Total Eclipse (1992)

When Total Eclipse was formed in the early '90s, some of its members had impressive resumes. Lead singer Bernie K had been with the superb all-black heavy metal band Sound Barrier, while guitarist Victor Johnson had been a member of the fun and slightly less obscure Bus Boys. This metal/hard rock release -- sort of Living Colour meets Mother's Finest meets Led Zeppelin -- isn't as original as either Sound Barrier or the Bus Boys, but it isn't anything to be embarrassed by either. The rockers bring plenty of spirit and ... Read More

When Total Eclipse was formed in the early '90s, some of its members had impressive resumes. Lead singer Bernie K had been with the superb all-black heavy metal band Sound Barrier, while guitarist Victor Johnson had been a member of the fun and slightly less obscure Bus Boys. This metal/hard rock release -- sort of Living Colour meets Mother's Finest meets Led Zeppelin -- isn't as original as either Sound Barrier or the Bus Boys, but it isn't anything to be embarrassed by either. The rockers bring plenty of spirit and positive aggression to originals like "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark," "Fire in the Rain" and "Get Outta Yo' Baby," as well as the Commodores' 1973 funk hit "Slippery When Wet," which works surprisingly well in a metal setting. Regrettably, the same adjective that describes Barrier and the Bus Boys also describes Eclipse: obscure. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi Read Less