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Reviewed in Metal Maidens #28/June 2002

By: Toine van Poorten

Rating: 9 points (out of 10)

21st Anniversary - Not That Innocent

Have I waited a long time for this, but finally it's there! Here's the new GIRLSCHOOL album, and it's

a true killer. The band consists of Kim McAuliffe on guitars and vocals and Denise Dufort on drums.

We can still hear Kelly Johnson on most of the songs, but she's being replaced by Jackie Chambers -

a blonde guitar goddess, who knows how to shred her guitar to pieces. And we also welcome back

veteran Enid Williams, who replaces Tracey Lamb. But what about the music? What do you think?

GIRLSCHOOL still sounds like GIRLSCHOOL. You know, the younger bad sisters of MOTÖRHEAD.

Great heavy rock music, that sounds like it was written in the early eighties. A few ballads here and there,

but after these pauses, they press the pedal to the metal again. I really love opener "Coming Your Way",

which really grabs you by the balls (metaphorical speaking)! While "Little Green Men" (MOTÖRHEAD-ish)

and "Innocent" (which has some TED NUGENT influences and some excellent double bass drums by

Denise!!) are two other highlights on this new album. "A Love Too Far" is much to sweet for me.

This song could be cool for THE SPICE GIRLS, but not for these cool metal ladies. But I guess there is

a very special, personal story behind this one, so I forgive them for this small mistake. Thirteen new

songs fill your room, done by four metal girls, who may be not that innocent, although they've just

reached the age of twenty-one (!?!). All the latest information about this cult NWOBHM band is

available at their website, that you can visit by logging in to: www.girlschool.co.uk

Happy Anniversary, ladies! It's so good to hear from you again.

SPIRIT OF 66 9-03-2002

"Was there anything I should have done on that Women's Day rather than mooching around the Spirit of 66 where Girlschool were expected to play?

We used

to think they had got lost in the nimbus of 20th century music, worn out by the years spent on the road with Motörhead and above all, Lemmy, their mentor at the time. Damn not! They are back with the almost original line-up (black-haired Kim, singing and playing guitar, mighty Denise on drums - the original core - and Enid the red-haired bass player). The attractive & enticing blonde Jackie, playing solo guitar, is a late addition, but well, what an addition!

On stage, the blonde, black & red moving rampart, armed with sharpened strings, defends the heavy piece with ease to fling its 105 at us with precision. They kick ass! More than a few metal bands should take these still active bombs from the last

century as models. The eye is constantly caught by postures, smiles and the beauty of all those curves shaking and wiggling to the furious rhythms of powerful hard-rock music.

As far as the music is concerned, Girlschool retained the best from men, and added to it all their feminine & leather-dressed sensitivity, to be honest. They almost seem to be the image, the female side, the Miss Hyde, of Motörhead. The intros, breaks, riffs and solos are exactly what's needed. The Motohead sound is there but it has been adjusted, softened, feminized. Sometimes you're reminded of Status Quo riffs, further you're treading deeply into th

e world of punk. They play hit after hit On my Way, Knife, Hit and Run, C'mon let's go with its superb intro à la Overkill! They sweep across their unriddled career. Not a minute of rest, no devastating slow songs such as hard-rock bands seem to enjoy. Girlschool need none, it seems highly probable that after a long rubbing of shoulders with Motorhead, you can easily do without.

After an hour and 20 minutes of unceasing attacks, I'm losing ground, reddition is ahead. That's enough, let me surrender. I'm exhausted, litteraly drained of my energy. These female vampires have suckled all my vitality. It's over, I can no more! I'm not the only one. Now they have got their satisfaction, after a break powerful with honour, they vanish & disappear forever. This is the end! Farewell living 3-D picture, only the sound & dias (?) remain. I had Girlschool Live(2001) turning round on itself alternately with Motörhead on the motorway back home. That's it finally, I'm a highway star (though not that proud, given my state), sheer great hard-rock star (?). I am astounded. Girlschool, I love you."

