Jeff Scott Soto has worked with some massive players so a hook up with David Ellefson, formerly of Megadeth, is no surprise. The two were working together back in March 2021 and had released a single which was a cover of Riot’s “Swords & Tequila” and I have to say it was pretty damn great. But two months later, Ellefson saw himself wrapped up on a major sex video scandal. The two decided to let things lie low for a long while and about a year later, they finally announced that a full album from the two would be coming soon. And finally on October 7, 2022, the album “Vacation in the Underworld” saw the light of day. But no “Swords & Tequila” sadly.

The two guys had a little help with Andy Martongelli on guitar. He is with the metal band Arthemis and he and David had been writing some songs together for a future project. David thought his long time friend, Jeff Scott Soto would be great for these songs. They needed a drummer so Paulo Caridi has played in Hollow Haze, The Bad Guy Experiment, and Cosmic Dead Ringers was brought in to complete the band. The sound of this band is heavy. It is a cross between Thrash, Metal and Melodic Rock. Jeff has a band that is for his metal side called Soto, but that band was missing the songs. Let me tell you, the songs are on here!!!

When this project was announced, I immediately went and pre-ordered the CD bundle which was signed by both David and Jeff as you can see from the top picture of this post. It also came with a 4×4 limited card, a couple stickers and a guitar pick as you can see below. And here is the thing. About 3 weeks before it’s release, I saw and ad for the album and I completely forgot I had ordered this already a few months earlier…so…I ordered it…AGAIN! Yes, I have two signed copies of the album. Man, I’m getting old. That was definitely a mistake on my part…but there is a mistake on the band’s part too. The back cover (above) shows 15 tracks…but there are only 14. Someone skipped track 12 and went from 11 to 13 on the track numbers…OOPS!! Enough, let’s get to the music.

The album opens with the title track, “Vacation in the Underworld”. The eerie, menacing guitar solo opens and when the drums hit, the power is even darker and more ominous. When the song kicks in, those double kick drums are so threatening and then Jeff finally comes in on vocals and all is right with the world or the underworld. The song is pure metal with a Power metal vibe to it. I love the heaviness and the power…it is a killer opener.

“Like a Bullet” is a little more melodic with an anthemic rock feel. More great riffage from Andy and the rhythm section has a killer groove. I can really hear David’s bass on this one thumping away. Jeff attacks the vocals and the chorus on here is huge and has a great hook. Another devastatingly great song.

The heaviness is brought right back with “Sharpen the Sword” and it is intense. The incredible speed of the double kick drums is matched equally by the speedy fingers of Mark on guitar. The lyrics are little on the cheesy side, but the music has such a bite it keeps you focused.

“The Reason” is a slower track with a darker tone to it, but it ain’t a ballad. The bass work is solid here and hammers it home against a backdrop of metallic tones and Jeff’s vocals are really highlighted here and are front and center. This is they type of song that David probably went…yeah…we have the right singer for this band. And then Andy’s solo is perfectly nuanced in the song.

The album has been intense so far and now it is time to have some fun. “S.T.N.” or “Something To Nothing” is the song for that fun. A real headbanger with contagious energy. It has a punk edge with a metal backing and for me screams good time. Everyone’s balls-to-the-walls attitude is a total blast and makes this a real treat on the album.

“The Revolution” reminds me a little of Jeff’s Yngwie and Sons of Apollo work both lyrically and musically. It feels a little proggy and metal at the same time. There is more fantastic drum work by Paulo and killer guitar work by Andy. Musically the song is on fire, but lyrically a little awkward at times for me. But Jeff does let out a great scream during the song.

“Celebrity Trash” is more melodic and that opener actually made me think of the band Hole. But the rest is pure ES. The song is in the hard melodic rock realm which is Jeff’s wheelhouse and he brings it on this one. This would be in the category of another fun, rocking track. I really like this energy.

We go back to the heaviness with “Live to Die Another Day”. More intense drumming, dramatic vocals, hard as nails bass and rip-roaring guitars. This one feels heavy for the sake of being heavy. It is too one-dimensional for me even though there is pretty killer guitar solo…one of the better ones, but the song does little else for me.

“The Day Before Tomorrow” is a beautiful, atmospheric sounding song with some of David’s best bass work. The song sounds dramatic and theatrical with the violins and the incredible vocal prowess of angel with Frozen Crown’s vocalist Jade Etro singing with Jeff. She brings a softer voice to accompany Jeff and it is one of the more interesting songs on the album. A nice change of pace.

