Heavy Metal Records 1984
When Quiet Storm was released it was clear that these guys were no longer the COCKNEY REJECTS I knew and loved... the cover alone made that painfully obvious. I mistakenly assumed that they'd become a full on Metal band (airborne BC Rich lightning rod anyone!?!), but no, that'd be too easy. This record is much more confusing than that, and really nothing could have prepared me for what was in store. While the bands previous record, 1982's The Wild Ones, was a straight ahead riff rocker reminiscent of AC/DC, Quiet Storm sees the band stepping even further away from their Punk Rock roots. The Rock songs are simplistic, bluesy, and somewhat stiff 60s or 70s throwbacks. The remainder of the tracks range between ROLLING STONES-ish faux country ("Fourth Summer"), ELTON JOHN cum SUPERTRAMP ballads ("I Can't Forget"), funky, unintentionally jokey, BB KING influenced white-boy Blues ("Jog On"), and piano and keyboard laden ballads ("Quiet Storm"). It's bizarre to be sure... and I quite like it. I tend to find these sort of "off" records very intriguing. You know, when a band tries to disengage itself from the past and break new ground (Into The Unknown, Grave New World) or reinvigorate itself to reclaim former glories (Born Again perhaps). Extreme changes are frowned upon by most fans who are content with hearing the same record over and over again by their favourite bands, that makes a record like Quiet Storm a ballsy proposition... and I appreciate that.
DOWNLOAD: TheRejects-QuietStorm.rar (68.33 MB)
THE REJECTS • Quiet Storm LP
BORN TO METALIZE LP
Megaforce Records 1984
Don't let that piece of shit cover fool you... Born To Metalize is a completely kick-ass comp featuring four NJ/NY Metal bands, all of which, with HADES being the only exception, should have gone on to bigger and better things. Oddly enough, HADES is the only band that actually did manage some modicum of success, but more on them later. After a cornball intro, THE BEAST get the ball rolling with 3 straight ahead high energy tracks. I love the vocal delivery! Really excellent stuff, and a tough act to follow for Bayonne's SNEAK ATTACK... fortunately they're able to hold their own with a slightly more typical sound for the era replete with screeching vocals, soaring whammy-bar leads, and laughable lyrics ("Sneak Attack" is so homoerotic it's ridiculous!). Simplistic and direct in their approach, TORTURED DOG keep the quality high in spite of tracks filled with the most generic riffs you can imagine... and somehow it's endearing. Thankfully HADES wrap things up quickly with only 2 tracks (all others contribute 3) of overwrought, melodramatic Metal. These guys clearly took themselves way too seriously, and are a bit of a buzz-kill considering the other 3 bands came to party with lunkheaded, good time tunes. Not a bad band, but they are definitely the weakest link on Born To Metalize, and the singer's Paul Di'Anno impersonation is a bit too blatant on "Rogues March". On the whole, highly recommended listening.
DOWNLOAD: BornToMetalize.rar (78.69 MB)
HERETIC • Burnt At The Stake EP
Thunderbolt Records 1984
Heretic. Burnt at the stake. Sounds pretty heavy right? Well don't get your hopes up, cuz like the majority of NWOBHM acts, HERETIC's presentation was much more sinister than their actual sound. Opener "Water Of Vice" starts things off in fine form with a riff similar to WITCHFINDER GENERAL's "Requiem For Death", but things quickly become more lightweight with each passing track. Solid guitar work and solos reminiscent of early 80s, Snowy White-era, THIN LIZZY are the saving grace here, and weak vocals are the major stumbling block. Still, it's a fun light hearted romp if yer up for it.
