Buckcherry: Josh Todd (vocals); Keith Nelson (acoustic & electric guitars, sitar); Yogi (guitar, mandolin, keyboards); Jonathan "JB" Brightman (bass); Devon Glenn (drums).

Additional personnel: Jamie Muhoberac (keyboards); Gia Ciambotti (background vocals).

Engineers: Geoff Walcha, Patrick Thrasher, James McCrone.

Recorded at Sunset Sounds, Hollywood, California.

To paraphrase Frank Zappa paraphrasing Edgard Varese: The present day L.A. headbanger refuses to die. Buckcherry's sophomore album is everything its eponymous debut was and more. It's an uncompromising melange of metal riffs via Aerosmith and AC/DC, punk tempos, the occasional blues-rock influence such as the Black Crowes-like "Porno Star" and the plaintive, almost Stones-ish "Underneath," and the classic snot-nosed rock & roll attitude of early Guns N' Roses.

It's bracing stuff--guitarists Keith Nelson and the charmingly monikered Yogi sound like they learned how to play by eating pieces of Angus Young--and it's often very funny in a deliberately over the top way. (Inspirational verse from the title song: "Life ain't nothing but bitches and money.") TIME BOMB is a non-stop blast, and if the band's name isn't an anagram for a certain legendary '50s rocker, it should be.

Entertainment Weekly (4/6/01, p.120) - "...Dirt-simple shout-alongs like 'Time Bomb' and 'Porno Star' make them real contenders for raunch rock's throw-up crown..." - Rating: B

Q (5/01, p.104) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...'Ridin', 'Porn Star' and 'Slammin' are as disposably trashy as their titles suggest, and even the trowelled-on angst of 'Slit My Wrists' and 'Whiskey In The Morning' sounds like a pool party at a Beverly Hills bordello."

Alternative Press (5/01, p.66) - 3 out of 5 - "...A lot more fun than its predecessor....fully realizing their stomp and swagger, leering without degrading and staying tight and tuneful without departing hard rock for pop or punk..."

NME (Magazine) (3/31/01, p.32) - 7 out of 10 - "...Unmitigated, unreconstructed, unapologetic, balls-out, cock-hard, fret-wanking, big-biceped, testosterone-overdosed, swirling, clanging, hollering heavy bastard frikkin' sh***y glam-pop meddle. And it is a joy to behold..."