Missing Shrapnel

I am sure some of you guys were "Compilation-Crazy" too in the early Eighties, just like me. You absolutely had to buy every new Sampler coming out, the more obscure the better. Most of this stuff has been released on CD with the exception of one: The US METAL Compilations Volume 1 through 4. Released by Mike Varney’s own Shrapnel Label out of California. So here you have it, free for all in a good (192 Kbit) Quality. Enjoy! (Hint: The Links are in the Comments).

The downfall of Mothra

ANVIL! What glorious echo from the early Eighties, eh? I’ve been a fan since day one, even had a copy of their first album under the "Lips" Monicker (thanks to Montreal’s own Johnny Hart). Their first three albums are masterpieces, from time to time a bit cheesy, yes, but nevertheless, masterpieces. Don‘t let anybody tell you differently. Now this movie, I have waited for this to be shown in the cinemas of our little country, but forget it. All they show is Hollywood mainstream shit nowadays. So go out an buy this DVD at all costs. At best the Special Edition shown here, it contains ANVILs newest Studio Album This is Thirteen, produced by Chris Tsangarides. Now let's get back to the movie, it is the story of life-long friendship between Main Man Lips Kudlow and Drum-God Robb Reiner. They met each other when they went to high school and they rocked out ever since. It is a sad sight to see this band play in Europe in front of (tops) 100 people. It is even sadder to see them play their homeground of Toronto in front of maybe 30 people, what has the world coming to? The Extras-Sectios of the DVD shows a lenghty interview with Lars Ulrich, usually I do not dig this sucker, but in this talk he is not that bad, one can hear that he knows his Metal (NWOBHM that is) and he is trying to explain why his band has risen to stardom and ANVIL does’nt. They shared the same management in the early Eighties, can you believe that? They were right behind the big four (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax), but they failed to catch up. Line-up and Company Changes did the rest. They got forgotten in time. The movie left you thinking about life in general, friendship, fame and glory at all costs, your life, my life, have we fucked up too? I think everybody does at times. Lemmy sums it all up when he said: You have to be at the right place at the right time. And ANVIL weren’t.

Gothic Icon

SISTERS OF MERCYs Floodland defined the term Gothic new in more than just one way. Craig Adams and Wayne Hussey left after the first album to form their own band The Mission. Mr. Eldritch then joined forces with Patricia Morrison of The Gun Club (Bass/Vocals) and began working on Floodland. The couple was joined in the studio only by a few session musicians, and Doktor Avalanche, of course. Andrew Eldritch composed and wrote the whole album alone. The album consists of completely over-produced pieces like This Corrosion (Jim Steinmann of Meat Loaf fame…) with it’s Wagnerian choirs, and on the opposite a few beautiful and completely reduced tunes like Torch (heard before on the Sisterhood EP Gift) and 1959. (Gothic) Imagery especially in video clips and on promo pictures was very strong. Dominion was shot in the desert arround Petra in Jordan, wondeful scenes with Andrew and Patricia as a couple. Floodland is remaining a classic, even though Mr. Eldritch does not like the G-Word so much these days. The Sisters are still active on the live front, while the audience is waiting for a new record since 1993… Best Tracks: Dominion/Mother Russia, Lucretia my Reflection, Colours. Released in 1987.

After the thrill has gone

Alright, here’s an obscure one for you. THE HUNT out of Toronto, Canada. A three piece known only to few rockers around the world. But what I read online, they toured in Texas quite a few times and also had a strong fanbase in upstate New York. This is their third album and it is somewhat different from their first two more Progressive Rock like, records. Here they play it heavier, but always with a melodic touch. Paul Dickinson (Guitar/Vocals), Carl Calvert (Bass/Vocals) and Paul Kersey on Drums formed THE HUNT in 1977. Sadly The Thrill of the Kill was their last regulary album. It was followed only by a best of album in 1985, but at the time of release, the band already has folded. Best Tracks: You in the night, Time goes on, The Hills, Wishing Well. Worst Song: Fire (a completely unnecessary cover of the classic Arthur Brown Tune). Released in 1982.

Formation of the Black Metal Legions

VENOMs debut album Welcome to Hell arrived with a bang in 1981. Nobody heard such a harsh production on a Heavy Metal record so far. Some say it sounded only that extreme because of the cheap equipment they used during the three day recording session at Neat Records studio. Nonetheless Welcome to Hell paved the way to the term Black Metal used on VENOMs second album. Messrs. Chronos, Mantas and Abaddon of Newcastle upon Tyne scorched out a unique blend of very dark, very distorted and very unusual music. Tracks like Witching Hour or One Thousand Days in Sodom are still very impressive today. At the time the metal community was extremly impressed by their visual presence. Pics first released in Kerrang magazine or on their records had them always caught in over the top poses. Almost all their lyrics contained some satanic Hints. All in all, they were a breed apart but today Welcome to Hell is a classic. Best Tracks: Live like an Angel (Die like a Devil), Witching Hour, In League with Satan. Released in 1981. Be sure to buy the 2002 release on Castle/Sanctuary with 11 bonus tracks. 666

Canadian Weaponry

One album not to miss, is the thunderous debut from Montreal’s own Metal Machine SWORD. Kicking off with the massive F.T.W. (Follow the wheel), followed by Children of heaven and until the closing track Evil Spell, the album is filled to the top with metal anthems. Released by Aquarius Records SWORDs debut got little to no support. The band was hardly recognized outside the canadian borders. Shaped by brothers Rick (Vocals) and Dan Hughes (Drums), Mike Plant (Guitars) and Mike Larock (Bass), the band showed big international potential. They band gained a few opening jobs for Alice Cooper, Motörhead and even Metallica, but sadly they never toured in the US or in Europe. Like so many other brilliant hopefuls they folded after a second album. Best Tracks: Children of Heaven, Stoned again, F.T.W. Released in 1986. You can find promo videos for a few tracks on youtube.

Predator for Melodies

If your are into melodic Metal with a hard edge, superb song-writing and haunting melodies with quadruple harmony vocals, then PRAYING MANTIS must be your favourite band out of the NWOBHM-Era, am I right? The short-lived band, led by brothers Tino and Chris Troy (of Greek origins) released a few singles and numerous contributions to (now) classic compilations such as: Metal for Muthas, Metal Explosion and Steel Crazy. In 1980 they signed to Arista to record their debut album Time tells no lies. But fate turned bad for the mighty predator, mismanagement and the slow fading-away of the NWOBHM lead to Arista’s decision, not to record a second album with this fine band. But lucky enought we still have this one here, and what a killer it is. Filled with classics from start to finish, too many to mention. Guitarist/singer Tino Troy and bassist Chris Troy were joined on this album by guitarists/singers Rob Angelo and Steve Carroll and drummer Dave Potts. The band is still active today. Best Tracks: Cheated, Lovers to the Grave, Running for Tommorow, Flirting with Suicide, Beads of Ebony. Released in 1980.