Keel’s Rocky Road: A Heavy Metal Band’s Rise and Fall

Formed in 1984 by former Steeler vocalist ron Keel, the heavy metal band Keel experienced a meteoric rise, fueled in part by the star power of their producer, Gene Simmons. However,their trajectory wasn’t without its bumps. Two albums from this era, released after Simmons’ departure, highlight the band’s struggle to maintain momentum.

Their debut album, The right To Rock, featured three songs written by Simmons, none of which ultimately made the cut for Kiss. Despite this, the album’s title track showcased the band’s signature blend of heroic and slightly absurd energy. This same energy permeated their follow-up, The Final frontier (1986), particularly in tracks like “Rock And Roll Animal,” where Ron Keel’s powerful vocals took center stage.

• Caught Somewhere in Time
• Wasted Years
• sea of Madness
• Heaven Can Wait
• The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
• Stranger in a Strange Land
• Deja-Vu
• Alexander the Great

While the band’s association with Simmons initially boosted their profile, their subsequent struggles underscore the challenges faced by many bands in the competitive music industry. The success of other artists, such as Patti smith’s hit “Because The Night” (co-written with Bruce Springsteen), further highlights the unpredictable nature of the music buisness. While “As The Night” soared to success, Keel’s attempts to replicate that level of success proved more elusive.

The story of Keel serves as a reminder that even with high-profile backing, sustained success in the music industry requires a confluence of factors beyond talent and connections. The band’s legacy, however, remains a testament to their unique brand of heavy metal, leaving a mark on the genre’s history.

Ron Keel’s ‘The Final Frontier’: A Look Back at an 80s Metal Milestone

The 1980s were a golden age for heavy metal, a time of soaring guitar solos, powerful vocals, and larger-than-life personalities.Ron Keel, a name synonymous with the era’s vibrant energy, released his album The Final Frontier in April 1986. While it didn’t achieve multi-platinum status,its impact on the burgeoning metal scene is undeniable. The album’s legacy,however,is intertwined with the challenges faced by many bands in a rapidly evolving musical landscape.

According to Keel himself, the album’s commercial performance played a significant role in shaping his career. “When The Final Frontier didn’t go multi-platinum it created problems,” he explained. “Too many bands were looking and sounding the same and it strangled the life out of the genre.”

The follow-up album, simply titled Keel and produced by Michael Wagener, sadly, didn’t fare any better, ultimately contributing to the band’s struggles. The saturation of similar-sounding bands in the market created a challenging environment for artists seeking to stand out.This period highlights the competitive nature of the music industry, even during its most prolific eras.

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Other Notable April 1986 Releases

• Turbo – Judas Priest

April 1986 saw the release of several other significant albums, showcasing the diversity and dynamism of the heavy metal scene at the time. Judas Priest’s Turbo, for example, stands as a testament to the genre’s constant evolution and experimentation. The release of these albums alongside The Final Frontier paints a vivid picture of the competitive yet creatively rich landscape of 80s metal.

Keel’s “The Final Frontier”: A Re-Examination of a hard Rock Classic

Keel’s 1988 album, The Final Frontier, remains a interesting case study in the complexities of the 80s hard rock scene.While lauded by some for its raw energy and memorable tracks, others criticized its adherence to genre tropes. This re-examination delves into the album’s critical reception,its place within Keel’s career,and the challenges the band faced with its label,MCA Records.

Critical Acclaim and Controversy

Reviews of The Final Frontier were mixed. One enthusiastic review from Get Ready To Rock praised the album’s opening track, stating, “The opening (and title) track comes out of its corner swinging, ready for the fray. A join-the-dots blueprint that’s promptly out-punched by the chunky rock charms of Rock’N’Roll Animal … appropriately, Keel’s voice howls and wails as the guitars growl and roar. Guitarist Marc Ferrari proves himself to be a songwriter on the rise, contributing the pumped-up, Autograph-esque Raised On Rock, and the rather good chest-beating ballad, Tears Of Fire.”

However, AllMusic offered a more critical outlook: “Much of Keel’s material is cliché-ridden mid-’80s pop-metal, with generic jock lyrics and muscular riffs. Even high-profile guest appearances by such stars as Joan Jett and Michael Des Barres on Raised on Rock, Arm And A Leg, and Rock and Roll Animal barely keep things fascinating.”

A more nuanced perspective came from Encyclopaedia Metallum, which highlighted the album’s surprising strength in its power ballad: “This is an album so good that even the power ballad sounds good. That’s right, you’ve read this correctly, the power ballad sounds good. Why? ‘Cos its actually got more potential than every rose has Its Thorn. It contains a more haunting and quiet atmosphere to it, making it more unique in its own special way.Instead of making the song more glossy and messy, the synthesizers actually elevate the dark and eerie nature of the ballad.”

A Fan’s Perspective and the MCA Conundrum

Music fan Brian Carr shared his experience: “I have to go old school for this one since it isn’t available to stream from Apple Music in the US. which is kind of a travesty as I listen, because Keel’s The Final Frontier is a damned fine hard rock album. Also a travesty because my cassette is in damned poor condition, especially side two, for some reason, proving that although I’m glad to once again own a tape deck, I’ll never be nostalgic for that tremendously flawed musical format.”

