Ripper is one of those old school journeymen of rock who finally garnered enough kudos and momentum (and weight?) to ante up and crack on with a solo effort. Man's fronted Judas Priest for Christ's sake!

Have you seen that one movie Rock Star, when Boogie Nights climbs out the audience and takes over lead singer duties? Word is that Tim's Priest experience was the inspiration. Of course Rollins made pretty much the same fan boy move with Black Flag so it's most likely a load of old balls but go with the legend, that's what I always say.

Tim is, by the way, without doubt the least rock and roll name of all time - second only to Timothy - so it's no surprise he threw Ripper into the mix. I'm guessing it's just him being hard rather than any allusion to a penchant for slicing up the ladies of a night. Regardless, it's served him well through the years jobbing with various bands including Iced Earth and ending up with Beyond Fear and the mouthful that is Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force.

It's not surprising he has had no trouble finding work with such a familiar screech to his name. It fits this brand of pumped up metal perfectly with deep roaring growls and high pitched wails all over the shop. On occasion it sounds like he is aping other artists a little too much. Listen to 'Starting Over' and tell me you can't see Axl's bony wee arse strutting around in your mind's eye. Saying that though he's got enough of his own style to make things interesting so it comes as no surprise when you read the long list of guest musicians he's got backing him up here. Basically he got everyone. Everyone from every metal band you ever heard of, from Whitesnake to AC/DC. The musicianship is par excellence as per usual for this genre, one where people still actually bother learning their instrument.

As to the subject matter, well Timmy covers everything from alien paranoia to governmental paranoia to ex-girlfriend paranoia to paranoia paranoia and well, actually in more than a few places ends up sounding like 'Paranoid'. Straight up. 'Is it Me' is perfectly dirty heavy with power chords to spare.

Take that one, have a listen, and if you like what you hear then crack on with the rest. You'll know if it's your ring-a-ding right off the bat. Now let me see those horns!