HEAVY METAL KIDS-HEAVY METAL KIDS-

With a solid foot in the Foundation of Glam/hard/Classic rock this outfit from Great Britain released their first album in 1974 and perhaps, not taking things to seriously, they ended up in between styles of Music and became Another obscure band facing the hard struggle in the shadow of bigger acts. A pretty damned shame it became niether this, neither that…

The production by Dave Dee brings this album to a typical soundframe  but the vocals and keyboard are terrrific with a solid rhythm section. Vocalist Gary Holton just brings the top notch edge to this outfit and makes the band such a pleasure to Watch and listen too. A true rock´n roll rebel. Just plain great.

The double edge style of Music tend to split audiences in two and though the album got good Reviews the sales figures didn´t match the positive reaction. In an American tour in 1975 they dropped the “Heavy Metal” and just toured as “The Kids” trying to make some kind of change but nothing happened. Vocalist Gary Holton was replaced later on due to Heavy drink/ drug issues and headlines. The band never got back to re-ignite the drive they had erlier on. They dissmantled themselves in 1978.

Whatabout the drummer, Keith Boyce?? As many drummers from this time period the drive is great but I do sense a lack of striking abilities and some wearness as if the bassplayer is responsible for the impecible Rhythmsection. Hesitation is the Word here. The hit ratio is avarage and the Dynamics fine but, there are better drummers out there so don´t expect Another Carmine Appice or so…:-)

This album is the missing link between Glam versus hard rock and if you got a soft heart for this style of Music, don´t hesitate to buy this album. A terrific Glam/hard/Classic rock record that doesn´t bring you any Disappointing moments. It will require a couple of spins on the turntable but you will put it on again and again and do some toetapping. I´ll promise you that…

Great issues are out there so do yourself a favour and invest in a small but important piece of British rock history. 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-6-GOOD!-WORTH BUYING-

HEAVY LOAD-STRONGER THAN EVIL-

As this is the peak performance from Swedish Heavy/hard/Power rockers Heavy Load, the story will maybe haunt them for not being persistant enough just as the brink of breakthrough appeared. This the third released from 1983 and this recording just brings you all the ingredients towards greatnesss with strong songs, furious drive and terrific harmony singing in “fotball chanting choruses”. This is like finding thee pot of gold at the end of the Rainbow. A marvoulus record.

As earlier releases from Heavy Load this record is self financed and this shines through in the lack of the production. The sound frame is predated and there are some vocaltracks that never would have passed with an experienced producer. Never the less the songs are strong with standout tunes like”Run with the Devil” “Singing Swords” and the single out take “Free” with Phil Lynott on bass guitar.  No song falls under the radar and this is  “Stronger than evil” in that sense. 🙂

During the year 1982 Heavy Load got some Airtime in Swedish national Radio with two broadcasted shows in Malmö and Stockholm and this laid the Foundation for the album “Death or Glory” and as this later formed the shape of this album, bad luck hit the band as the bassplayer quit just Before a major tour in Europe in `84. Brothers Ragnar and Styrbjörn Wahlqvist then decided to put their energy in the studio instead of persuing a new bassplayer, a twofaced decision with ill fate. The band never recovered from this.

Whatabout the drummer, Styrbjörn Wahlqvist?? This is in the school of Cozy Powell with strong drive and hard striking abilities. The technical department is ok but there are some hesitation that brings out a few question marks. The hit ratio and no what so ever Dynamics suits the Music like a glove. This is a perfect match but won´t bring down the crowds in a matter of “best drummer Award”.

This is just as with Mecyful Fate and Oz, a great time in Scandinavian metal history. The question rises what could have been with more persistant management. The Heavy/Hard/Power rock market would just explode with arrival of Manowar, Stormwitch etc..and today Hammerfall, Iced Earth etc just reign with great succés…typical.

This is a Classic album that should not perrish under the obscure mark. Good copies are out there but you´ll have to pay for a Classic copy that should contain the album, a great poster and, of course, the merchandise order form…just plain good nostalgia. Great!!

VINYLRATING/GRADE

–5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-

DOG SOLDIER-DOG SOLDIER-

Sometimes the best intentions does fail to deliver. This outfit from Great Britain contains several key musicians during the British Bluesboom and drummer Keef Hartley form this band in the mid seventies and this is their sole release from 1975. The album contains a bunch of scattered songs with an effort to mix Hard/Prog/Blues/ AOR with a seasoning of British flavour. The story goes they where pressured to achieve an AOR album but the result is a none direction album with avarage good tunes with a flawless production with a great keyboard up front. The rhythm section is also top notch.

