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Finland's OZ has always been associated with the NWOBHM despite not hailing from Britain. Regardless of nationality, the band's style was always loose, frantic and a shitload of fun. I played my cassette copy of Fire in the Brain until it wore out.

After a long period of inactivity the band is back with three "original" members, singer Ape De Martini, bassist Jay C. Blade and drummer Mark Ruffneck, and a new album, Burning Leather. Burning Leather features five new songs and six re-recordings of "hits" from the band's earlier works, Fire in the Brain, III Warning and the EP Turn the Cross Upside Down. The album is sequenced with new song followed by a classic then back to a new song and so forth. If it weren't for the fact that I am familiar with their earlier works I would have had no idea that ALL these songs weren't written nearly 30 years ago. Ape De Martini sings as powerfully today as he did in the 80s. His wild, shouted choruses give both new and old songs an infectious quality. The whole album is a fantastic trip back to the heyday of Heavy Metal and shows that OZ still know how to write great songs.

I am psyched that one of my early favorites is not only back, but they sound better than ever. For fans of the NWOBHM and 80s Metal in general, Burning Leather is a must have.