Band:	Twisted Sister
Album:	You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll
Style:	Glam metal, Hard rock
Release date:	1983
Guest review by:	omne metallum

01. The Kids Are Back
02. Like A Knife In The Back
03. Ride To Live, Live To Ride
04. I Am (I'm Me)
05. The Power And The Glory
06. We're Gonna Make It
07. I've Had Enough
08. I'll Take You Alive
09. You're Not Alone (Suzette's Song)
10. You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll
11. One Man Woman [1999 reissue bonus]
12. Four Barrel Heart Of Love [1999 reissue bonus]
13. Feel The Power [1999 reissue bonus]

Sophomore slump? Pfft, Twister Sister not only leap way over that pitfall, they raise the bar while they are there. You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll is one of the most underrated albums of not only the 80s but in rock/metal; from start to end, it is a masterclass brought to you by a group written off as one-album wonders.

As if to underscore just how catchy some of these tracks are, I had not listened to this record in months, yet just by reading the song titles, the songs came flooding back even before I hit play. This is a feat all bands strive for and Twisted Sister do it with apparent ease. With songs that engrain themselves into your DNA, You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll is a tour de force of rock that will convert anyone who comes across it.

Out of its ten tracks, all but three are solid classics, all equally as good as the others that trying to pick a stand-out one is futile, just take them all! If you like anthemic rockers, then tracks like "The Kids Are Back" and "I Am (I'm Me)" have got your back. Want a mid-pace stomper? Try "Like A Knife In The Back" or "The Power And The Glory" on for size. Want an up-tempo no holds barred rocker? The title track and "Ride To Live, Live To Ride" will satiate your appetite. Hell, even the other three tracks aren't bad; they're only just short of the other tracks in terms of quality, and still worth repeated listening at very loud volumes.

The band are on fine form; French and Ojeda's guitars are loud and proud, powering the tracks with the high voltage rock 'n' roll you crave. Mendoza's bass is given space to stand out on its own merits and it balances being a star in its own right and supporting cast admirably. Pero's drums pound mercilessly throughout. Snider again leads the band with such style and aplomb that you think he was born with a microphone in his hands.

The production is a mixed bag; on the one hand, the band sound clear, and each instrument is distinctive with a very enjoyable mix. Each member is served well by Epps, who ensures everyone gets their own space but still connects to create one sonic force. The issue is that at times the songs do sound flat and the textures of the tracks seem smoothed out where they try to pierce through the headphones. Songs like "Live To Ride, Ride To Live" are restrained, and you can hear them clearly straining at the leash that Epps puts on them; you find yourself willing the track to break free and let rip as it wants to.

The mixed bag production is the closest this record gets to anything wholly negative and even then it's only a half problem; yes, the album is that good.

What do I really need to say in conclusion? Stop reading and start listening to it!