Compared to contemperary releases this album lacks the edge and drive to attract attention but it is all not bad except the coverart, what do you make out of a native American on an aircraft?? No song falls under the radar but at the same time there are no standout tune. The only real great effort is “Looks like rain” with a Bluesinspired touch of prog. Great!

Whatabout the drummer, Keef Hartley?? This fellow knows his way around the drumkit but this is with caution. The striking abilities are soft and the Dynamics are fine. The hit ratio and drive is avarage but a bit boring. The lack of direction on the album tend to set a piece of mind towards boring. To bad because there are some potential in here somewhere.

If you are interested in Hard/Prog/Blues/AOR rock Music this album will NOT be something to brag about but it does has its moments. It will take a few spins around the turntable to discover the hidden gems, foremost the keyboard passages. Not bad at all. There are good copies out there and I found mine at a local dealer for just 9 Euros in great shape. Excellent!

VINYLRATING/GRADE

5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-

STRETCH-YOU CAN´T BEAT YOUR BRAIN FOR ENTERTAINMENT-

Perhaps the most outrageous backfiring management scam from the first half of the 70´s is the rise of this outfit Stretch, from Great Britain. The collaboration between Elmer Gantry Aka Dave Terry and Kirby Gregory aka Kirby Graham took off when Fleetwood Mac´s manager sought up to create a backup band for the upcoming US tour for Fleetwood Mac. (who was indespensabal due to what ever reason)  Of course the audience saw through this cheap trick and the whole tour collapsed with Mick Fleetwood jjumping ship and denied the whole story and involvement.

But, fortunate for us the band Stretch survived and made a great comeback with a charthit in Britain in 75 and this there third release from 1976 is just a Classic/hard/blues rock milestone!!

The production is flawless with the great touch of evergreen rock´n´roll soundframe with faboulus vocals, great guitarsound and a badass rhythm section with just a Little distortion. This is just great pleasure for your ears. 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, Jeff Rich?? This fellow was just hired Before this album was recorded and it gives the other musicians a real boost. The drive is awesome but you could have a second opinion about the Dynamics and striking abilities. The hit ratio and technical skills are more to avarage then good but that doesn´t harm this album. More the opposite!! It´s fun to listen to this one, but you won´t Catch up any tricks. Mr Rich later joined Status Que, go figure!!

This is a classic British Gem and if you´re a fan of Classic/blues/Hard rock with superb vocals and terrific drive and guitar this one´s gotta end upon your vinyl shelf. Great copies are out there for less Money than your avarage friday night beer and it will last longer too……  🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-7-VERY GOOD!!-GAME,SET AND MATCH-

ALKANA-WELCOME TO MY PARADISE-

The knowledge that the ultimate “quake” is upon the state of California, except no one knows exactly when, the feeling that this outfit from San Bernadino already released a groundshaking album back in 1977  is a relief. From a Melodic/hard/Heavy approach, guitar wonder boy Danney Alkana just puts a big fat right fist in your face and says; ” Surf´s up Pal!!” this is a Earthrocker album extravaganza. Faboulus in all departments.

The production is pretimed by 8 to 10 years and the vocals are superb by Jack Rucker and the rhythm section is the state of the art! The double guitars and riff slinging by Danney Alkana leans towards nothing you´ve Heard until this albums release. Simply perfection. Standout song would be “The Tower” who brings out fresh sound escaping in towards Led Zeppelin and maybe even Rainbow. ´No songs falls under the radar and this is a complete album from start to finish. Very Good!!