Carr’s comment highlights a key aspect of Keel’s story: their signing with MCA Records. While the label provided a platform for wider distribution, its struggles in promoting rock acts during that era arguably hampered the band’s potential. The limited streaming availability of The Final Frontier today echoes this historical challenge.

Ultimately, The Final Frontier‘s legacy is complex. It showcases Keel’s musical talent while simultaneously illustrating the challenges faced by many hard rock bands navigating the changing landscape of the music industry in the late 1980s. The album’s enduring appeal, despite its mixed reception and distribution hurdles, speaks to the power of its music and the band’s lasting impact on the genre.

Keel’s “The Final Frontier”: A Critical Look at an 80s Hard Rock album

Keel, the American hard rock band formed in the mid-1980s, released The Final Frontier to a mixed reception. While boasting production by the legendary Gene Simmons and undeniable songwriting talent,the album failed to achieve mainstream breakthrough success. This review delves into the diverse opinions surrounding this frequently enough-overlooked piece of 80s rock history.

one reviewer, Chris Elliott, succinctly summarized the album’s visual appeal with the statement: “The cover tells you everything you need to know. That isn’t a compliment.”

While some reviewers found merit in the album, many others expressed disappointment. Adam Ranger,such as,confessed,”Not heard of keel before. So always good to hear a new band,” but ultimately found the album “dull and forgettable,” noting that it failed to distinguish itself from the plethora of similar 80s hard rock acts. He did, however, single out “Nightfall” as a pleasant instrumental track.

Philip Qvist echoed this sentiment, stating, “I had never heard of Keel before this week, and if the 80s version of me had heard of them at the time I probably would have bought one of their records, played it for a couple of times, before putting the album on my ‘Forget About Them’ pile.” He described the album as “plain dull,” highlighting only “Nightfall” and “No Pain No Gain” as standouts.

John Davidson offered a more nuanced perspective. He noted the album’s stronger moments, such as the “rough’n’ready sing-along choruses” on tracks like “Raised On Rock,” but criticized the Bon Jovi-influenced tracks like “Just Another Girl” and the power ballad “Tears Of Fire,” calling the latter “as dire a power ballad as the risible title suggests.” He did praise the Scorpions/Judas Priest influences in “No Pain No Gain” and acknowledged Gene Simmons’ production contributions, concluding with a 6/10 rating.

Other reviews were less forgiving. Jamie Laszlo simply declared, “I’d have to give this one a solid ‘not good’,” while Martin Lewis, a fan who had seen Keel supporting Dio, offered a more positive, albeit comparative, assessment: “Not a bad album, their previous album is way better, The Right To Rock. Saw them supporting Dio, have both albums signed.”

Greg Schwepe’s last-minute review added a touch of holiday cheer: “Last-minute review and hoping Santa will leave some rockin’ gifts under my tree this year. Keel’”

Ultimately, The Final Frontier remains a divisive album. While possessing moments of undeniable energy and catchy choruses, its failure to stand out from the crowded 80s hard rock landscape ultimately contributed to its lack of lasting impact. Whether it’s a hidden gem or a forgettable footnote in rock history depends entirely on the listener’s perspective.

Keel’s “The Final Frontier”: A Nostalgic Look Back at 80s Metal

Released in 1986 and produced by the legendary Gene Simmons of KISS, Keel’s The Final Frontier remains a fascinating artifact of the 80s metal scene. while not a chart-topping sensation, the album offers a compelling blend of hard-rocking energy and surprisingly nuanced songwriting, sparking debate among critics and fans alike.

The album’s success hinges on its simpler tracks. “The title track, Rock And Roll Animal, Raised On Rock, and No Pain No Gain are all decent headbangers,” notes one reviewer.This focus on straightforward, powerful riffs provides a solid foundation for the album’s overall sound. Though, the inclusion of unexpected tracks like a cover of Patti Smith’s “As The Night” adds an element of intrigue, though opinions on its success are divided.

“Hmmm….that sounds familiar…hey, that’s….” Not a bad rendition.

This unexpected cover, a surprising inclusion given the album’s overall style, highlights the album’s eclectic nature. While some critics praise the album’s raw energy and catchy guitar solos,others find the lyrical content somewhat generic and the ballads overly saccharine. The album’s overall impact is a matter of personal preference, with opinions ranging from enthusiastic praise to lukewarm indifference.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for this album. Raised On Rock (written by the brilliantly named Marc Ferrari) is a great song. Nightfall is a lovely piece of music leading into the bludgeon of No Pain No Gain. As The Night always stood out as a truly baffling choice and smacks of filler to pad out the album. I blame Gene Simmons for choosing this song.”

The inclusion of “because The Night,” co-written by Bruce Springsteen,is a point of contention. While some see it as a bold, unexpected choice, others view it as filler. This divergence of opinion underscores the album’s complex legacy within the 80s metal landscape.

