Varga - Oxygen (1995)

Right, let's be clear, I'm not gonna review too much of this mid '90s stuff, but Varga are a slight exception. Put simply, this is typically mid '90s 'metal' that fuses rap, funk and a hint of grunge, and when stirred it makes for a mildly entertaining listen, mainly as I'm a sucker for scratching when it's done right. Of course, many years previously the kings of crossover style Mordred were incorporating rap, funk, soul etc into their sound, but it took an atrocious band like Rage Against The Machine, and to a lesser extent, the even worse Clawfinger, to bring their style of 'rap metal' to the masses. Varga sit somewhere in between, remaining far more obscure and less polished, on a track like 'So Real' they fuse together a crunching style of funk with noisy raps and injections of scratching. 'Hay In The Needlestack' operates on a bruising guitar and whining violin before a lazy, grunge-style vocal drifts in, but quickly I'm losing patience with this - the vocals quickly become a shifting snap, and Varga become a metal crossover by numbers sorta band, summing up a terrible time for music. I'm left vacant all too often by this time of music, wishing it would make up it mind instead of jumping on a bandwagon that soon toppled into some ravine and saved us all, until fuckin' Limp Spastic came along. 4/10

Disciples Of Power - Power Trap (1989)

When I first heard the band name floatinga round in the late '80s I was convinced this would be some type of bluesy sleaze album. Er, to say I was wrong was an understatement. Disciples Of Power are a frantic black thrashing pile of mayhem and destruction who rely on raw, bloody-knuckle riffs and rusty rough vocals. This is all hell breaking loose on record, it just goes for the jugular. There's nothing original here, just dark manic thrash with rancid vocals and hurtling guitars...bit it has an endearing quality as it starts to rip your face off. Hard to describe because it's just so in your face, but it's lack of identity means it can just get on with its job and destroy your ears. 'Ice emons' and 'Crisis' being my favourite assaults on the senses even if the vocals give me a sore throat just listening to them. 6/10

Arcade - s/t (1993)

A likeable record featuring the vocal sneer of Stephen Pearcey of Ratt fame. This is sultry sunshine melodic rock that boasts a handful of real corkers. Whilst grunge was busy destroying metal, it sounds like Pearcey and co didn't give a damn, and instead produced this mighty fine opus. Naturally there are elements of Ratt, and moreso Aerosmith but in general this has a more clearer and professional and certainly more serious feel, 'Cry No More' is a fantastic ballad and nice to hear Fred Coury of Cinderella rattlinga way on the drums. Arcade have a really pure rock sound, the bass lead rocker 'Nothin' To Lose' has an infectious strut, Pearcey on fine form here, but the most wondrous of tracks has to eb the piano-infested 'So Good, So Bad,' a real tear jerker and Pearcey becomes a real star on this record. Arcade only released two albums, but be thankful for that, because at times this is hot melodic metal. 7.5/10

Brocas Helm - Into Battle (1984)

It's fun metal and nothing more. Vey much of its time, Brocas Helm patrol the same battlefields as the more extraordinary Manilla Road, and less theatric Cirith Ungol. 'Into Battle' lacks the production values to really cause its intended blitz, and whilst the guitars are eager to burst free from the shackles all else ends up in the basement, giving a slight endearing quality. The title track is as good as it gets, a track that boasts some roaring guitars and strong metallic edge but the vocal rasps seem subdued by the smog of the woods they probably recorded the album in. High levels of obscurity choke the life out of the record, making it one of those short lived affairs, although I have to admit to kneeling down at the altar of a stormy track like 'Metallic Fury,' a perfect metal song for nights in the wilderness. 6/10

Bogeymen - There Is No Such Thing As (1991)

If you were a fan of Masters Of Reality then you'll dig this bluesy, cock swingin' slab of southern rock that is fused togetehr by some boogie on down guitars, swaggering drums, cool keyboards and a tawng of a vocal. It's all very '70s sounding but it's ultra cool all the same, guess that's why I like the honky strut of Salty Dog and less so Fopur Horseman. It's all very infectious, from the cool swagger of 'Killing Ground' to the catchy 'Shake Your Body Armour,' all very much stuck in the past but it's more than happy to stay there. This offers up the stuffy atmosphere of Uriah Heep, the thump of Hendrix and Cream, a bit of Sabbath, and Deep Purple and the fact it features two ex-members of Masters Of Reality means there will be a hint of that here. Good stuff but sadly rather obscure. 7/10

Big Chief - Platinum Jive (1994)

Halfway to cool alterno metal that sits in no man's land as a groove based, slightly psychedelic, funky hip-hop srut machine. It's not bad even if it lacks identity or atmosphere, kinda making me feel cold as it tries so hard to combine so many style without wanting to be metal - cos' I'm guessing that to be metal in the mid '90s was way uncool. Naturally it is grunge-tinged but it's pretty meaty too, boasting some serious fuzz and frenzy and fronted by tough vocals and songs that strive to be fun yet also furious. The video at the time was for 'Lion's Mouth', a funked up Detroit drive machine that features some masculine vocals from Barry Hennsler. 'All Downhill From Here' has a sleazier, bluesier groove about it, at times early Mudhoney springs to mind with the raw power although there's some cool, soulful backing vocals on this cut, making it all the more catty, 'Takeover Baby' is equally cool,a funky, jiving hip-shaker with a '70s flavour. This album is a real grower, just not sure where it sits, but the least you can do is give it a spin, because it does more for the soul than the Chilli Ploppers. 6.5/10

Bulldozer - Unexpected Fate (2009)

Bulldozer were one of the first bands I ever got into - I was enthralled and frightened by their boozy Venom-esque rambling back in the '80s and then I kind've lost track. Admittedly, these Italian black thrashers haven't released an album for centuries (well, 21 years to be precise!!)but after hearing 'Unexpected...' it's as if the band has never been away. This really is a raging storm of a record, a black, filthy black thrash attack that brings to mind German monsters Sodom and Destruction. The title track alone is a thrash masterpiece, with its catchy riff and blastbeats and of course those primal rasps of Alberto Contini. I was a serious Bulldozer fan back in the day, because like Venom, Sodom, et al, they began life as genuine grim armies of death who ploughed their way through the competition whilst always having a cult following. It's a tragedy they never remained with us and two decades without them is a criminally long time, but at least we can dive into 'Unexpected...' with a fresh nose, only to emerge caked in vile dust. Yes, the band have a slightly clearer sound, but it's still raw, harsh and battering, but like typical Bulldozer there is the occasional injection of fun, 'Micro V.I.P.' is a full on thrasher, but faves have to be the fetid growl of 'Bastards,' and the stark thrash rattler 'Salvation For Sale'. For the most part Bulldozer today play a more modern sounding chugging thrash, but there are still those unclean streaks, the riffs of Panigada and Borroni have to be applauded, even if this isn't the Bulldozer of twenty or so years ago. Times change, but it's good to have the Italian beasts back. 7.5/10