Whatabout the drummer Don Mclaughlin?? This is seroius contender and got some very good striking abilities and great Dynamics. The technical skills is up there with the contemperarys and the feeling of a man in charge is eminent. The hit ratio is fast and Swift with no fuzz about it. A great drummer and a perfect fit for this Epic album. Delicious!! 🙂

This is, probably, one of the most underrated albums ever released in the 70´s with a terrific mix of Melodic/Hard/Heavy rock songs. The prices is skyhigh for a 70´s original copy but thanks to Acid Records you can get a reissue for decent Money and there´s no hesitation, this album belongs in your Collection. ´Nuff said.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

8-EXCELLENT-HEAD ON COLLSION RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES WITH A FREIGHT TRAIN

I LOVE YOU-I LOVE YOU-

In the late 80´s and beginning of the 90´s the rule of hairmetal was like an endless ocean of diarrhea and just Before the saviour from Nirvana, this outfit from L.A with roots from  punk legends Sinful Pigeons outof Florida, saves the day with one foot in the prog/hard/stoner stable and one in the more melodic/alternative/hard rock basecamp. And what a great mix of songs you never thought excisted in the year of 1991. This is the exception that confirms the rule. Fantastic!!

The production is faboulus and the soundframe is a timeless piece of not overdoing it. The guitars provided by Jeff Nolan is both exciting and restricted. Very nice. The rhythm section just match up and brings steady Rolling beat to the well balanced vocals. Giving  the surrounding environment in L.A by this timeperiod, this is a really obcure release by Geffen records yet a great one. With great touring ahead in the next couple of years you just wonder what happened and as so many times Before, the second release brought Another style in Music and voilá, then they disappeared into the void of “next breakthrough act”…..a boring ending for a much more deserved Bright future.

Whatabout the drummer, Tom Sweet?? This fellow, as most American drummers from this period, is Sharp, slick and got a great sensability towards Dynamics and perfect striking abilities. Tremendous hit ratio from time to time just brings back a lot good memories from elder drummers with the same passion. This is great stuff and great drive!!

Well if you´re NOT into hairmetal then this piece of gold might be something for you to invest you Money into. Familiar songs like”Hang straight up” and “2” may be recognized due to Heavy rotation on Headbangers ball in those glory Days of music video Entertainment. This one´s a certain tip to investigate further and lots of good copies are out there for grabs. Hurry up!!  🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-6-GOOD!-WORTH BUYING-

SOUTHERN CROSS-SOUTHERN CROSS-

Going downunder to continue the story of Hard/psych/proto/Heavy rock band Buffalo we have come to the Southern Cross outfit who released their selftitled album in 1977. Ex Buffalo members Alex Milano on vocals and John Baxter, providing the powerful guitar, brought along Michel Brouet on bass and backing vocals with drummer Jeff Beacham and started out the short but intensive career of Southern Cross .

They were signed to independent label Living Sound/Laser and the producing of this album is fair enough but a bit muffled and got some strange downmixing to the easier songs which is anoying. The material climbs from high to low, with no particularly standout tune nor any really bad one either. Vocals are gritty were it´s suppose to and the guitar works great. The overall impression is yet plain avarage though… 🙂

By good Company as in Finch, The Angels, Kevin Borich Express and Rose Tattoo this outfit got really popular in the Sydney Music scene but poor sales and no chart breakers made the band dissolved in 1978.

Whatabout the drummer, Jeff Beacham? To bad but there are backalley crackusers who play better than this piece of what?? I don´t get this fellow. Hard striking with no Dynamics makes this sound like they brought in a stand in drummer from a retirement home. No drive and the hit ratio is like a slinky toy a true sad impression and effort.

This is strange album but with an excitement about it. As nothing really stands out you can´t dismiss it completly and that´s a good sign. If you´re into past mid 70´s hard/Heavy/ rock this is Worth a deeper dive into. Ridicoulus prices would suggest you to invest in a CD copy Before spending your hard earned pay on overpriced vinyl copies.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

4-CHEESY-AVARAGE-

EUCLID-HEAVY EQUIPMENT-

Rated as one of history´s most obscure album releases this outfit originated from New England USA and this is their sole release from 1970. A mix of Hard/Psych/Heavy rock songs that just Cooks together an unbelivable mix of guitar bites, effects and total engagemant from these great musicians. This is by far, one of the world´s most underrated albums of its genre. A strange brew indeed…

And what makes this such a adorable piece of plastic? Bassist Harold Perino JR and Brothers Gary and Jay Leavitt, on guitar and drums respectively, were Gary also is handling lead vocals just brings out the heritage they got from the Psych/Garage scene in a splendid way. To top things up the lead guitars from Ralph Mazzota brings out the top notch guitar slinging like´s maple syrup upon hot pancakes…yummy!! 🙂

I´m not picking out any standout song on this album because there´s no Point. Every tune got its own soul and injects different things in every listen and it would be unfair to exclude anyone´s input on this album. This is a Group effort with high octane energy in every bit of this album. This could be my precciooouuuss…. 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, Jay Leavitt?? The producer has brought out a malice sound from the drumkit and this sound frame suits Mr. Leavitt like a pair of latex gloves. His Garage Days earned profile shines through with Little striking dynamics but with a clear hit ratio and good timing. This guy is not to take orders from anybody, a fierce drive that suits this outfit perfectly. A Splendid piece of work!!

