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.

Second Flight

The second outing of Englands very own UFO aptly titled One Hour of Space Rock, proves that there was life before Schenker. In fact I like the offerings of Michael Bolton, the original guitarist in this band, much more. His mixture of boogie and spaced-out, not of this world, sounds, simply does it for me. UFO back then consisted of singer Phil Mogg, drummer Andy Parker and bassist Pete Way. The band, formed in 1969, practically had no success in their british homeland, but hit it big on the European mainland, especially in Germany and of course in Japan, where they recorded the superb live album, right after this one. I am deeply fond of UFO, because it was the first band I ever saw playing live. Moments burned forever in my memories. I ran away from home at the age of thirteen, just to see this band, got months of house-arrest later, but believe me, it was worth it! The album consisting of five tracks only, is closed with the mighty 26.30 minutes long title track Flying. My favourite tracks however is Prince Kajuku/The coming of Prince Kajuku. Bolton’s playing there is simple, yet absorbing. I miss bands like this in todays world very much. Released in 1971. Be sure to buy the remastered version on Repertoire Records.

Before the moon turned dark

Englands leading progressive band at that time, PINK FLOYD began recording their 6th album Meddle at Abbey Road Studios in 1971. The predecessor of the mighty Dark side of the moon, opens with the hypnotic One of these days, a great opener. at the ending it is moving slightly into A pillow of winds. Followers are a few odd songs mainly San Tropez (their favorite hang-out at the time) played in a laid-back jazz-style and the even more odd Seamus with a dog taking over lead vocals. All of the B-Side (of the vinyl edition that is) is taken by the enormous Echoes. This is just pure perfection, the quiet beginning, the LSD-sounding middle part, the perfect ending, this track has it all. More than 20 minutes of absolute musical joy. Best Tracks: One of these days, Echoes. Released in 1971. If you like this, be sure to buy the DVD Live at Pompeji. R.I.P. Richard Wright – 09.15.2008.

The dawn of Hair Metal

Vocalist Don Dokken while in Germany provided backing vocals on the Scorpions album Blackout. Ace-Producer Dieter Dierks gave him leftover studio time to record some demos. After teaming up with axe-god George Lynch, drummer Mick Brown and bassist Juan Croucier, DOKKEN the band was born. They soon got a deal with Carrere and released their debut album in 81. Later they got picked up by Elektra and released this album again in 1983, remixed and with different track listing. Before all the Hair Metal Hype this was a solid heavy rock album, no wild imagery here, just good music. I think not many of those bands reached the musical standards set here DOKKEN later enjoyed alot of chart success with their next few albums and changed their visual image too. But still today I like the innocence of this debut very much. Best Tracks: Breaking the Chains, Nightrider and (my personal favourite) Stick to your Guns. Produced by Michael Wagener. Released in 1983.

PS: You can find alot of cool Videos from this band on youtube.

Blues out of Ballyshannon

One of RORY GALLAGHER’s best efforts is this live album here, Irish Tour 74. The Irishman, maybe short in stature was a giant musically. He began to play the guitar at the age of nine, joined his first band with 15, and recorded his first album when he was 21. After a few well-received albums with his first outfit Taste, he decided in 1970 to play under his own name from then on. He released album after album and toured almost every year from 1971 until 1995. Captured on this great record are probably his finest moments, playing live in front of his hometown irish crowd. He is acompanied here by Gerry McAvoy on Bass, Rod de Ath on Drums and Lou Martin on Piano. Irish Tour 74 is packed with classics. Sadly the little irish strat slinger is no longer with us, he died in 1995 at the age of just 47, R.I.P. Rory. Best Tracks: Tatto’d Lady, A Million Miles away, Who’s that coming. Recorded in Ireland 1974.

PS: Also highly recommended is the Irish Tour 1974 DVD, no gimmicks, just music.

