Why does HairMetal.club exist?
To be honest, there might not be a profound reason. It all began during the pandemic when I stumbled upon my old hair metal vinyl collection. Simultaneously, I was diving into web development, so I thought, why not combine the two? My primary goal was to rediscover if those old albums still had the same magic as I remembered. Additionally, I wanted to explore if there were any newer bands capturing the spirit of the Sunset Strip days back in the '80s. Is it possible to find a genuinely great hair metal album post-1994?

But wait, is hair metal even a legitimate genre?
Well, not really. However, it serves as a rather precise label when referring to a specific era of '80s rock that gained prominence around the time MTV exploded onto the scene. The concept of presenting pop-like melodies and hooks using heavy metal-esque concepts of loud, screaming electric guitars, heavy drums and flamboyant vocals became a thing - making heavy sounds accessible for a larger audience. The visual aspect of the music became just as significant as the tunes themselves because music videos were the gateway to a wide audience. So, no, hair metal isn't a musical genre, but it undeniably encapsulates a unique essence of what went on.

So, why create a website about it?
I'm not particularly keen on rigidly categorizing musical expressions into genres. When I'm searching for something to listen to, I'm more interested in capturing a particular vibe or atmosphere. And "hair metal" undeniably has its own distinct vibe, despite the paradox of using the same term to describe the music of Poison and W.A.S.P, two markedly different bands in almost every way.

What about power ballads? Are they a real thing?
Absolutely. However, let's clarify one thing: just because a band known for "harder" music releases a slower song, it doesn't necessarily qualify as a power ballad. For instance, I wouldn't classify Mr. Big's "To Be With You" or Extreme's "More Than Words" as power ballads. The "power" element is crucial. In essence, there needs to be a significant, dramatic shift at some point – that's the "power" part of a power ballad. Examples include Warrant's "Heaven" or Cinderella's "Nobody's Fool."

Why should you believe what I say?
You shouldn't, really. I have my opinions, just like everyone else does. My definitions and album reviews simply reflect the perspective of one person, nothing more.

And who am I?
Well, I'm just a guy with a decent record collection from an era when guys often looked like girls.

Best regards, Vito