Jughead’s Revenge – Just Joined – Review

Jughead’s Revenge

Just Joined (Nitro)
by Scott Hefflon

My respect for Jughead’s Revenge skyrocketed when I heard their cover of Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper” on Double Deuce’s Spandex Experiment. Being unashamed to dig Maiden, and then rampaging through speed punk with style, technique, and something called zeal, is totally commendable. While Jughead’s Revenge have always been consistent and, don’t get me wrong, a helluva good band, they simply never blew me away. Just Joined begins the same – fast, hard, with throaty vocals (which do seem a little more human-sounding), galloping bass, riffing guitars, and a non-stop barrage of drums. But “Weight of the World” quickly let’s you know the Jugs can write a beautiful song as well as many a powerful one. In other words, it’s kind of a ballad. A power ballad. But before you start thinking Skid Row and Scorpions (or worse), give it a listen. While the lyrics are about as sappy as they come (hell, you try to express how much you like/love someone without sounding like a Hallmark Card and perhaps you’ll know why they make the money), the melody is gorgeous and moving, unselfconscious, and despite the fact that the lead reminds me of A-Ha’s “Take on Me,” really beautiful. While I hope this is an exception, not the new thing, this admission of frailty is a strong, bold statement, and well-done at that. A cover of Reagan Youth’s “(Are You) Happy” and 12 other tracks oughtta compensate fans who don’t go along with the ballad, and those, as “Corporate Bashing” says, “Trying to be different is what makes me the same,” are the losers missing out on a good thing.