Tea Time in Switzerland

Yes, there was life before Krokus. This is TEA and their enormous debut album. Often described as a poor man’s Deep Purple, the band got themselves recognized, even outside the land of chocolate. In fact they were the first swiss band to tour England. But the gigs and tours abroad ended with no big resonance. The band recorded a couple of albums more later, but none of them reached the glory of their first. A very transparent sound, thanks to german ace-producer Dieter Dierks (Scorpions), melodic, but still rocking guitars, and always beautiful keyboard and piano melodies. Their powerful leadsinger Marc Storace went to fame and fortune some years after this, then of course with swiss rockers Krokus. Best Tracks: Lady, Cool in the Morning, Glorimont. Released in 1974.

Conan goes Metal…

Canadian metal merchants WITCHKILLER's debut EP Day of the Saxons still is impressive today. Signed to Metal Blade after three demos, the band showed strenght on all 5 tracks, you will find no fillers here. Hailing out of Ottawa the band was (you guessed it) short lived. They could not follow-up this brilliant outing. Reasons why are unknown. I liked the I-wanna-be-conan-image very much, hey, it was the eighties, right? The Lyrics were also very much influenced from the before mentioned movie. Singer Doug Adams and and Bassist Todd Pilon joined fellow canadians RECKLESS later, to record their awful second album Heart of Steel. I would have liked a full-scale album by these guys much more. Brian Slagel, what were you thinking to let this band go? Best Tracks: Riders of Doom, Beg for Mercy, Cry Wolf. Released in 1984.

Louisiana's finest

LE ROUX hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana are without a doubt among the finest bands in the AOR (Adult Oriented Rock) genre. Their sixth Album So fired up is their best outing ever. New arrived Singer Fergie Frederiksen gave the band an extra boost, both vocally and also in the songwriting departement. They scored a minor hIt with Carrie’s gone from this album, but otherwise the future did not look so bright for them. After this giant album, Frederiksen left (to join Toto later), the band lost their contract with RCA and broke up subsequently. But the songs are still here today. You can order your copy of this hard to find gem directly from Bassist/Producer Leon Medica via their website www.laleroux.com. Best tracks: Turning Point, Lifeline, Yours tonight. Released in 1982.

Consolidate the might

Allied Forces by TRIUMPH is easily one of my favourite albums of all time. It has the perfect mix between heavyness and melodies. The Toronto based three piece consists of Singer/Guitarist Rik Emett, Drummer/Vocalist Gil Moore and Bassist/Keyboardist Mike Levine. The songwriting on this album is excellent, Magic Power and Fight the good fight even hit the Top 40 in the States. Extensive radioplay and a few gold albums allowed the band to tour the USA repeatedly. In Europe however they never hit the big bang. Best Tracks: Allied Forces, Fool for your love, Magic Power. Released in 1981. Btw: They played Sweden Rock Festival this year, and there are rumours about a full-scale world tour in 2009. Talk about exitement!

Rock 'n' Roll Soul

Classic live albums of the seventies must include this burner from original american band GRAND FUNK RAILROAD. I personally began to like them when keyboardist Craig Frost joined the band. For me this was exactly the missing link. The three original members were of course Mark Farner, Mel Schacher and Don Brewer. The musicianship on this double album is a class of it’s own. The guys rock like a loco-motion indeed. You can almost feel all the heat and sweat that has been going on at this gig. Their special brand of funky rock 'n' roll soul had people always on their seats. Also check youtube to watch video footage from this tour. Best Tracks: Footstompin' Music, Rock 'n' Roll Soul, Shinin' on, We're an american band. Released in 1975.

Check youtube to watch some video footage from this great band.

