands began taking hold of an immense continent.

With outbursts of Sleaze, rough attitude and a showcase of would be Rock Stars, I think that ON TOP would be able to head only up. However, I hope that their next written would be better than what I came to find out here.