Back to Mystery City by Hanoi Rocks

80’s hair metal was a short lived but tremendously enjoyable genre with impressive guitars and even more impressive hair styles. They probably got through enough hairspray to put a sizeable dent in the ozone layer.

This album is a lot of fun and not quite as over the top as some later examples of the genre. There are solid drums and guitars, and the vocals are pitched at a level audible to the human ear.

Hanoi Rocks from Finland were pioneers, and could possibly have hit the big time if not for the tragic death of their drummer Razzle in a car crash in 1984, caused by Mötley Crüe’s singer Vince Neil driving drunk. The band broke up not long after.