Then we get a short, bass heavy instrumental, “Hercules”, from Ellefson intermixed with Andy’s guitar and Paulo’s drums. A short and sweet track that leads us in to the final track “Rise to Win” even though a little awkward fade out. “Rise to Win” has a great litlte bass solo to open before Jeff obliterates the vocals backed by some great guitar harmonies and some dynamically driven drum beats. A solid closer and the band goes out with a bang.

The CD and Digital copes have bonus tracks and the first one is unlike anything on the album. It is a ballad by Jeff Scott Soto called “Out of the Blue”. It is a melancholic, dramatic, sonically stunning ballad that only Jeff can do. It is basically a piano and Jeff’s voice. I personally love it even if it feels like nothing this album has to offer. I think it is one of the best he’s done in quite some time.

“Lone Star” gives us some distorted guitars with a more raw rocking feel. Jeff’s vocals are just as raw and rough with a great grit. The chorus is massive and has this grand 80’s anthem feel to it. A total rocker and better than some of the songs on the album. This one is the hidden gem and takes me back to great time in music. I can see this one slaying it live.

Finally, we are at the last track and say that with a little a sadness as I have loved this album. “Writings on the Wall” is another ballad but with a little more punch. David’s bass lays a sweepingly stunning groove and only matched by Jeff’s smooth vocals. There is a grace that radiates from the song that I can’t describe. Simply perfection. Now, this is how you close out an album.

Track Listing:

1. Vacation in the Underworld – Keeper
2. Like a Bullet – Keeper
3. Sharpen the Sword – Keeper (1/2 Point)
4. The Reason – Keeper
5. S.T.N. – Keeper
6. The Revolution – Keeper (1/2 Point)
7. Celebrity Trash – Keeper
8. Live to Die Another Day – Delete
9. The Day Before Tomorrow – Keeper
10. Hercules – Keeper
11. Rise to Win – Keeper
12. Out of the Blue (Bonus Track) – Keeper
13. Lone Star (Bonus Track) – Keeper
14. Writing on the Wall (Bonus Track) – Keeper

The Track Score is 12 out of 14 Tracks or 86%.  This is the metal album I’ve always wanted Jeff to make. His SOTO albums don’t hold a candle to this masterpiece.  David Ellefson and Andy Martongelli were able to give Jeff songs that are heads and shoulders above what he has had recently.  A great writing duo.  Throw in Paulo’s drumming and you have a solid band.  I hope one day we get more.  The album is heavy, with elements of Power Metal, Thrash and Melodic rock and they all work well as a cohesive piece.  Plus, Jeff sounded as great as usual as the man can do no wrong vocally.  I found the album to be dynamic with both darker and more upbeat anthemic elements and with the ballads on the bonus tracks a little tender as well. A well rounded album and one of the best in years for Jeff.  Please give us more. My Overall Score is a 4.5 out of 5.0 Stars.  Get this one if you can.

UP NEXT: SLAM – SLAM (2023)

THE JEFF SCOTT SOTO SERIES:

