TYRANNY AND MUTATION

For a group known as the "thinking man's heavy metal", BLUE OYSTER CULT's early work seemed to be operating at high school drop out level. None of the refinement of their late 70s and early 80s contribution can be found on "Tyranny and Mutation", and I can't uncover much to please prog fans unless you also love heavy rock. Generally unimaginative riffing and raucous atonal vocals are mostly the audio tyranny to which the listener is subject.

By this point the group wouldn't know a tune if it splayed itself out mermaid like on the subordinated keyboards. Even the lengthiest cut "7 Screaming Diz Busters", while more extended and featuring good chops, is barely of fleeting interest. I don't hear a lot in the way of supernatural and dark side fascination at this juncture; indeed we are pretty much earth bound and land locked throughout. I do catch trite misogynist tripe in "Baby Ice Dog" which in parts hints at what BOC would better explore in "Career of Evil".

"Wings Wetted Down" is the best thing here, and the only one with reasonable contrasts where the dots are connected. It also has the most mystical feel to it. "Teen Archer" manages to work on one and a half levels as well, which help my rating to the same number of stars for this mutant mishigas, which I reluctantly round up.