DOWNLOAD: Heretic BurntAtTheStake.rar (33.1 MB)
RHETT FORRESTER • Gone With The Wind LP
Bernett Records 1984
I'm not all that familiar with Rhett Forrester. I know he replaced Guy Speranza in RIOT, but I like early RIOT so much that I've never been willing to hear anything after Fire Down Under (even though I own the Forrester-era records). Plus there's the whole Rhett Forrester/Rhett Butler Gone With The Wind thing - all a bit hokey if you ask me. But, I've sat on this record long enough and I figure it's time to take the plunge. Right off the bat this is much heavier than expected, the title track and album opener is a double time kick square in the nuts. The record carries on in similarly triumphant chest thumping fashion for it's entirety. Forrester's got a great voice, much like Blackie Lawless with a touch of David Coverdale thrown in for the more soulful bits. Good record, even if "Assume The Position" would make El Duce blush, and the drums are grossly over processed... these things can most likely be overlooked.
DOWNLOAD: RhettForrester-GoneWithTheWind.rar (72.33 MB)
VICIOUS CIRCLE • Take It 12"
Noise Records 1984
When I picked this outta the rack I thought to myself: "Whoa! that Australian hardcore band put out a record on Noise!?! They musta really fucked up!", but calm yourself, cuz this most definitely ain't that band - these guys are German through and through. VICIOUS CIRCLE remind me of TYRAN PACE 'cept a bit less heavy, and a bit less PRIEST-y. The biggest similarity is in the soaring high pitched vocals. If Ralf Scheepers is a dead ringer for Rob Halford, then this dude is a dead ringer for Scheepers. It's a sorta... well... it's a vicious circle isn't it (sigh). The thing that really sold me on this is that it's produced by Horst Müller who did early DESTRUCTION and SODOM records... but please don't expect VICIOUS CIRCLE to sound anything like that.
DOWNLOAD: ViciousCircle-TakeIt.rar (22.5 MB)
GILGAMESJ • Take One EP
Rave-On Records 1984
The most awkward band name of all time! It was really bothering me, and so I had to find out just what the hell Gilgamesj meant - thank you Wikipedia. Gilgamesj (or Gilgamesh) was an ancient Sumerian king rumoured to be two thirds god and one third man. The ancient Dutch band GILGAMESJ, on the other hand, are two thirds deriviative and one third adequate. Take One isn't likely to knock you on your ass, but it's got some decent hard rockin' moments along with some blatant rip-offs (that opening riff is way too close to something - not sure if it's ACCEPT, or TANK, or what). Not nearly as killer as other early Rave-On releases (MERCYFUL FATE, SORTILEGE) but still cool, and the album cover rules.
DOWNLOAD: Gilgamesj-TakeOne.rar (32.37 MB)
FALLEN ANGELS • Fallen Angels LP
Fallout Records 1984
Maybe my expectations were a bit too high for this record, but can you blame me? Knox from THE VIBRATORS backed up by HANOI ROCKS' rhythm section... sounds perfect right? But perfect it ain't. When I ripped this I thought it was awful, but subsequent listens show that it's not terrible, just lacklustre. It reminds me of those late JOHNNY THUNDERS records, you know the ones, where he's just going through the motions in a stupor and the results are completely uninspired and kinda depressing. THUNDERS fans eat that shit up regardless of quality, and I'm sure HANOI ROCKS and VIBRATORS fans will do the same with Fallen Angels. As an added bonus, I'm pretty sure that Michael Monroe and Andy McCoy make guest appearances billed as The Cosmic Ted and The Flashing Psychedelic Kid. And here's something I never thought I'd state: the sax solos are the highlight of the record (courtesy of Monroe).
DOWNLOAD: FallenAngels-FallenAngels.rar (72.94 MB)
T.N.T. • Deflorator LP
SL Records 1984
I ripped this record ages ago, but didn't really have much to say about it... and not surprisingly, I still don't. Deflorator is packed with nine decent AC/DC influenced rockers that have a slight Metal edge, and thus sound a helluva lot like KROKUS (so much so that I was convinced that these guys were Swiss). If you dig the SAMAIN record I posted yesterday, you're sure to enjoy this one too - it's rock solid from start to finish, and though it's taken a really long time, has grown on me steadily.
