Bandleader Pete Way founded the band WAYSTED after leaving UFO. Their third album “Save Your Prayers” is now almost a classic of AOR/Hard Rock. I wasn’t really inspired by the two predecessors but this record is different. This is also caused by the new vocalist Danny Vaughn, whose homogenous voice enhances the sound of WAYSTED.

On “Save Your Prayers”, you can find cool and very accessible Hard Rock, which makes a lot of fun. This has nothing to do with soft and cheesy music but it really rocks. Polyphonic choruses, crushing guitars and a production, which was common in the release year 1986. I never liked that US poser bands but their counterparts from UK were much better. Take bands like TOBRUK, SHY, HEAVY PETTIN’ or now WAYSTED, they were all on a higher level than the sleazy crap from the States. Here, you can discover some really good ear candys like “Heaven Tonight”, the heavier “Heroes Die Young”, the jaunty opener “Walls Fall Down” and “Hell Comes Home”, all are gems of Melodic Rock.

As bonus tracks, you get the fast “Fire Under The Wheels” and the John Fogerty cover version “Fortunate Son”, two songs, which are dispensable – but don’t really hurt on the other side. (Online September 11, 2004)