Album Review: Come Back I Am Lonely by Waz (1985)
Alright, let’s get one thing straight—this ain’t no polished, radio-friendly crap. Come Back I Am Lonely is raw, unfiltered, and hits like a punch to the gut. Released in '85 under Bad Axe Productions, this US-born rock beast straddles heavy metal and hard rock with zero apologies. It’s messy, loud, and kinda perfect for anyone who likes their music mean and gritty.
First up, the title track "Come Back, I Am Lonely" grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. This song's got an opening riff that feels like it crawled outta some dark basement rehearsal space where dreams are made—and broken. The vocals? Raw as hell, dude. You can tell Waz wasn't trying to sound pretty; he was just laying it all out there. What sticks with me about this track is how desperate it feels. Like, yeah, we’ve all been lonely at some point, but this guy sounds like he’s gonna tear the world apart if whoever he’s singing about doesn’t come back. No frills, no gimmicks—just pure emotion cranked to eleven.
Then there’s another jam—I won’t spoil which one—but damn, it’s got this breakneck pacing that makes your neck hurt from headbanging before you even realize what hit you. The drums smash into you like a freight train while the guitar squeals and wails like it’s possessed. Honestly, it’s tracks like these that remind you why heavy metal ever mattered in the first place. It’s not about being “cool” or fitting into whatever trend was happening back then—it’s about chaos and catharsis. And man, does this album deliver on both fronts.
Now, sure, this record isn’t flawless. Some of the production’s rough around the edges, and yeah, maybe the lyrics lean a little too much into melodrama sometimes. But screw it—that’s part of its charm. It’s real. It’s human. And honestly? If you wanna hear something soulless and overproduced, go listen to whatever garbage they’re playing on the radio today.
Here’s the kicker though—listening to this album now, decades later, feels kinda haunting. Heavy metal might’ve moved on, gotten shinier, more technical, whatever. But albums like Come Back I Am Lonely? They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. Maybe they never will again. And honestly? That kinda pisses me off. So grab a beer, crank this sucker up, and remember what real rock n’ roll sounds like.
Oh, and hey—if anyone knows where Waz is these days, tell him we still need him.