“Not convinced Gene Simmons did them too many favours production-wise. Unlike previous album, The Right To Rock, Simmons is absent on the writing credits, which is no bad thing and as an inevitable result The Final Frontier isn’t trying quite as hard in the radio-friendly, pop-metal department. The song writing is still very ordinary though. The ‘power ballads’ are just plain awful and it’s tough to find anything really positive to say about anybody who can make Because The Night sound as bland as Keel do here. 4/10.”

Despite mixed reviews, The Final Frontier holds a unique place in 80s metal history. its blend of hard-hitting tracks and unexpected choices makes it a conversation starter, a testament to the era’s diverse sounds and the enduring legacy of Gene Simmons’ production style. Whether you’re a seasoned metalhead or a casual listener,The Final Frontier offers a glimpse into a specific moment in time,a snapshot of a band striving to find its place in a rapidly evolving musical landscape.

Keel’s “The Final Frontier”: A Hair Metal Retrospective

The 1980s: a decade synonymous with big hair, power ballads, and a distinct brand of hard rock known as hair metal. But even within this seemingly homogenous genre, significant shifts occurred. Bands like Keel, while initially riding the wave of early 80s pop metal, found themselves struggling to stay afloat as the musical landscape changed. Their album, “The Final Frontier,” released in 1986, serves as a compelling case study in this evolution.

The early to mid-80s saw a surge in popularity for bands blending hard rock riffs with pop sensibilities. Though, by the latter half of the decade, the market shifted. “Things like music…other pop culture tend to get lumped together by decade because it’s a convenient way to categorize, not because it makes sense,” observes one music critic. This is particularly true of the hair metal scene. Bands like Keel, Black ‘N Blue, Autograph, Alcatrazz, and King Kobra, along with one-hit wonders such as Quiet Riot and Twisted Sister, either disbanded or saw their sales plummet as a new wave of even poppier metal, frequently enough marketed towards a female audience through power ballads, dominated the airwaves. By 1986, Keel, according to some, were already considered “dinosaur rock.”

“The Final Frontier” itself is a mixed bag. While containing moments of catchy hard rock energy,the album also showcases the band’s struggle to adapt to the changing times. One reviewer notes the questionable decision to cover Patti Smith’s “Because the Night,” highlighting the rigid musical boundaries of the era. Other tracks, such as “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” and “Just Another Girl,” are described as generic “band on the road” songs, with the latter possessing an unexpected level of spite. “Arm And A Leg,” a song about a boxer, feels like a desperate attempt to tap into the “Rocky” soundtrack aesthetic prevalent in the 80s. And the power ballad, “Tears of Fire,” is deemed “truly terrible.”

Despite its flaws, “The Final Frontier” offers a glimpse into the challenges faced by many hair metal bands during the late 80s. The album’s reception, reflected in its final score of 5.66 based on 27 votes (total score 153), underscores the band’s struggle to maintain relevance in a rapidly evolving musical landscape. It serves as a reminder that even within a seemingly unified genre, musical trends and audience preferences can dramatically shift, leaving some bands behind.

Final Score: 5.66 (27 votes cast,total score 153)

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Structure and Focus:



Choose a Narrative: While you touch on different angles (critical reception, ancient context, musical style), consider focusing your piece on a central narrative. Is this a nostalgic exploration of a forgotten gem? A critical reevaluation of an unfairly maligned album? An analysis of its place in Keel’s discography?



Organize Your Thoughts: Think about a clear structure:

Introduction: Hook the reader, establish the significance of the album, and state your main point.

Historical Context: Briefly set the stage for Keel’s career and the 80s hair metal landscape. Why was this a pivotal time for the band? What where the challenges they faced?

Musical analysis: Go deeper into the album’s sound. What are its key strengths and weaknesses? Analyze specific songs, highlighting their musical elements (guitar riffs, vocal melodies, lyrics).

Critical Reception: Summarize the different viewpoints, but go beyond simply quoting reviews. Analyze the reasons behind the varying opinions. What were reviewers responding to?

legacy and Impact: Conclude by reflecting on the album’s lasting impact. Did it influence other bands? Did it gain a cult following? Has it aged well?



Content and Style:



Engage the Reader: Use vivid language to bring the 80s hair metal scene to life. Describe the visual aesthetics, the energy of live shows, and the cultural impact.

Incorporate Personal Voice: Share your own opinions and insights. What resonates with you about this album? What do you find intriguing about Keel’s music?

Music Analysis:

Go beyond general descriptions like “catchy” or “powerful.” Analyze the specific musical elements that make the songs work. Discuss the vocal melodies, guitar riffs, song structure, production techniques, etc.

Research:



Delve Deeper into Keel’s History: Learn about the band’s formation, early influences, and subsequent career trajectory. This will provide valuable context for understanding “The Final Frontier.”

Explore 80s Hair Metal: Research the genre’s key characteristics,major players,and cultural impact.

Interview: If possible, try to connect with either Keel’s members, producers, or fans for firsthand perspectives.



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Proofread: Carefully edit your work for grammar, punctuation, and clarity.



By strengthening your structure, deepening your analysis, and adding personal touches, you can create a truly compelling and insightful piece on keel’s “The Final Frontier.”