Stripwired - Written by Michael Sutton

There is no denying who Stripwired sounds like; it's a comparison they cannot - or probably shouldn't have to - shake off. Stripwired is to AC/DC what Soundgarden was to Led Zeppelin. Upon first listen to Stripwired, their resemblance to AC/DC is so uncanny that you can barely tell them apart. However, this is no plagiarist move as Stripwired have mercilessly catchy, deliciously head-banging original tracks of their own with electrifying, magnetic musicianship. AC/DC hasn't been this inspired in two decades.The opener, "Doghouse," is straight from the AC/DC recipe book: butt-shaking guitar grooves and a shouted, beer-guzzling chorus. AC/DC were the Ramones of heavy metal, keeping everything basic, defiantly stupid, and melodic as hell. For all of AC/DC's amp thunder, those riffs packed more pop hooks than a Cars song. Similarly, Stripwired focuses on keeping the energy level at a party pace. Starting with "Doghouse," Stripwired unreel one blistering hard-rock punch after another. "Another Shot" and "Drop the Bomb" continue the adrenalin pumping.Where Stripwired truly make the transition from AC/DC fans to possible AC/DC successors is "Backdoor." With a swaggering swamp-blues intro reminiscent of Tom Petty's "Running Down a Dream," "Backdoor" blasts off with hilariously sexually provocative lyrics and mesmerizing group dynamics. It's one of the best rockers in ages!AC/DC issues aside, what Stripwired have truly done is master the rock & roll formula. When leader Darren Caperna sings, "If she's got you by the balls, walk away," in "Walk Away," the result isn't so much an AC/DC rip-off but an affirmation of rock & roll as catharsis through no-bullshit language and big, boozed-up guitars.