Review by UnhinderedbyTalent for Satan (GBR) - Court in the Act (1983)

Here's an odd one.  I have heard of Satan of course but never really been swayed by the praise that surrounds them.  So having stumbled across this album again today as part of my current clan challenge I didn't have high hopes.  The band name is synonymous with the NWOBHM movement of course and rightly so, there's some hi-octane galloping tunes on here for sure.  There's also obvious talent across the group with the vocals of Brian Ross and dual guitar attack of Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey being of particular note.

Somehow though, it is still a bit dull.  This may be down to the production or mixing job as opposed to the actual band themselves as somehow it sounds like the album was recorded at two different levels. So the guitars are rampant, high in the mix, clear and audible for all to hear as they fire of super-charged licks and riffs.  However, the rest of the instrumentation sounds like it was tracked from a different studio.  If sounds stifled or muffled and it is only really the piercing cries of Ross that usually manage to permeate the low ceiling and sound like they are on the same record as the guitars.

It makes for a very disjointed sounding record.  Literally it feels like two mates in one of them's bedroom playing guitar well over an otherwise half decent record because they haven't got anything to satisfy that particular six string itch they have both got.  It is a genuine shame the album sounds like this as despite the sound issues (to my ears at least) the band has a real sense of being full of energy and being eager to impress.

If you can deal with the sound then you are probably in for an enjoyable NWOBHM experience - and I did listen to this via YouTube so that won't have helped most certainly - given they have the content and credentials most definitely.  For me though the album doesn't hit the spot and feels muddled despite its strong points.