Steelheart attempted to update their sound for the times with 1996's
Wait, but the album fell with a thud (the first album by the group to not register on the Billboard Album Charts), and as a result, singer/leader Michael Matijevic opted to put the band back into mothballs. Fast forward 12 years, and
Steelheart was finally back once more with their fourth full-length overall, 2008's
Good 2B Alive. For those hoping that the group would return back to their earlier, unmistakably "hair metal" direction will be disappointed, as it's the tougher-sounding direction of their previous release that is followed throughout
Good 2B Alive. In fact, if anything, they've even upped the heaviness ante throughout, as
Alice in Chains-meets-
Creed heavy riffers are what comprise almost the entire album -- "Samurai," "LOL," etc. With very little power balladry detected (which on earlier
Steelheart albums, was expected),
Good 2B Alive is undoubtedly
Steelheart's heaviest album from start to finish. ~ Greg Prato