Gary Moore
might just be the greatest guitar hero America's never heard of, probably because only his latter-day
blues
recordings have benefited from proper distribution in these parts. In fact,
Moore
has worn so many hats during his nearly 30-year career that the words eclectic and unfocused immediately come to mind.
Victims of the Future
arrived in the middle of the most consistent phase of his career -- that of a
heavy metal
guitar slinger. Between the epic Cold War-inspired title track and the massive riffing of
"Murder in the Skies"
(written about the Korean airliner shot down by Russian fighter jets),
assaults the listener with more guitar notes than appear in most careers. These are great songs, though, and his powerful vocals are also very effective, especially on the hit
ballad
"Empty Rooms."
None of
's recordings are very easy to find in America, but make sure this is the first one you look for. [The version released in Japan included three bonus tracks,
"Devil in Her Heart,"
"Blinder,"
and a remix of
] ~ Eduardo Rivadavia