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W.A.S.P. - The Headless Children



8.6 | 417 votes |
Release date: 15 April 1989
Style: Heavy metal

Owners:

553 have it
40 want it


01. The Heretic (The Lost Child)
02. The Real Me [The Who cover]
03. The Headless Children
04. Thunderhead
05. Mean Man
06. The Neutron Bomber
07. Mephisto Waltz
08. Forever Free
09. Maneater
10. Rebel In The F.D.G.
11. Locomotive Breath [Jethro Tull cover] [reissue bonus]
12. For Whom The Bell Tolls [reissue bonus]
13. Lake Of Fools [reissue bonus]
14. War Cry [reissue bonus]
15. L.O.V.E. Machine [Live at Hammersmith 1989] [reissue bonus]
16. Blind In Texas [Live at Hammersmith 1989] [reissue bonus]

Top 20 albums of 1989: 9
Featured in "Getting Into: W.A.S.P."

Guest review by
Doc G.
Rating:
8.6
After "Inside The Electric Circus" was dismissed as "7th grader rock" by critics it forced Blackie Lawless to take some time off to rethink the direction of the band; out came a less raunchy, less vulgar and more thought provoking W.A.S.P.

The change the band made to this point was unbelievable; the partying and sexually explicit lyrics that what made people associate them with the glam metal scene of the 80's Sunset Strip were now gone, replaced with deeper, heavier and altogether more thoughtful lyrics. The lyrics were not the only aspect of the band that got heavier and deeper - the music itself got a lot more dynamic. The use of keyboards that were first used on one song on "Inside the Electric Circus" now found their way onto almost every song on this album in some form or another giving the music a jump start that pushed W.A.S.P. into full-blown metal. The guitar work itself doesn't get any more skillful but the compositions become really well put together. Blackie's voice reaches an intensity that had yet to be seen on any W.A.S.P. album to date, especially on songs like "Thunderhead" and "Rebel In the F.D.G." As previously stated, this pushes W.A.S.P. off the rock/metal fence into metal; the guitar riffs are a lot heavier, even the drums become more prominent, absolutely thundering in songs like "Mean Man" and "Neutron Bomber" (which almost has a power metal feel to it).

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published 11.05.2007 | Comments (9)

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Comments

Comments: 19   [ 1 ignored ]   Visited by: 778 users
19.07.2010 - 03:31
Rating: 10
Angelic Storm
Melodious
This was the first W.A.S.P. album I heard, and it made me a huge fan of the band. However, I've been disappointed in every W.A.S.P. album I next heard after this one. Not because all their other albums have been bad, far from it in fact. (Although ''Inside The Electric Circus" and especially the dire ''Helldorado'' are bad albums) But because ''The Headless Children'' is definitely for me, the apex of W.A.S.P..

Faint traces of their glam days still remained, as in ''Forever Free'', and "Rebel In The F.D.G." But really, songs like the atmospheric, barbed opening onslaught of "The Heretic" and the creepy as hell title track obliterated their hair metal past like it never even existed! In fairness, W.A.S.P. always had a rawer edge to them than the other glam bands, (the light "Inside The Electric Circus" being the exception) and one of the main reasons for this, was because of the harsh vocals of Blackie Lawless. And they were never put to better use than on this monster of an album. xD From the bloody, nightmarish picture of drug abuse painted in "Thunderhead", to the crazed, hulking riffage of "Mean Man", (which also features some manic solos from guitarist Chris Holmes, and crushing drums) Blackie has never sounded better. And indeed, neither have W.A.S.P. lol

This has always been one of my all time fave metal albums, and it still sounds awesome today. Listening to the preceding album to this one, its almost impossible to conceive that it's the same band, but it is! IMO W.A.S.P.'s finest hour, even better than the classic ''The Crimson Idol" album. Id say this is the one W.A.S.P. album that is essential for every metal fan to own.
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19.07.2010 - 22:38
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Best WASP album by far.
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Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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12.01.2013 - 20:18
Rating: 7
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Angelic Storm on 19.07.2010 at 03:31

This was the first W.A.S.P. album I heard, and it made me a huge fan of the band. However, I've been disappointed in every W.A.S.P. album I next heard after this one. Not because all their other albums have been bad, far from it in fact. (Although ''Inside The Electric Circus" and especially the dire ''Helldorado'' are bad albums) But because ''The Headless Children'' is definitely for me, the apex of W.A.S.P..

Faint traces of their glam days still remained, as in ''Forever Free'', and "Rebel In The F.D.G." But really, songs like the atmospheric, barbed opening onslaught of "The Heretic" and the creepy as hell title track obliterated their hair metal past like it never even existed! In fairness, W.A.S.P. always had a rawer edge to them than the other glam bands, (the light "Inside The Electric Circus" being the exception) and one of the main reasons for this, was because of the harsh vocals of Blackie Lawless. And they were never put to better use than on this monster of an album. xD From the bloody, nightmarish picture of drug abuse painted in "Thunderhead", to the crazed, hulking riffage of "Mean Man", (which also features some manic solos from guitarist Chris Holmes, and crushing drums) Blackie has never sounded better. And indeed, neither have W.A.S.P. lol

This has always been one of my all time fave metal albums, and it still sounds awesome today. Listening to the preceding album to this one, its almost impossible to conceive that it's the same band, but it is! IMO W.A.S.P.'s finest hour, even better than the classic ''The Crimson Idol" album. Id say this is the one W.A.S.P. album that is essential for every metal fan to own.


