MAXINE PETRUCCI

Guitar heads and fans of obscure 1980's glam take note: former MADAM X guitarist Maxine Petrucci is back in business, releasing her second solo album of unrepentant melodic rock and handling vocals, guitar and bass (minus a couple guest spots) as well as all songwriting duties. While it's been a long time since MADAM X's lone 1984 album, and her sister and former bandmate Roxy may be more known to the world (she went on to play drums for VIXEN),Maxine hasn't lost a bit of her chops, and her shredding shines through even when the songs don't quite measure up.

Petrucci's melodic hard rock style of writing is definitely a throwback to the 80's, though a few songs dabble in harder-edged turf. She's a great singer, but her vocals are definitely on the high, girlish side. She might come off as a little too cutesy to some listeners, especially when the lyrics get goofy, as on "Generation Me" or the cringeworthy "My QT". But dip into a fairly standard issue song like "Need You Here", and just listen to the solo — even the fanfare that introduces it is a step up from the rest of the song, an impresssive little bit of flair that launches some fairly soulful speed shredding and sweeping prowess. The solo seems altogether more serious and important than the song it lives in -- the impression is that Petrucci is just a girl who wants to have fun, so to speak, and plays up a carefree sex-bomb image as the frontwoman, but when she straps on the guitar, it's all business, and serious business at that.

This apparent dichotomy won't get glam haters past the hair-metal aspects of "Don't Hate Me" to appreciate the tasty soloing within, but it should go down a storm with the Metal Sludge crowd, and anyone looking for a bit of substance and some fairly unique new sounds in this largely abandoned style. The depth of skill and finesse shown in her soloing, and in surprising moments like the almost-prog closer "Spent", put her leagues ahead of the legions of the formerly bleached-and-teased still out flogging it in the clubs. A welcome return from an unsung talent.