The self-titled debut album by
Noiseworks was a slice of hard rock in the tradition of Australian pub-rock acts like the Angels, but also made use of the trends of the day, namely the Europe-style keyboards, all through this album.
Noiseworks, however, were never as bombastic as Europe, and the album was a genuinely cohesive effort. The songwriting was strong, and lead singer Jon Stevens was a charismatic figurehead for the band.
Noiseworks covered a range of styles, including power ballads like "River of Tears" and "Welcome to the World," although these never plumbed the saccharine depths of ballads by bands like
Bon Jovi. However,
Noiseworks were better at straightforward rock songs: "No Lies," "Little Bit More" and the standout track from this album -- "Take Me Back" -- are three examples. This album saw
Noiseworks gain considerable attention in Australia; it was an excellent debut from one of the better metal bands of the late 1980s. ~ Jonathan Lewis