CJSS: Praise The Loud (Divebomb, 1986/2020)

Talk about striking while the iron was hot. American heavy metal band CJSS (featuring guitar hotshot David Chastain, vocalist Russell Jinkins, bassist Mike Skimmerhorn and drummer Les Sharp) had just released their debut album (World Gone Mad) earlier in 1986, but they turned around and recorded a follow-up album a few months later. Their second album was titled Praise The Loud, and it picked up right where World Gone Mad left off.

Praise The Loud is another hard-hitting (but still melodic) heavy metal album that was right in line with Chastain’s main band (you know, Chastain) as well as the whole US heavy metal sound of that era (think Armored Saint, Leatherwolf, Metal Church and Malice). It has a great energy, the vocals are dynamic and of course Chastain is in full shredding glory, especially on the instrumental “Thunder And Lightning.” If it differs from World Gone Mad at all it’s probably the fact that the songs are a bit better on this album.

“Citizen Of Hell,” “Praise The Loud” and “Land Of The Free” are favorites, but the whole album smokes. It’s a great example of why heavy metal in the mid ’80s was so much fun, and is a must-have for Chastain fans as well as serious fans and collectors of classic heavy metal.

Reissue Notes: While it appeared previously on a 2-on-1 collection, Praise The Loud had not received a proper CD release…until now. The Divebomb label has delivered a Deluxe Edition reissue that includes the full album, newly remastered by Jamie King, as well as four rare bonus demo tracks that have never appeared on CD before. It also includes expanded liner notes with a new interview with David Chastain and Russell Jinkins. It’s the perfect way to add this lost gem to your collection.