Good Rockin' Tonight

Sometimes when it all comes to together, beautiful things happen. The debut album from MONTROSE is a fine example for this theory. First we have guitarist extra-ordinaire Ronnie Montrose, then Vocalist Sammy Hagar and of course Producer Ted Templeman. Not to forget Bill Church on Bass and Denny Carmassi on Drums. The Album here is a monster, all killers no fillers, is the motto. Starting with Rock the Nation, speeding through the epic Space Station #5 and Rock Candy until the last echoes of Make it last. Strangely this band never made it really big. It is a solid heavy rock album, always on the edge to Heavy Metal. Ronnie Montrose later re-appeared with a new band Gamma. Sammy Hagar kicked off a very successful solo-career and later joined Van Halen. Producer Ted Templeman on the other hand, worked with Van Halen on their first three albums. Funny little world this is! Best Tracks: As mentioned above. Released in 1973.

Beyond the borders of Thrash Metal

This is CELTIC FROST’s third outing after their debut Mini-LP Morbid Tales and their first full lenght Album To Mega Therion. Into the Pandemonium is my favourite record by this very unique band. Mr. Fischer and his cohorts Ain and St. Mark were never better. Tracks like Babylon Fell and Inner Sanctum are still blowing me away. For a start they rip through Wall of Voodoo’s Mexican Radio with no mercy, brilliant! The Album is so diverse, unequaled until today. Other highlights are the sad, gloomy Mesmerized and (my personal Fave) I Won’t Dance, with an almost R&B feeling in the backing vocals. Great too, the more "experimental" Tracks like the beautiful Tristesses de la lune, with just female Voices and (real) Strings and the very urban, and very unusual (for a metal band…) sampled Track One in their Pride. All in all an investement you will never regret. No favourite tracks here, listen to all of them to get the whole idea of this great band. Cover painting by Hieronymus Bosch. Released in 1987.

New Age Kosmische Musik

This masterpiece of early electronic music by TANGERINE DREAM was recorded live in various cathedrals in France and England. The Berlin based band, at this time consisting of Edgar Froese, Chris Franke and Peter Baumann, was especially popular in those two countries. Two tracks are dividing the original album, Ricochet Part One and Part Two. The two pieces are very different in atmosphere and overall feeling. Part One is darker with a strange, even cosmic middle part, maybe a reminder to their first albums, often called Kosmische Musik. Part Two is somehow lighter, but melancholic. Sequencer patterns forming the rhythmic base of this track. Ricochet is one of the definite albums by TANGERINE DREAM. If you are a lover of electronic music, this is a must to own. I for myself, love most of their early albums, for me it is a change from all the guitar-oriented music I am listening to all the time. Released in 1975.

One Man Army

California born musical genius Jon Crosby is VAST (Visual Audio Sensory Theater). On his debut album he mixes Heavy Rock with Gregorian Chants and alot of samples from eastern countries to an incredible exciting mix. The man responsible for this masterpiece was only 21 yrs. old at the time of recording this album. Alot of this record has been used for TV Episodes and movies. I found out about this because I saw the trailer to Leonardo DiCaprio’s The Beach at the cinema. I was hooked after listening to Touch just one time. I found this a very refreshing album in 1998 (and still today) in a otherwise very dull musical landscape. Best Tracks: Here, Touched, Dirty Hole. Released in 1998.

NWOBHM Milestone

Of all the bands emerging out of england arround the year 1980, this is the reference of the so-called New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Playing in the same league with fellow britons Iron Maiden, Praying Mantis et all, ANGEL WITCH sadly never reached total world domination… and their contribution to Heavy Metal is criminally underrated. This debut album is packed with classics from start to finish. Superb songwriting, great musicians, and most important, creators of that unique, heavy, doomy sound. Messrs. Heybourne, Riddles and Hogg were signed to Bronze in 1980 and cut this album in the same year. Sadly the band did not last that long. Later a few follow-up groups like Tytan, Lionheart and Blind Fury appeared, but none of them reached the sheer class of their predecessor. If you don’t already own this record, then buy the 25th Anniversary Edition with 10 (!) bonus tracks. Included are all their singles and EP’s, A- and B-Sides plus their contributions to some Compilations. Best Tracks: Angel of Death, Sorcerers, Baphomet, Extermination Day. Released in 1980.