DOWNLOAD: TNT-Deflorator.rar (69.61 MB)
SAMAIN • Vibrations Of Doom LP
Roadrunner Records 1984
Moustache Metal ran rampant in the mid-80s, but it was nowhere more present than in der Vaterland. 4/5 of SAMAIN carry on the long and strong German tradition of fuzzy facial appendages by proudly displaying their soup strainers on the back cover of Vibrations Of Doom: a generally innocuous blend of ACCEPT-ish pounders and mid-tempo rockers that recall Deutcshe Deflorators TNT. This is middle-of-the-road Metal that's very reminiscent of KROKUS... you know: it's cool, but it's not mindblowing by any means, and is generally forgettable. VOD does have it's moments, but there's a definite shortage of excitement ("Giant Man" or "Gonna Swing My Chariot" being the possible exceptions), as none of 'em really get the heart pumping. Maybe I can't fully appreciate it cuz of my lack of facial hair, but still, this is an above average record that warrants a few more spins and perhaps a few less shaves.
DOWNLOAD: Samain-VibrationsOfDoom.rar (70.73 MB)
WITCH • The Hex Is On EP
Axe Killer Records 1984
This record is hilarious. Take a look at that cover shot! Who knew that J Mascis could look so good in a pair of fishnets, knee-high boots, and 12 pounds of make-up!?! What? This isn't the DINO JR. mainman's new band! Fuck... duped again! I thought that Punky Peru or Peter Wabbit mighta been J's nom de plume. Oh well... instead of yet another Stoner Rock rehash, these SoCal misfits serve up a steaming pile of Metal Blade-ish tracks that could easily be mistaken for KRANK or some other forgettable Glam cum Metal outfit on the label's mid-80s roster. Much heavier than the band's image might suggest, The Hex Is On is balls out (literally) Metal with just enough sense of melody to tinge the proceedings with a touch of LA sleaze - kinda like a dingier Too Fast For Love. Surprisingly good, even if that ain't J wanking away on the solos (yeah yeah I know he plays drums in WITCH).
DOWNLOAD: Witch-TheHexIsOn.rar (34.01 MB)
OZ • III Warning LP
Combat Records 1984
Imagine, if you will, a bleak and desolate world in which OZ's 1983 sophomore outing Fire In The Brain doesn't exist. This world, so devoid of warmth and joy is little more than a living Hell. It's here, in this godless realm, that OZ's III Warning is considered a good album, because the undeniable greatness of Fire In The Brain has left a void, and isn't looming over it, casting an oppressive shadow that few follow-up records could escape. Life in this alternate reality is grim, so you turn to III Warning for comfort, it's cold, but it's something. The brutish and neanderthaloid pound of opener "Third Warning" gives you hope for greater things, new vistas of Metal opportunity, but your hopes are senselessly dashed by the time you reach the naff "Rock 'N' Roll Widow" at the end of the first side. Sure there's sparse flashes of greatness here and there, but they're few and fleeting, and you're left with the sinking feeling that things ain't gonna get any better. Your mind wanders to an unreal place, a new and better world, where OZ's full potential is not only realized but cherished and revered. With a jolt you wake from your nightmare, dopey and dazed. "Phew! Only a dream", you think to yourself as you reach for the only thing that will erase that horrible place from your memory... Fire In The Brain.
DOWNLOAD: Oz-IIIWarning.rar (64.9 MB)
TKO • In Your Face LP
Combat Records 1984
I remember seeing this album cover when I was a kid, and for some reason, over the years, it's really stuck with me - when I saw it yesterday I recognized it immediately, and had to buy it. This is the kinda record I never woulda bought when I was younger, but the aesthetic is so striking that I couldn't pass it up again. The guy on the cover is a weird combination of Billy Idol and Michael Monroe, and there's a topless chick whom he's just knocked out (what!?!). Maybe he didn't actually clock her, it coulda been a technical knock out... who knows. Whatever's going on, it looks sleazy enough. TKO make me wonder why commercial Metal in the 80s had to be so extremely poncey... cuz these guys are commercial, but still very heavy, still Metal, and infinitely better than any commercially viable hair Metal band of the era. In Your Face is a perfect balance of Hard Rock that retains some Metal bite, and every single song is well written, catchy, and memorable. This is a truly great album... sometimes you really can judge a book by it's cover. Download now! Really... I'll eat my shorts if you don't love this one.