As this album do reach the top of Obscure releases with one foot in the late 60´s and one in the futuristic more Heavy 70´s this one has earned it´s pricetag. An odd release from Amsterdam records does help to bring out extreme prices for this one of a kind recording. But if you´re into this kind of well played Hard/psych/Heavy rock you will have a hard time to find anything that match thid excellent Album. It could be Worth to save some beermoney just to get your hands on this one….

VINYLRATING/GRADE

8-EXCELLENT-HEAD ON RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES COLLISION WITH A FREIGHT TRAIN!-

WARHORSE-RED SEA-

After been sacked by Deep Purple, Nick Simper joined Marsha Hunt´s backing band and later on Mr. Simper and guitarist Ged Peck reorganized into Warhorse when Hunt got pregnant. With Rick Wakeman on Keyboards and Ashley Holt on vocals the future looked Bright for these much talented musicians. The outfit signed to Vertigo and released their debut album but then Wakeman was replaced by Frank Wilson and lack of progress in sales and charts, guitarist Peck left after disagreement in which Music direction the band should take.

This release from 1972 got a nice groove and great production to it. The Hard/prog/proto rock heading is a great pleasure to listen to. The vocals are excellent and the interaction with the guitar is great. The rhythm section is solid as a rock. On the other side this record is way to late concerning material and style. Everything´s been Heard Before and the feeling that the outfit is trying to impersonate Deep Purple is eminent and I hope not, intentional, even if it sounds very suspicious. The feeling of a poor man´s Purple just won´t go away…To Bad..

The great benefit is the vocals that brings chills down your spine  and sorry to say, this could have been a much bigger success in an other band..marvelous shreiking!!

Whatabout the drummer, Mac Poole?? As in all British drummers, the competition brings out great delivery and terrific hit ratio amongs Contemporary musicians. Some of those fellows must draw the shorter straw and this is one of them. The striking abilities are all fine and the technical department got lot of knowledge but the drive isn´t there. It brings out the feeling that this is a show off recording with poor timing together with Mr. Simper on bass. Sorry, I am not convinced.

BUT, if you´re having a crave for Deep Purple influenced Hard/Prog/psych/Proto rock Music this is a good contender but be prepered for a recognizing feeling towards the songs. Original releases are expensive in the market but you can Always get a reissue and save some Money for that special album that someday will turn up….  🙂

VINYRATING/GRADE

-4-CHEESY-AVARAGE-

FUSE-FUSE-

This outfit from Rockford was born in 1967 and this is their sole release and saw the light of day in 1970. The members later would pass on to form Cheap Trick and Silverfox and this recording gives an insight what happened Before the big times would arrive. The direction is Hard/prog/psych rock Music with direct Connection to the British music scene as in Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and some flavour of Led Zeppelin.

The production got some time wearness to it and lacks some depth with an over representation towards the vocals. The rhythm section is fine but the guitar feels a bit out of Place but then again it got a great sound to it. Another producer could have done a miracle with this outfit. The songs got a reputation not to stand all the way but I don´t agree. No particular song stands out but then again no one is really bad either. This is a strong debut album with a loser production mark on it. That doesn´t mark it as a total failure just a perfect match for “an obscure treasure” to discover. A “Timebomb” might fit the description… 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, Chip Greenman?? This is a frenzy driven drummer with faboulus hit ratio and great technique. The striking abilities are over the top and a there are some nite things to bring back home to the kitchen table. You will discover that you won´t have a boring time in this mans Company. Very Good!!

If you´re into early Hard/prog/psych rock British style this is a hard beaten pot of gold to bring home. A good reissue thats been remixed is out there for a hefty sum of your hard earned cash but it could be a lucky shot to get a copy because this is a precious sidestep that don´t come to often in this excellent condition, Music wise that is… 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-6-GOOD!-WORTH BUYING-