Second Coming

Shotgun Messiah was never in a class with Guns N' Roses, Aerosmith, or Motley Crue; nor did the L.A.-based band achieve great commercial success. Nonetheless, Messiah cranked out their share of enjoyable and infectious -- if derivative -- hard rock/heavy metal, and the Angelinos reached their creative peak with Second Coming. The CD gets off to a rather clichéd and unimpressive start with "Sexdrugsrockn'roll," but when Messiah tears into "Trouble," "Heartbreak Blvd," and "Can't Fool Me" -- which are among the foursome's best and most focused songs -- listeners will be glad to have heard Second Coming. Though the album falls short of being a gem and won't win any awards for innovation, it's a respectable effort from a band who deserved more attention than they received. For headbangers who've never heard Messiah, this decent album would be the best starting point. Recommended.