DOWNLOAD: TKO-InYourFace.rar (71.72 MB)
HAZZARD • Hazzard LP
Mausoleum Records 1984
This record's got a huge label on the cover stating that HAZZARD features ex-ACCEPT guitarist Herman Frank. Not much of a selling point really, yeah he played on some classic records (Restless And Wild and Balls To The Wall), but I doubt that that information had people rushing out to their local record shop and queueing up for the latest HAZZARD record. Cuz of that sticker I expected this to sound like a decent facsimile of Frank's previous band, and the riffs are pure ACCEPT, but the singer ruins the whole thing with his bland, lackluster delivery. Making things worse are the big radio-friendly choruses and crappy vocal melodies - just wait 'til you hear the chorus on "Killer" ("why oh why" is it so terrible?). It's too bad that the singing is such shit, because the riffs are excellent, and the songs coulda been great with the right vocalist. Unfortunately this combination results in a boring record that certainly won't be getting any more spins from me.
DOWNLOAD: Hazzard-Hazzard.rar (65.83 MB)
SORTILEGE • Métamorphose/Metamorphosis LP
Devil's Records/Banzai Records 1984
I expected these 2 records to be identical 'cept for the different vocal tracks, but the English and French versions of Metamorphosis sound completely different. The French version (Métamorphose) is brighter and frankly much better sounding than the dark, muddy, drum-heavy English pressing. The fantastic guitar playing is front and center on Métamorphose, while you'll be struggling to hear the same guitar runs and leads on the English copy. Pretty weird. Different mastering? Different mix? The vinyl pressing itself? Who knows, but they are very different to be sure. The songs themselves are essentially the same, and every one's a killer - which is exactly what I've come to expect from a SORTILEGE record. I wish that all bands were as monumentally great as these
guys cuz it would make buying old Metal records a lot easier... they would all rule! SORTILEGE impart a sense of majesty (hence the song?) and weighty seriousness into everything they do, and thus I take them more seriously than most bands of the era. If you only had to download one of these, I'd definitely recommend the French version. Not only does it sound superior, but since Métamorphose is sung in the band's native tongue, it sounds more natural too. But download 'em both and compare for yourself.
DOWNLOAD (en Français): Sortilege-Metamorphose.rar (66.18 MB)
DOWNLOAD (en Anglais): Sortilege-Metamorphosis.rar (65.61 MB)
WITCHKILLER • Day Of The Saxons EP
Metal Blade Records 1984
Damn this record is warped to shit, and it skips like a motherfucker... ripping it was a serious pain in the ass. Maybe WITCHKILLER are just too Metal for wax. That'd explain why this is the only record that the band was able to put out. Metal Blade probably got fed up with complaints about warped vinyl, and decided that they couldn't afford to put out another WITCHKILLER record. Really too bad, cuz this is excellent stuff! Day Of The Saxons shows a strong Iron Maiden influence and is full of swords 'n' sorcery type lyrics... if that ain't enough to warp a measly slab of vinyl I dunno what is. Download it, but beware... it might be too heavy for your computer too.
DOWNLOAD: Witchkiller-DayOfTheSaxons.rar (34.13 MB)
WHITE WOLF • Standing Alone LP
RCA Records 1984
The weird winged wolf/rat/lizard creature on the cover of Standing Alone is kinda misleading... I expected this record to be much heavier, and way more low budget. Instead WHITE WOLF serve up slickly produced melodic Hard Rock/Metal that will surely appeal to AOR fans. The opening track is painfully similar to fellow Canucks LOVERBOY, but thankfully the rest of the record is slightly heavier - like PRETTY MAIDS at their most commercial or FOREIGNER at their absolute heaviest... yeah I know, sounds great right!?! I can't say that this is a bad record, cuz to my ears it's just as good/bad as any other commercial Metal band in the same vein, it's just that it's not my cup o' tea.