Astronauts on Horses…

BEGGARS OPERA were a very unique band from Scotland. Between 1970 and 1973 they released three classic albums on the Vertigo Label. This here Pathfinder was their third album. Very strong songwriting, some very hard-edged music, but overall still very melodic. All Songs are sung dramatically beautiful by Martin Griffiths. Standout track here is a 8 min. remake of the classic Mac Arthur Park by Jimmy Webb. I remember being so impressed by the intense cover Art. It showed an astronaut riding on a horse, it set all kinds of weird SciFi-Fantasies free in my then young mind. Also included in the original Vinyl Issue was a big poster of the cover’s artwork. Best Tracks: The Witch, Madame Doubtfire, Hobo and the before mentioned Mac Arthur Park. Released in 1972.

Shot down in Toronto

This is canadian powerhouse SANTERS first album Shot down in flames (The name is a tribute to the late Bon Scott, who died one year earlier). Wonderful combination of heavy riffing and awesome melodies. Always a favourite of mine, the band consisting of brothers Rick (Guitars & Vocals) and Mark Santers (Drums) plus bassist Rick Lazaroff, never made it big, which is a deadly shame. The Toronto based trio released a few more albums and they are all worth a listen. Rick Santers later played with fellow canadians TRIUMPH on tour. Rick Lazaroff played on rock lady LEE AARON’s first album. Best Tracks: Shot down in Flames, You turn me on, Crazy Ladies, Time after Time. Released in 1981. If possible get the japanese remaster on Dandelion Records.

This is not Krautrock

The place: Hamburg, Germany. The band: FRUMPY. After their enormous debut All will be changed this band geared into full throttle. Their second album, simply called 2, consists of four tracks only, but what monsters they are. Often shelved under Krautrock with all the other german obscurities of the early 70ies, they were something else. Bluesrock at its finest topped with a female voice you will never forget. French Keyboard-Master Jean-Jaques Kravetz is joined here by Drummer Carsten Bohn, Bassist Karl-Heinz Schott, Guitarist Rainer Baumann and Vocalist Inga Rumpf. Best Tracks: All of them! Good Winds, How the Gypsy was born, Take care of Illusion and finally Duty. Released in 1971.

Space Rock Monument

English born TIM BLAKE was the synthesist in both Hawkwind and Gong. Later he moved to France and began to release solo-albums. This here is Blake’s New Jerusalem his second effort after the debut Crystal Machine. The multi-Instrumentalist creates a unique compromise between outlandish space music and earthbound space rock. Best Tracks: Song for a new Age, Lighthouse, Blake’s New Jerusalem. Released in 1978.

Order this hard-to-find CD directly from Tim on his website: moonweed.free.fr

Emotional Intelligence

Canadian triumvirat RUSH’s eight studio album Moving Pictures is something else. In the early days they were poorly labeled as Prog Rock, only later they became the intellectuals favourite rockband.

This Album was the first of my favourite trio of RUSH albums, later to be joined by the more keyboard oriented Grace under Pressure and Signals. This is an album I never get tired listening to, just because it contains good songs and is brilliantly performed. Best Tracks: Red Barchetta, YYZ (Intro played in Morse Code!), The Camera Eye and of course Tom Sawyer. Released in 1981.

The Definition of Heavy Metal

Probably THE definite album by JUDAS PRIEST, Unleashed in the East has it all. Over-dubbed vocals or not, the discussion about that still goes on. 

It was the first album I bought in the then-new CD-Format, long before I could afford a CD-Player. An alltime favourite of mine, so here it will have the honor to open my Blog. Best Tracks: Sinner, Victim of Changes, The Green Manalishi. Released in 1979.

If possible get the japanese edition named Priest in the East with four bonus tracks.