Mine was Dying For THe World
I just give a try to this one, I dont know why i dont like this album and why I say this is overated, maybe because somebody who's fav this was at my school days, well maybe because she is ehh who cares, but musicaly it is werry good, maybe some stupid complacks from the past I dont know, good album but not best IMO, good quality 80HM

I like those songs what you mentioned good songs
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I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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05.02.2013 - 04:49
Rating: 9
John Sandman

I'm listening to this record two times straight now... Absolutely excellent!
I enjoy some of their early stuff but this is just awesome!
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24.05.2013 - 04:32
Maco
Pvt Funderground
OHHH THUUUUUUNDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER. that feeling to scream is awesome. Like this album
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Crackhead Megadeth reigns supreme.
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24.05.2013 - 19:22
Lit.
Account deleted
Yep, definitely the best WASP album.
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26.07.2015 - 17:52
Rating: 7
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Guest on 24.05.2013 at 19:22

Yep, definitely the best WASP album.


my real life friend told same and he was only one who convicted me, before I heard all , (I had only 3 lol) I was thinking its best , after listen, I got own opinion, now I never ever will be convinced since then I have own IMO
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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26.07.2015 - 20:44
Lit.
Account deleted
Written by Bad English on 26.07.2015 at 17:52

my real life friend told same and he was only one who convicted me, before I heard all , (I had only 3 lol) I was thinking its best , after listen, I got own opinion, now I never ever will be convinced since then I have own IMO

That's nice, honey. Doesn't change the fact that it is, in fact, their best album.
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26.07.2015 - 20:45
Rating: 7
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Guest on 26.07.2015 at 20:44

Written by Bad English on 26.07.2015 at 17:52

my real life friend told same and he was only one who convicted me, before I heard all , (I had only 3 lol) I was thinking its best , after listen, I got own opinion, now I never ever will be convinced since then I have own IMO

That's nice, honey. Doesn't change the fact that it is, in fact, their best album.


Kill worst, Crimson best , rest is equally good
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
26.07.2015 - 20:58
Lit.
Account deleted
Written by Bad English on 26.07.2015 at 20:45

Kill worst, Crimson best , rest is equally good

Actually, Helldorado is their worse. And the only thing keeping Crimson from being better than this are the length and lack of variety in the lyrics (yes, it's a concept album, but the story itself isn't that interesting).
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26.07.2015 - 21:00
Rating: 7
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Guest on 26.07.2015 at 20:58

Written by Bad English on 26.07.2015 at 20:45

Kill worst, Crimson best , rest is equally good

Actually, Helldorado is their worse. And the only thing keeping Crimson from being better than this are the length and lack of variety in the lyrics (yes, it's a concept album, but the story itself isn't that interesting).


Hel is not brilliant but now to tell what are best, from those 2 I need re listen. in those days Fuck was week
I liked part there''' when you take a piss, and your dicks stinks as dirty pussy''
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
26.07.2015 - 21:01
Lit.
Account deleted
Written by Bad English on 26.07.2015 at 21:00

I liked part there''' when you take a piss, and your dicks stinks as dirty pussy''

...And that is exactly why your opinion should never be taken seriously.
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26.07.2015 - 21:06
Rating: 7
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Guest on 26.07.2015 at 21:01

Written by Bad English on 26.07.2015 at 21:00

I liked part there''' when you take a piss, and your dicks stinks as dirty pussy''

...And that is exactly why your opinion should never be taken seriously.


I am Gore's son, Tripper
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
14.05.2016 - 20:21
Rating: 7
Joppe
Steelemeister
Good stuff, but feels over rated like most of what WASP has done.
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My vision is augmented
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28.06.2017 - 03:02
VIG
Account deleted
Finally listening to this band after hearing a lot about them. Very good for a heavy metal band (I style I like only a handful of bands from). I enjoyed the subtle keyboards (looked it up, happened to be a guy from Uriah Heep playing them!).

Isn't this the band that was in that movie the decline of western civilization????
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07.05.2020 - 01:05
Rating: 10
Metal Rasputin

Absolutely magical record, up there with The Crimson Idol. It feels like every time I listen to this, I get kicked in the ass by different track since they are all great to begin with, the title song, Thunderhead, and Rebel In The F.D.G. being some of my all time favorites. They totally nailed The Real Me, Blackie clearly knows his Tho Who stuff.
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You've got a lot of guts. Let's see what they look like!
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28.09.2020 - 16:30
Rating: 9
gavdann

I'm currently going through a bit of a WASP phase. I hadn't listened to them for bloody years but I used to be a bit of a fan of Blackie and the boys back in the day.

I hadn't listened to anything post-Crimson Idol until recently. Thanks to the wonders of digital audio streaming and Spotify, I've been having a crash course of their latter stuff. Headless Children was and still is my favourite album by them. I saw them for the first and only time on this tour at the Hammersmith Odeon. Great gig it was too!!
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28.07.2021 - 16:26
Rating: 9
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
This is my favourite WASP album! And they have done a lot of great albums! 🤘🤘
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29.07.2021 - 16:02
Rating: 9
nonZero

Better than The Crimson Idol (8.7/10) IMO.

9.0/10 for me, the title track is the standout song. Thunderhead is the weakest.
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