THE RODS – Wild Dogs Unchained

Heavy metal band The Rods, formed in 1980, are gearing up to release a brand new studio album titled, Wild Dogs Unchained (2025); the album title just so happens to be a callback to the band’s second album, Wild Dogs (1982). The record contains reimagined classics of their heyday and fresh, off-the-bat, new tracks of the present. As the follow-up to Rattle the Cage (2024), the lineup of David “Rock” Feinstein on guitars and lead vocals, Carl Canedy on drums, and Freddy Villano on bass guitar remains the same. Wild Dogs Unchained was mixed and mastered by Chris Collier, who worked with the band previously on Rattle the Cage.

Wild Dogs Unleashed from the Cage

The album begins with the anthemic and fist-pumping, “Eyes of a Dreamer,” for those who are willing to do anything to make their dreams come true. It’s got a great groove and it’s doomy, yet melodic, at the same time. “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fever” is nothing groundbreaking, as it’s just a song about people with an uncontrollable desire for rock ‘n’ roll. Regardless, it’s a headbanger and the guitar playing is impeccable. “Mirror Mirror,” which unfortunately has the curse of being compared to Def Leppard’s introspective, “Mirror, Mirror (Take a Look into My Eyes);” is a decent track. The chorus lacks a memorable hook and the vocals are bland, but the thick and heavy bass line makes it a worthwhile listen.

“Tears for the Innocent” is an endless cry for those who sacrifice themselves to fight a war that refuses to end; not that it has anything to do with politics at all. Actually, this and “World on Fire” are similar story-wise because of their focus on a world filled with so much injustice and hate, where it’s hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel. “Wild Dogs Unchained” and “Make Me a Believer” are more upbeat and lighthearted, in a sense. The former is about fighting for freedom with nothing standing in their way. The latter is about perseverance in the face of difficulty. Both would also make great “driving down the highway” songs with one fist pumping in the air.

Final Assessment

Wild Dogs Unchained has a vibrant and modern-sounding production that’s pleasant on the ears; it sounds fantastic the whole way through. There are keyboards on the record, but they’re only there to enhance the songs, rather than overpower the main core of bass, guitar, drums, and vocals. The guitars sound incredible; there’s a dirtiness to the guitar tone that gives the record an authentic rock ‘n’ roll vibe. The thick and menacing bass lines are a major highlight of the album because they add groove to these songs. As for the negatives, a good chunk of them could’ve chopped a couple of minutes, especially “Tears for the Innocent” and “World on Fire.” They’re over six minutes long and they drag on forever. Occasionally, Feinstein’s vocals are bland and monotone, as mentioned for “Mirror Mirror,” but that’s a minor complaint, as most of the time, there’s enough melody to balance out the blandness. For those who are interested, give The Rods’ Wild Dogs Unchained a chance!

Album Tracklist

1. Eyes of a Dreamer
2. Rock ‘n’ 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

Band Lineup

David “Rock” Feinstein – guitars and lead vocals
Freddy Villano – bass guitar
Carl Canedy – drums

Guest Musician

Lonnie Park – keyboards and orchestration

Check out the lyric video for “World on Fire” from The Rods’ Wild Dogs Unchained!