Project Driver
Project: Driver is a studio album by the heavy metal supergroup M.A.R.S., released in 1986 through Shrapnel Records (United States) and Roadrunner Records (Europe). The band's name is made up of the initial of each musician's last name: guitarist Tony MacAlpine, drummer Tommy Aldridge, singer Rob Rock, and bassist Rudy Sarzo. Craig Goldy was their original guitarist, but he left after joining Dio. Critical reception. In a very positive contemporary review, "Rock Hard" called the album "exemplary" and associated the music to Yngwie Malmsteen's 1984 album "Rising Force", "not only because of the breathtaking solos  of Tony MacAlpine, but also because of some songwriting parallels", offering "a colorful bouquet of musical diversity" with "something for everyone." Modern reviews are less positive. Andy Hinds at AllMusic wrote that "while it masquerades as a Whitesnake-styled group effort, "Project: Driver" seems like another MacAlpine album with vocals added." Rob Rock was criticized as embodying "all the big-hair clichés of '80s heavy metal", while songs such as "Slave to My Touch", "Stand Up and Fight" and "Fantasy" were labeled "cheesy" and "cringe-inducing." Praise was given to MacAlpine's guitar playing, which Hinds described as "dizzying" and  interesting. Canadian journalist Martin Popoff defined the project as "one of those doomed and hasty assemblages of rock journeymen utterly without synergy" and called the music "unbranded ear-splitting speed metal".