**Review:**
Here it is, folks—*Identity Crisis*. The album that proves rock ‘n’ roll can be a phoenix, even when the band is standing in the ashes of their glory days. Sweet, the legendary glam-rock pioneers who once ruled the glitter-soaked world with *Ballroom Blitz*, had all but been written off in the early '80s. This was supposed to be the *end*. Instead, they dropped this record—a low-key, underdog masterpiece that somehow slipped through the cracks, an unnoticed gem buried deep in the rubble. Call it what you want—heavy metal’s stealthy ghost, a last gasp, or maybe just *pure fucking magic*.
Let’s talk about *Identity Crisis*—a wild blend of defiant spirit and unexpected genius. On the surface, it’s an oddity. After the pomp and glitter of their earlier years, you might expect something campy, something forced. But no. This is Sweet slinking into the shadows of the NWOBHM scene, and what’s most wild about it is how the band effortlessly blends the raw, jagged energy of metal with their still-present knack for melody. The real shock? It doesn’t scream glam, and it certainly doesn't scream pop. Instead, it howls, snarls, and shreds like a battle-weary band of rock veterans who, in their desperation, decided to ride the wild, untamed current of early '80s metal.
### **The Sound:**
*This is not the Sweet you know.* Gone are the days of glam rock glitz. *Identity Crisis* pulls the veil off Sweet’s inner beast—full-throttle riffs, rapid-fire drumbeats, and gritty vocals that just... cut. It’s like they suddenly remembered the *heavier* stuff—think early Judas Priest, a hint of Iron Maiden’s energy, and the sharp, rebellious bite of Motorhead. But it’s still Sweet, dammit! It’s just that Sweet has traded their glam outfits for leather jackets and scars. *Hail the loud guitars and battle cries!*
**Tracks like "It Makes Me Wonder"** pulse with an almost psychedelic undertone, an anthem for the disillusioned. The chugging guitar licks weave in and out, almost doom-laden, like a band unsure if they’re giving up or going for broke. **“Strange Girl”** hits you with an unexpected rhythm shift, building into a defiant, thumping wall of noise that sounds like a band daring the world to ignore them again.
And let’s talk about **“Identity Crisis”**—the title track. This one is a statement, dripping with dark, bluesy riffs that twist and turn into something a bit eerie, like they’re singing from the depths of a mind unraveling. It’s not just an album title; it’s Sweet’s full-throttle plunge into an unknown. The vocals are desperate, like the band’s literal cry for self-discovery in a world that had long since moved on from them. Sweet *is* in crisis, but they turn it into something uniquely... *fucking fantastic*.
### **The Legacy:**
*Identity Crisis* never stood a chance in the commercial world. Too rough around the edges for the glam crowd and too melodic for the hardcore metalheads. But if you dig deeper—if you peel back the layers of post-glam desperation—you’ll find a record that, against all odds, makes *sense*. In a time when many bands were chasing trends, Sweet had the balls to dive into something darker, heavier, and far more adventurous than anyone could have expected.
This record, lurking beneath the radar, quietly embodies everything about the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that was just beginning to rear its head. And in doing so, it cemented its place as a cult classic—a *ghost* of NWOBHM before NWOBHM even had its chance to breathe. Sweet, despite being at the “end of their rope,” had one last, glorious kick in the teeth to give.
*Identity Crisis* isn't just an album. It’s a battle cry. It’s *Sweet*’s resurrection—brutal, honest, and heavier than you could have ever imagined. It’s proof that sometimes, when you think a band is dead, they’re just about to punch you in the face with a final masterpiece. Stealth, subversive, and absolutely fucking brilliant.
### **Verdict:**
If you like your rock raw, dirty, and unapologetically *real*, this is the Sweet record you never knew you needed. Go find it. **And when you do?** Turn that volume to eleven.
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