Girlschool

Stateside circa the '80s, the best-known female metal artists were Lita Ford and Vixen. But across the pond in England, Girlschool caused quite a stir with a heavy, Motörhead-esque sound (which shouldn't come as a surprise, as Girlschool was pals with Lemmy and Co. -- both acts toured and recorded together). With countless metal acts of yesteryear reuniting left and right come the late '90s/early 21st century, Girlschool dusted off the axes and Marshalls, and issued 2002's 21st Anniversary: Not That Innocent. Despite the layoff between albums, the group's tough sound remains intact -- Girlschool is still all about raw riffing rather than pop melodicism (which was the complete opposite for their aforementioned U.S. counterparts). Fans of classic biker metal and "New Wave of British Heavy Metal" acts are sure to find quite a bit to latch onto here, especially such standouts as "Mad Mad Sister" and "Stay Wild." That said, Girlschool's lyrics will not be mistaken for Shakespearean sonnets anytime soon, as evidenced by "Little Green Men." Overall though, Girlschool sticks to their original game plan -- rough-and-ready, party-hearty rockers. Fans of Girlschool's peak early years should definitely get a kick out of 21st Anniversary: Not That Innocent. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide