THE RODS (Heavy Metal Legends! – USA 🇺🇸 ) – “Wild Dogs Unchained” Album Review – Will be released on September 5, 2025 via Massacre Records #TheRods #AlbumReview #HeavyMetal

Album Review by – John Erigo/KICKASS FOREVER

TRACK LISTING:
1. Eyes Of A Dreamer
2. Rock And Roll Fever
3. Mirror Mirror
4. Tears For The Innocent
5. Wild Dogs Unchained
6. Time To Rock
7. Run Run Run
8. World On Fire
9. Make Me A Believer
10. Hurricane

Producer: The Rods
Mixing / Mastering: Chris Collier @ CMC21 Productions, Las Vegas, USA
Guitar & vocal tracks: Lonnie Park @ Barncastle Studio, Freeville, NY
Bass tracks: Freddy Villano @ Flying V Studios, Ithaca, USA
Drum tracks: Carl Canedy @ Nire Studios, Carbondale, USA
Photos: Roger William Theise
Artwork: Mark Rizzo

THE RODS have been a Heavy Metal institute since the very early 1980’s. It’s great to see them continue their already stellar legacy with new music. Their new album “WILD DOGS UNCHAINED” which comes out on September 5, 2025 via Massacre Records (Thanks to PR guru DUSTIN HARDMAN for the advance) is yet another solid chapter in the NY band’s career. We as metal fans should treasure bands like The Rods, who have been around for decades flying the flag for metal, laying down the groundwork many years ago for bands to follow.

The first single/video from the album is “World On Fire” – check it out —>

On this offering The Rods serve up some new fresh songs and also add some reimagined versions of some classic songs like “Hurricane” and the title track “Wild Dogs Unchained” (which is a new version of the song “Wild Dogs”). The band presents a more mature and seasoned sound on this album. The keyboards are more present and the tempo of most of the songs is mid speed. That doesn’t mean this doesn’t rock (it’s The fucking RODS for God’s sake!!) but it does have a different vibe than their older material.

 

The press release includes a great feature as David “Rock” Feinstein breaks down the meaning of each tune on the album:

TRACK BY TRACK:

EYES OF A DREAMER, David Feinstein
This song is about people wanting to fulfill their dreams; never to worry how big your dreams are, or how hard it may be to achieve them. Even through tough times, be persistent and continue with determination to make your dreams in life reality.

ROCK AND ROLL FEVER, David Feinstein
This song is about musicians who are strong-willed and live for their music. Music to these individuals, as well as fans, becomes like a drug to them. It’s an addiction. It makes you feel good making the music and listening to the music. It makes the fans feel good, as well as the performers playing the music. Everybody’s got the “fever.”

MIRROR MIRROR, David Feinstein
This song is about looking at yourself. What do you think of yourself? What kind of person do you think you are? What kind of person should you be? Look in the mirror, “Are you evil or divine?”

TEARS FOR THE INNOCENT, David Feinstein
This song is about senseless war, and the innocent people that die because of it. We cry for those innocent people and feel sorry for what they have lost. Their homes, their land, their lives.

WILD DOGS UNCHAINED David Feinstein
Carl Canedy is the writer of this particular song, but I think I can speak for him in saying that this song is about fighting to be free. It pertains to all people. Fight for your freedom.

TIME TO ROCK, David Feinstein
For a rock musician, it is always “Time to Rock.” It’s anticipating an event or concert that you will be playing at. The excitement, the lights, the electrify in the air. It’s always a rush when it’s “Time to Rock.”

RUN RUN RUN, David Feinstein
This song is about being free. Casting your fate to the wind. More like a biker anthem. A feeling that I think most of us would like to feel sometime. To know the feeling of what it’s like to really be free.

WORLD ON FIRE, David Feinstein
Inspired by the state that our world is in right now. Wars, hunger, homelessness. It’s about having faith that our world will get better and asking, “What can we do to help make that happen?”

MAKE ME A BELIEVER, David Feinstein
This song is about perseverance. No matter how hard things get in life, to stand up and do what is needed to make things better. To be a believer and to always fight for what is right.

HURRICANE, David Feinstein
This song is about a car called “Hurricane” owned by an eager person who is possessed with the idea that his car is the best, fastest car on the street. “Hurricane” is always ready for a challenge.

For an OG Headbanger like me, it brings a smile to my face to see new music from The Rods in my inbox. We all tend to forget these guys are human, and Father Time is undefeated. It’s great that The Rods are still playing it loud, rolling down the metal highways and giving their rabid fanbase an unchained experience. So, play it loud friends – this is a kick ass album!!!

You can order the album here —> Order: Massacre Records

THE RODS
LINE-UP:

David “Rock” Feinstein – guitar/vocals
Freddy Villano – bass
Carl Canedy – drums

Guest Musicians:
Lonnie Park – keyboards & orchestration

 

DISCOGRAPHY
1980 – Rock Hard
1981 – The Rods
1982 – Wild Dogs
1983 – In The Raw
1983 – Live
1984 – Let Them Eat Metal
1986 – Hollywoord (released as Canedy, Feinstein, Bordonaro & Caudle)
1986 – Heavier Than Thou
2011 – Vengeance
2019 – Brotherhood Of Metal
2022 – Live At Rose Hall
2024 – Rattle The Cage
2025 – Wild Dogs Unchained

For More Info Visit:
Official Website
Facebook
Instagram
Link Tree for The Rods