''Second Heat'' is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Racer X, was released on February 11, 1987, through

Shrapnel Records Shrapnel Records is an American record label founded in 1980 by record producer Mike Varney. History Guitarist Marty Friedman (formerly of Megadeth and Cacophony), one of the label's most successful artists, first appeared on the album ''Unsu ...

Critical reception

In a contemporary review, ''

Rock Hard "Rock Hard" is a single by the Beastie Boys, released by Def Jam Records on 12" in 1984. The track contains samples from the AC/DC song "Back in Black", which was used without obtaining legal permission, causing the record to be withdraw ...

'' defines ''Second Heat'' "a thoroughly convincing piece of work, which can also boast an unusually impressive production" and predicted that

Paul Gilbert Paul Brandon Gilbert is an American hard rock and heavy metal guitarist. He is the co-founder of the band Mr. Big, and was also a member of Racer X, with whom he released several albums. In 1996, Gilbert launched a solo career, for which h ...

would be "the first Shrapnel guitarist, who will make a name for himself beyond the circle of guitar freaks." Andy Hinds at

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

considered ''Second Heat'' superior to its predecessor and described it as having "some of the most amazing dual-guitar work ever recorded" thanks to the addition of second guitarist Bruce Bouillet in accompaniment with Gilbert. The rhythm section of drummer

Scott Travis Mark Scott Travis (born September 6, 1961) is an American metal musician, best known as the drummer for the English heavy metal band Judas Priest, the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy and the supergroup Elegant Weapons. He was also a longtime member ...

and bassist

John Alderete Juan Alderete de la Peña (born September 5, 1963) is an American musician, best known as the longtime bassist of Racer X, the Mars Volta and Marilyn Manson. Biography Alderete was born in Los Angeles, California the fourth of five children. ...

was also praised as being "one of the most formidable around." Highlights listed included "Hammer Away", "Living the Hard Way" and the

instrumental An instrumental is a recording normally without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through semantic widening, a broader sense of the word song may refer to instru ...

"Scarified". However, criticism was directed at the band's cover of " Moonage Daydream" by

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

: Hinds dismissed it as a "backdrop for (you guessed it!) more shredding" at the expense of "all the charm and subtlety of the original". Canadian journalist

Martin Popoff Martin Popoff (born April 28, 1963) is a Canadian music journalist, critic and author. He is mainly known for writing about the genre of heavy metal music. The senior editor and co-founder of ''Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles'', he has additionally ...

found the album "hobbled by the rudimentary, cloddish, New Jersey rock club tones" and cited as the "most memorable thing about this album" the cover of

Judas Priest Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in th ...

's "Heart of a Lion", "apparently given to the band by Halford without

Downings Downings or Downies () is a ''Gaeltacht'' village and townland on the Rosguill peninsula in County Donegal, Ireland. The village is on the shores of Sheephaven Bay on the north coast of Ireland. Name As the village is in a ''Gaeltacht'' district ...

's or

Tipton Tipton is an industrial town in the West Midlands in England with a population of around 38,777 at the 2011 UK Census. It is located northwest of Birmingham. Tipton was once one of the most heavily industrialised towns in the Black Country, w ...

's knowledge." In 2005, ''Second Heat'' was ranked No. 480 in ''Rock Hard'' magazine's book of ''The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time''.

Track listing

Personnel

Racer X * Jeff Martin – vocals *

– guitar * Bruce Bouillet – guitar *

Juan Alderete Juan Alderete de la Peña (born September 5, 1963) is an American musician, best known as the longtime bassist of Racer X, the Mars Volta and Marilyn Manson. Biography Alderete was born in Los Angeles, California the fourth of five children. ...

– bass *

– drums Additional musicians *Mike Mani – keyboard (tracks 4, 6) Technical *Steve Fontano – producer, engineer *Dino Alden – assistant engineer *George Horn – mastering at

Fantasy Studios Fantasy Studios was a music recording studio in Berkeley, California, at the Zaentz Media Center, known for its recording of award-winning albums including Journey's ''Escape'' and Green Day's ''Dookie''. Built as a private recording studio for ...

in Berkeley, California *

Mike Varney Mike Varney is an American record producer and music publisher. He is the founder of the Shrapnel Label Group, which includes Shrapnel Records, Tone Center Records, and Blues Bureau International. He also has a 50% stake in Magna Carta Record ...

– executive producer *Dino Alden – coordinator *

Guy Aitchison Guy Aitchison (born 1968) is an American tattoo artist and painter. He was featured on the tattoo reality television shows ''LA Ink'' and ''Tattoo Wars''. Biography Guy Aitchison was born in Michigan. He began painting album covers in 1985 and ...

– cover art

References

External links

In Review: Racer X "Second Heat"
at Guitar Nine Records {{Authority control Racer X (band) albums 1987 albums Shrapnel Records albums Albums produced by Mike Varney