The Rods Wild Dogs Unchained Review
The Rods
Wild Dogs Unchained
Massacre Records
2025
I always get a kick out of writing about the bands I grew up with, especially the veterans who laid the groundwork long before most of us even had our first turntable. Today, the spotlight falls on none other than the legendary American Heavy Metal outfit, The Rods! Now, I’ll be the first to admit I’ve never been their number one disciple, but if you’re a denim wearing Metalhead or vinyl collector, you know The Rods. Back in the day, their ‘80s catalog was among the first full discographies I chased down and let me tell you, there’s nothing like spinning those old slabs of Metal. Decades later, those records still roar with the kind of raw magic that refuses to die.
But enough about my nostalgia, let’s sink our teeth into the main course: “Wild Dogs Unchained”. Dropping just a year after 2024’s “Rattle the Cage”, this record serves up seven fresh cuts alongside three re-recorded classics from the band’s back catalog.
The album kicks the door wide open with “Eyes of a Dreamer,” a mid-paced statement track that immediately locks you in. The chorus soars, the hooks snap, and David Feinstein proves his pipes and fretboard firepower are still in fighting form. From there, “Rock N’ Roll Fever” slams down like a dragster at full throttle, tight bassline, no gimmicks, just pure, unfiltered Rock fury. “Mirror Mirror” keeps the pedal down, but spices things up with molten solos that teleport you straight back to the denim and leather glory days of the early ‘80s.
Then comes the emotional curveball, “Tears for the Innocent.” It begins with a balladic whisper, then surges into a power-charged anthem that’s heartfelt without ever tipping into cheese. There’s a touch of Maiden in its bones, and that’s never a bad thing.
As for the re-recordings, they’re exactly what you’d expect, classic Rods anthems with modern production muscle. Do I still favor the originals? Absolutely, but hearing them refreshed doesn’t feel like a betrayal, it’s thrilling. And the choice to close things out with “Hurricane” is a perfect ending to what has been a spectacular album.
Here’s the reality: The Rods have been charging since 1980, and every time they release a record, there’s that whisper of “could this be the last one?” If “Wild Dogs Unchained” ends up being their swan song, then it’s a damn proud way to bow out. Personally, I think this is their strongest release since “Heavier Than Thou”, and that’s saying a lot.
Bottom line, this isn’t nostalgia bait, this isn’t “good for their age.” This is a no-bullshit Heavy Metal record from a band that helped lay the cornerstone of American Metal itself. Raise a glass, drop the needle, and let The Rods remind you why they’re still a force to be reckoned with.