I can remember seeing Acid's self-titled debut and Maniac albums many times while digging through bins of vinyl back in the day. I can't be sure of the reason I never bought one, but having to spend whatever import records cost before hearing a note was probably a big factor. I never bothered to go back and check them out, so I couldn't speak to what they sounded like, but now we have original lead singer Kate de Lombaert's new version of the band, which goes by the name Kate's Acid.

Apart from the excellent modern production, Kate's Acid is pure '80s hard rocking heavy metal. No thrash riffing, no harsh singing, just Kate belting out catchy choruses over crisp riffs and pummeling drums. Kate has a prototypical metal voice and the sort of charisma that makes you want to throw a fist (or several) in the air, while the songwriting is simple enough that you'll be singing along with "Hellbender," "The Lightning Conductor" and "Valkyrie" in short order. Some tracks aren't as amazing ("Buccaneers" has dull vocal lines, though the solo is pretty good), but the album is very consistent overall. Hellbender is a pop the cassette into the car stereo, roll down the windows and turn the volume up to 11 as you barrel down the road kind of release. Fans of Marta Gabriel and Leather Leone should have no trouble finding a spot in their rotation for Kate's Acid.