After the break-up of Twisted Sister, frontman Dee Snider went on to form a band called Desperado. But when their record company backed out of releasing their debut album, just weeks prior to it's release, Dee and Marc Russell (bass) went on to form Widowmaker with guitar wizard Al Pitrelli (Megadeth, Savatage) and ex-Twisted Sister drummer Joe Franco.

BLOOD AND BULLETS (1992) ESQUIRE/BMG

Widowmaker is the natural follow up to what Dee was doing with Twisted Sister and Desperado. And several of the songs here were written for the latter bands first album that Elektra dumped. Widowmaker also have this southern country and/or blues feel in many of their tunes, which is sort of weird coming from a New York band. But any hard rock and/or metal Dee sees fit to present us seems to go straight to this fans heart. So I find this album as pleasing as most of his prior work. Dee is a solid singer, a terrific songwriter and an excellent frontman. Combined with a great band to back him up, and he is indestructible. 'Blood And Bullets' is yet another fine product from one of the originals of the metal world.

Killer tracks: Emaheevul, The Lonely Ones, Gone Bad, You're A Heartbreaker, Calling For You

STAND BY FOR PAIN (1994) MUSIC FOR NATIONS/CMC INTERNATIONAL

Killing Time Long Gone Protect And Serve Ready To Fall Circles Standby For Pain Just Business The Iron Road Bad Rain Your Sorrow Cry A Dying Man's Tears All Things Must Change

Line-up: Dee Snider - Vocals Marc Russell - Bass, Background Vocals Joe Franco - Drums Al Pitrelli - Guitars, Background Vocals

The second album from Widowmaker shows a band that has developed more into something of their own. Whereas the first album consisted mostly of songs already written for Dee's prior band, 'Stand By For Pain' is all written for Widowmaker. And it is a much darker and heavier band we get to see here. 1994 was a year when coming from the 80's metal scene would get you looked upon as a reject, and I'm sad to say that this put it's mark on this CD. This is typical 90's metal, with that aggressive wall of sound and less melody. Sure, you get some mellow moments throughout, and the guitar work from Al Pitrelli is outstanding, but as a whole this is the album Dee sounds the less like how we all know him. I'm not saying that this is a bad album per se. Because it is not. It's just that this is not what I want to hear from Dee. It was also going to be the last album from Widowmaker.

Killer tracks: Protect And Serve, Ready To Fall, Standby For Pain, The Iron Road

Dee Snider guest appearances:

Lordi - 'The Arockalypse'

Al  Pitrelli guest appearances:

Related artists:

Dee Snider, Twisted Sister, Desperado, SMF, Savatage, Megadeth, Alice Cooper, Trans-Siberian Orchestra