Thanks to Frederic loridant for the Photos

For more photos of this gig please click on the link below


	The Girlschool Galleries \| home Galleries \| News \| Gigs \| Forum \| Reviews \| Links \| Contact Girlschool Reviews Reviewed in Metal Maidens #28/June 2002 By: Toine van Poorten Rating: 9 points (out of 10) GIRLSCHOOL 21st Anniversary - Not That Innocent Communiqué Records Have I waited a long time for this, but finally it's there! Here's the new GIRLSCHOOL album, and it's a true killer. The band consists of Kim McAuliffe on guitars and vocals and Denise Dufort on drums. We can still hear Kelly Johnson on most of the songs, but she's being replaced by Jackie Chambers - a blonde guitar goddess, who knows how to shred her guitar to pieces. And we also welcome back veteran Enid Williams, who replaces Tracey Lamb. But what about the music? What do you think? GIRLSCHOOL still sounds like GIRLSCHOOL. You know, the younger bad sisters of MOTÖRHEAD. Great heavy rock music, that sounds like it was written in the early eighties. A few ballads here and there, but after these pauses, they press the pedal to the metal again. I really love opener "Coming Your Way", which really grabs you by the balls (metaphorical speaking)! While "Little Green Men" (MOTÖRHEAD-ish) and "Innocent" (which has some TED NUGENT influences and some excellent double bass drums by Denise!!) are two other highlights on this new album. "A Love Too Far" is much to sweet for me. This song could be cool for THE SPICE GIRLS, but not for these cool metal ladies. But I guess there is a very special, personal story behind this one, so I forgive them for this small mistake. Thirteen new songs fill your room, done by four metal girls, who may be not that innocent, although they've just reached the age of twenty-one (!?!). All the latest information about this cult NWOBHM band is available at their website, that you can visit by logging in to: www.girlschool.co.uk Happy Anniversary, ladies! It's so good to hear from you again. SPIRIT OF 66 9-03-2002 Frederic Loridant "Was there anything I should have done on that Women's Day rather than mooching around the Spirit of 66 where Girlschool were expected to play? We used to think they had got lost in the nimbus of 20th century music, worn out by the years spent on the road with Motörhead and above all, Lemmy, their mentor at the time. Damn not! They are back with the almost original line-up (black-haired Kim, singing and playing guitar, mighty Denise on drums - the original core - and Enid the red-haired bass player). The attractive & enticing blonde Jackie, playing solo guitar, is a late addition, but well, what an addition! On stage, the blonde, black & red moving rampart, armed with sharpened strings, defends the heavy piece with ease to fling its 105 at us with precision. They kick ass! More than a few metal bands should take these still active bombs from the last century as models. The eye is constantly caught by postures, smiles and the beauty of all those curves shaking and wiggling to the furious rhythms of powerful hard-rock music. As far as the music is concerned, Girlschool retained the best from men, and added to it all their feminine & leather-dressed sensitivity, to be honest. They almost seem to be the image, the female side, the Miss Hyde, of Motörhead. The intros, breaks, riffs and solos are exactly what's needed. The Motohead sound is there but it has been adjusted, softened, feminized. Sometimes you're reminded of Status Quo riffs, further you're treading deeply into the world of punk. They play hit after hit On my Way, Knife, Hit and Run, C'mon let's go with its superb intro à la Overkill! They sweep across their unriddled career. Not a minute of rest, no devastating slow songs such as hard-rock bands seem to enjoy. Girlschool need none, it seems highly probable that after a long rubbing of shoulders with Motorhead, you can easily do without. After an hour and 20 minutes of unceasing attacks, I'm losing ground, reddition is ahead. That's enough, let me surrender. I'm exhausted, litteraly drained of my energy. These female vampires have suckled all my vitality. It's over, I can no more! I'm not the only one. Now they have got their satisfaction, after a break powerful with honour, they vanish & disappear forever. This is the end! Farewell living 3-D picture, only the sound & dias (?) remain. I had Girlschool Live(2001) turning round on itself alternately with Motörhead on the motorway back home. That's it finally, I'm a highway star (though not that proud, given my state), sheer great hard-rock star (?). I am astounded. Girlschool, I love you." Thanks to Frederic loridant for the Photos For more photos of this gig please click on the link below http://www.photorock.net/