Originally, the main attraction of
the Brides of Destruction for many was Nikki Sixx getting back to good old-fashioned heavy metal. With
Mötley Crüe on what appeared to be an indefinite hiatus,
the Brides (or as they're known by fans,
B.O.D.) seemed to be Sixx's new full-time gig. But with renewed interest in
the Crüe thanks to their best-selling tell-all book, The Dirt, and the megabucks that a reunion tour would bring, Sixx returned to
the Crüe after only a single
B.O.D. album, 2004's
Here Come the Brides. Instead of waiting for Sixx to return from his tour of duty with
the Crüe,
Tracii Guns and company decided to forge ahead without their former leader, issuing a follow-up in quick succession, 2005's
Runaway Brides. The group has enlisted the aid of renowned producer Andy Johns (who has worked with such giants as
Led Zeppelin and
the Who...and
Cinderella), who co-produces the disc with
Guns. What you get is an album that follows the direction of the debut -- raw, in your face, guitar-riff rock, with lyrics that usually focus on the darker side of life, as evidenced by the
Motörhead-esque "Dead Man's Ruin" and the
Guns N' Roses-esque "White Trash." Although he's no longer in the band, Sixx offers some help in the songwriting department, as he co-penned several tracks prior to his departure ("Criminal," "This Time Around," and "Blown Away"). Also included is something that is sure to become a phenomenon in the world of hard rock/heavy metal -- a tribute to fallen guitar hero
Dimebag Darrell, with the album-closing "Dimes in Heaven." ~ Greg Prato