Roadrunner Records 1988
Yet another band I don't remember ever hearing about back in the day... but based on the band photo it's easy to understand why someone might ignore, or attempt to expunge all memory of QUICK CHANGE. Said photo had me convinced that this record would truly suck, but thankfully my expectations weren't met. Circus Of Death is fairly typical of what was happening in late-80s Thrash, there's a bit of a skateboard/Crossover vibe (maybe it's just that goddamn flipped up hat) and a distinct Bay Area influence... kinda like a less manic, less intense VIO-LENCE, with vocals that are not unlike Sean Killian's or Russ from FORBIDDEN. Lots of Thrash bands, INDESTRUCTIBLE NOISE COMMAND for instance, were unable to write songs that didn't bore the shit outta the listener with 500 generic riffs strung together for interminable amounts of time - not so with QUICK CHANGE. The songs are concise, heavy, and surprisingly good. A Neo-Thrash fan's dream!
DOWNLOAD: QuickChange-CircusOfDeath.rar (72.58 MB)
QUICK CHANGE • Circus Of Death LP
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
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16 comments:
Kept seeing this in the bins at the same store you must've scored it from (we call it 'The Junk Shop') and wondering...guess I should've taken the bite, at least after it moved from TUESDAY to the Various Metal bin. On the other hand, I did score some pretty choice platters during that extended run of OG metal wax last month...
Oh shit... what did you find? I was left with all the sloppy seconds: QUICK CHANGE, LOSS FOR WORDS, TSA, etc.
...I didn't know they had daily bins for vinyl. I've probably missed out on all kindsa good stuff.
Something funny- I bought the Metal Mind CD reissue of this album on a whim, as I had never heard of the band, despite being a thrash fan in the correct time frame to have noticed them/seen their album in the store. The liner notes are hilarious, over-the-top declarations about how huge they were and how they nearly made it to the next level. While I am not from Wisconsin, as Quick Change apparently were, as a fellow mid-westerner, I never noticed them the first time around. Hmmm.
Gah, too much to list...some that come to mind include Sledgehammer LP OG, 2nd Witchfynde LP, "Metal for Muthas" LP, 2nd Excel LP, 1st Cryptic Slaughter LP, Upper Echelon 12" (!), 1st Liege Lord LP, Warhorse 12", Sad Iron LP, 2nd Target LP, the OG press of that same TSA LP you got (but titled Heavy Heavy Metal, which I found irresistible), a couple Motorhead 12"s, Cerebus LP, Chateaux "Highly Strung" LP, Sortilege LP (French), Slaughter "Fuck of Death" pic LP, Slaughter "Strappado" pic LP....also a tonne of old hardcore/punk and a bunch of nice mod/ska Jap pressings and bootlegs, one of which I sold for $270. This isn't even including the 45s.
Motherfucker! All last month... damn that's an amazing haul.
Hi there!
You have a great blog! Keep it going...
Can you reupload this album? One of the songs (Sea Witch) is corrupt :(
Thanks for your time and efforts.
Well, I have to admit that I ended up selling a few of those to Pete at Hits & Misses (I'm truly broke right now, and sometimes tomorrow's lunch takes precedence over a record I haven't yet had a chance to bond with) so check in with him and you might well score some of them on the rebound.
Also, let me take this chance to echo others' comments regarding Horrible Noise. It's a genuinely great blog that I enjoy as much as I learn from, and while it's easy enough to just post some MP3s, the precious few, like yours, that actually take the time to give some well-written, well-reasoned original criticism of, and context to, the music are a treasure. Thanks for making the effort, I appreciate it a great deal!
Lord Bones: Thanks for the heads up. The file has been re-upped. Please let me know whether or not it's OK.
Simon: Thanks man. It's nice to know that people are digging the blog. On an unrelated note, Pete told me that you're the guy to ask about High Tide, and more specifically, bands that are in the same ballpark. Sea Shanties is phenomenal, and I'm jonesin' for something similar, but I really know nothing about Psych or whatever you'd call that. Any suggestions?
Hi there!
Thanks for reupping the album!! All files came in good health!
And i have to side with Simon. I love your blog too. Always a nice read and at times very informative.
Keep it up.
I got the Metal Mind re-issue to review like two year ago. It's kind of typical Anthrax inspired thrash. Not bad, but nothing special.
High Tide-style stuff....hmmmm, not really sure what to suggest. They were a unique band, I think. However, in the same ballpark, at least, I would recommend Pinnacle's "Cyborg Assassin" LP-- really dark, nasty proto-metal psych stuff, UK '74. Not that it sounds a lot like High Tide, just that I can see it appealing to the same sensibilities, y'know?
http://oldishpsychprog.blogspot.com/2009/09/pinnacle-1974-cyborg-assasin.html
Quick Change was/is from Chicago. They used to play the same club, for what seemed like every weekend. This album was a huge deal to my friends and I went it was released. Leave it to the beaver!
Ah the might QUICKCHANGE resurfaces. I used to get quite a bombardment from their manager at the time in the 80's. He was a super nice guy (I think his name was Larry?). Anyway most of the demo material shows the band at various stages being straight up Heavy Metal band and then that became much faster ala' "speed Metal".
The IRON MAIDEN influences were heavy and when it cam time to get signed the band hand a hard time (even though they had some chops) due to their image.
Otherwise I received a promo of what turned out to be their debut "Circus of Death". Things were looking up for the band as they signed to Roadrunner or SPV/Steamhammer -can't remember which) BUT they ended up not releasing it here in the states and did little to no promo for it over there.
The LP was above-average thrash metal ala' Anthrax. Nice crunch metal riffage though and an enjoyable listen nonetheless.
I have an older interview I will dig out and post on QUICK CHANGE on Demolish Fanzine online.
BTW they were actually from Waukegan and not Chicago proper. It's a suburb of Chicago quite a ways outside of the city.
Stay tuned for the interview or special post...Thrash on!
Curt King
Demolish Fanzine
they were from markham il,not wisconsin,not waukegan.i lived and grew up a mile down the road from them.i was their drum tech through it all.you should of heard the demo they put out after the circus of death album.heavier with more crunchier riffs,as well as a little more serious attitude.
bomp,get blitzed.
Just saying my dad is the drummer of the band I still listen to their music :D
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