DOWNLOAD: WhiteWolf-StandingAlone.rar (70 MB)
BLACK WIDOW • Streetfighter LP
Roadrunner Records 1984
When an album cover features a streetfighting BMX biker pimp child, you gotta wonder what the fuck these guys were thinking!?! Maybe in the 80's the streets of Holland were overrun with nasty leather clad gangs of marauding BMX riding misogynist kids, and this album is simply a reflection of BLACK WIDOW's reality. That might start to explain the music contained on Streetfighter: a raucous mix of hard rockin' bluesy barroom Metal and punky proto-Thrash. I'm shocked by how great this record is, it's non-stop fun from top to bottom (with the hokey "Crazy Train Blues" being the only exception). I know that if it was 1984, and I was a 12 year old Dutch shitdisturber, there could be no better soundtrack than Streetfighter for the endless nights of boozin', whorin', and BMXin'!
DOWNLOAD: BlackWidow-Streetfighter.rar (70.46 MB)
FAITHFUL BREATH • Gold 'N' Glory LP
Mausoleum Records 1984
If yer lookin' for real Metal you need look no further - this is the shit right here! Germany. 1984. Produced by Udo Dirkschneider and Michael Wagener. Done and done! Excellent pounding Heavy Metal with enough Rock sensibility to ensure that every song is a killer... not unlike ACCEPT in that respect. In fact, the title track is a faithful homage to their German brethren, even referencing Restless And Wild in the lyrics... and co-written by Wagener to boot. The vocalist on opener "Don't Feel Hate" is a deadringer for Dee Snider, and the riff is total TWISTED SISTER too. Even the ballady "A Million Hearts" is a fantastic arena worthy anthem. And to top it all off the band photos are funny and very cool at the same time... the horny helmet is phenomenal! You should download this, or continue to live in a FAITHFUL BREATH-free prison of your own making.
DOWNLOAD: FaithfulBreath-GoldNGlory.rar (57.59 MB)
LEATHERWOLF • Leatherwolf EP
Tropical Records 1984
It might be tough for you youngsters to imagine, but there was a time when every other band didn't have wolf in their name. No WOLF PARADE, no WOLFMOTHER, no AIDS WOLF, no WOLF EYES... just LEATHERWOLF (and HOWLIN' WOLF I guess). That's all we had, and we liked it. And really, after you hear this record you'll understand why LEATHERWOLF was enough... here's a hint: it's because they fucking rule! This EP's become an instant classic. Infinitely better than 98% of their peers, these guys were like MAIDEN x10 - and yet they remained virtually unknown. I've said it way too many times to be credible (I'm kinda like the boy who cried wolf ha!), but these guys really shoulda been huge. They had it all: interesting and engaging songs, top flight musicianship, and an over-abundance of energy. I'm not gonna suggest that you download this... I demand it!
DOWNLOAD: Leatherwolf-LeatherwolfEP.rar (40.34 MB)
THRUST • Fist Held High LP
Metal Blade Records 1984
I imagine that Bill Metoyer and Brian Slagel somehow, while on vacation in Ireland, managed to capture the only living screaming banshee. Upon their return to the good ol' U. S. of A. they taught it everything it needed to know about the awesome power of Metal: that it's only good when it's loud, and if done right it could take over the world, and how posers must be destroyed. Once the banshee, who they'd give a human (and male) name... let's say John, was well versed in all things Metal, they'd form a band around it... a buncha dudes from the Midwest who wouldn't be shocked by having a mythological creature for a bandmate. Committing the banshee's wail to tape wouldn't be easy, but in the name of Metal it had to be done... and the resulting record: Fist Held High would be feared by posers the world over. Having said absolutely everything there is to say about Metal in a scant 8 songs, and longing for the bonny Emerald Isle, the banshee musta returned to it's homeland, cuz no other recordings of the fabled creature, and it's trusty back-up band THRUST, are known to exist.
DOWNLOAD: Thrust-FistHeldHigh.rar (73.35 MB)