1. Panther – ‘Panther’ (1986) – recorded in 1984
2. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Rising Force’ (1984)
3. Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force – ‘Marching Out’ (1985)
4. Kuni – ‘Lookin’ For Action’ (1988)
5. Kryst the Conqueror – ‘Deliver Us From Evil’ (1989) / ‘Soldiers of Light: The Complete Recordings (2019)
6. Eyes – ‘Eyes’ (1990)
7. Eyes – “Nobody Said It Was Easy” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
8. Talisman – ‘Talisman’ (1990)
9. Talisman – “I’ll Be Waiting” (1990) – 7″ Single – Bonus Edition
10. Skrapp Mettle – ‘Sensitive’ (1991)
11. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Eternal Prisoner’ (1992)
12. Bakteria – ‘Deficate! Suffocate! Mutilate! Masturbate!’ (1992 / 2009)
13. Eyes – ‘Windows of the Soul’ (1993)
14. Talisman – ‘Genesis’ (1993)
15. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘The Ballads’ (1993)
16. Biker Mice From Mars – ‘Biker Mice From Mars (Soundtrack)’ (1993)
17. Takara – ‘Eternal Faith’ (1993)
18. Talisman – ‘5 Out Of 5 (Live in Japan)’ (1994)
19. Talisman – ‘Humanimal’ (1994)
20. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Between the Walls’ (1994)
21. Gary Schutt – ‘Sentimetal’ (1994)
22. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Love Parade’ (1994)
23. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Made in Germany (Live)’ (1995)
24. Takara – ‘Taste of Heaven’ (1995)
25. Talisman – ‘Life’ (1995)
26. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Black Moon Pyramid’ (1996)
27. Human Clay – ‘Human Clay’ (1996)
28. Talisman – ‘Best of’ (1996)
29. Axel Rudi Pell – ‘Magic’ (1997)
30. Human Clay – ‘U4IA’ (1997)
31. Boogie Knights – ‘Welcome to the Jungle Boogie’ (1997)
32. Takara – ‘Blind in Paradise’ (1998)
33. Talisman – ‘Truth’ (1998)
34. ‘Rock Star: Music from the Motion Picture (Soundtrack)’ – Various Artists (2001)
35. Humanimal – ‘Humanimal’ (2002)
36. Humanimal – Find My Way Home: Limited Edition E.P. (2002)
37. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Holding On E.P.’ (2002)
38. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Prism’ (2002)
39. Talisman – ‘Live at Sweden Rock Festival’ (2002)
40. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘JSS Live at the Gods 2002’ (2003)
41. Talisman – ‘Cats & Dogs’ (2003)
42. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Believe in Me E.P.’ (2004
43. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Lost in the Translation’ (2004)
44. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at the Queen Convention 2003’ (2004)
45. Soul SirkUS – ‘World Play’ (2004/2005)
46. Talisman – ‘Five Men Live’ (2005)
47. Talisman – ‘World’s Best Kept Secret DVD (2005)
48. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Essential Ballads’ (2006)
49. Journey – ‘Live from Atlanta (Bootleg)’ (2006)
50. Talisman – ‘7’ (2006)
51. Talisman – The Albums Ranked Worst to First
52. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘B-Sides’ (2006)
53. Redlist – ‘Ignorance’ (2007)
54. Jeff Scott Soto – LA Rocks Demo / Vinnie Vincent Demo 1988 (2008)
55. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Beautiful Mess’ (2009)
56. Jeff Scott Soto – “21st Century” / “Gin & Tonic Sky” CD Single (2009) – Bonus Edition
57. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘One Night in Madrid’ (2009)
58. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – ‘Night Castle’ (2009)
59. W.E.T. – ‘W.E.T.’ (2009)
60. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live at Firefest 2008’ (2010)
61. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Damage Control’ (2012)
62. W.E.T. – ‘Rise Up’ (2013)
63. W.E.T. – ‘One Live in Stockholm’ (2014)
64. Jeff Scott Soto – The Authorized Biography (2014)
65. SOTO – ‘Inside the Vertigo’ (2015)
66. Joel Hoekstra’s 13 – Dying to Live (2015)
67. SOTO – ‘Divak’ (2016)
68. Sons of Apollo – ‘Psychotic Symphony’ (2017)
69. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Retribution’ (2017)
70. W.E.T. – ‘Earthrage’ (2018)
71. SOTO – ‘Origami’ (2019)
72. Sons of Apollo – ‘Live With the Plovdiv Psychotic Symphony’ (2019)
73. Sons of Apollo – ‘MMXX’ (2020)
74. Talisman – “Never Die (A Song For Marcel)” – 7″ Single (2020)
75. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Live and Loud in Milan 2019’ (2020)
76. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)’ (2020)
77. SOTO – ‘Revision’ (2020)
78. W.E.T. – ‘Retransmission’ (2021)
79. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘The Duets Collection, Vol. 1’ (2021)
80. Jeff Scott Soto – ‘Complicated’ (2022)
81. Jeff Scott Soto – The Solo Albums Ranked Worst to First
82. Ellefson/Soto – ‘Vacation in the Underworld’ (2022)
83. Slam – Slam (2023)
84. Jeff Scott Soto – ALL THE ALBUMS Ranked Worst to First
85. Jeff Scott Soto / Jason Bieler – Live In Concert (2022) – Bonus Edition
86. Jeff Scotto Soto / Jason Bieler – Live in Concert (2023) – Bonus Edition