Crowley - Whisper of the Evil (1986)

A true metal gem if you ask me, this Japanese troop didn't do much else apart from this platter which featured a wonderfully amateurish cover to scare your parents. Musically though it's al guns blazing pacey metal showcasing some fine guitar solos from Yoshinori Kokune and when you have track titles such as 'Woman In A Black Cape' and 'Stalker' you can't really argue with them, and for the most part the squealing vocals of Takashi Iwai are also noteworthy. At times bordering on thrash, this thunderous albeit slightly amateurish attempt at dark metal is certainly one for collectors. 666!
7/10

White Night - Death Rendez-vouz (1985)

A creaky platter from '85 - White Night (unusual spelling!) were an obscure quintet who only released this plodding yet pitch-black EP which featured a T. Satanson (geddit?!) on vocals. Traditional metal it most certainly is, with slightly strained but convincing vocals over some decent ominous riffs and not so weighty drums. Of the three songs on offer, 'Wild Night' is certainly the best and has the feel of a flatter Mercyful Fate or maybe that's just my imagination running wild in my candle-lit dungeon. Even so, a half-decent EP that's worth your time although I'm pretty sure my nan drew the cover!
6.5/10

Heather Leather - Princess Leather (2005)

I was slightly confused by this record when I first heard it because I thought I'd stumbled on something from the '80s and was then shocked to find that these gals are a recent act to some extent although their first stirrings took place in the mid '80s. This Texan trio consist of vocalist Ruth Garza-Newcomb, who also plays bass, guitarist Sylvia Garza and drummer Margaret Cortina. Oddly this sounds like a weird mix of traditional metal with a crossover feel and pop-edge if that makes sense, but if your their anthem 'We Came To Destroy' you might understand what I mean. there is certainly a bubble-gum edge to proceedings and the vocals are often out of key but it really does have an endearing punky edge particularly on 'Undercover' with its catchy riff whilst 'Let's Rock' has a driving guitar and drum and a demo quality, and after I've spun the eight tracks I'm rather confused by this cheeky little record, but I'm bemused enough to like it because it's so damn catchy.
6.5/10

Sacred Blade - Of the Sun + Moon (1986)

Yep, we're still stuck in 1986 wit a reasonably meaty offering - and their only album - from British Columbia's Sacred Blade who I believe are still going but under a different name. Listen, I'm not going to argue with metal that is as punchy as this. I was actually introduced to this brand of fist-clenching metal via one of the 'Metal Massacre' compilations, and it's the sort of record I would have loved to have picked up in the '80s mainly due to Jeff Ulmer's (R.I.P.) vocals which are a mix of gravel and ball-breaking high-pitched squeal. A number of good and intelligent numbers on this opus, ranging from the title track through to 'Salem' and my favourite rocker 'Master of the Sun.' Good solid melodic metal.
7/10

Legion - Legion of Death (1986)

A foggy obscurity comes via Ohio trio Legion who were probably one of a hundred other bands with the same name, and musically they were nothing spectacular meaning that their lifespan was incredibly short. This four-track EP was their only release and boasted rather weak sounding vocals courtesy of Dave Belanger whilst the guitars were pretty watery too although that could have been down to the poor production which made the drums of King Douglass sound as if he was tapping a desk with his fingers. Of course, amidst the flaws there were a few attempts at metal majesty with 'The Weak Must Die' and 'Good-bye' but these are fifteen minutes of your life you won't miss, but again, like so many other records, the lukewarm 'Legion of Death' deserves its exposure to the light after being in the basement for so long.
5.5/10

Order From Chaos - Stillbirth Machine (1993)

A nasty little record this one, combining raw black metal and grim death metal. Strangely this sounds older than what it is, but that's down to the primal nature. Vocally it's quite hideous as Pete Helmkamp gives us a horrific impersonation of a guttural demon and rasping witch all the while the sludgy, punk-infested guitars have a sort of crusty accessibility about them meaning that the seven-minute title track, the pungent opener 'The Edge of Forever' and the vile 'Blood & Thunder' remain infectious yet gritty and raw. If you ask me there's a British feel about this billowing mess of a record, because it has such a thick sound - Chuck Keller's weird, choking guitars are quite smothering and the dark philosophical lyrics give this album an oily edge - the stains will be a nightmare to remove after a spin of this filth.
8/10

Legend - From the Fjords (1979)

Here's a U.S. band that lives up to its name. The seeds of heavy metal were certainly sewn in the '70s and Legend's only full-length opus is something to be admired, bringing to mind the epic feel of the likes of Heavy Lad and Cirith Ungol although those bands took metal to more icy realms. This opus has some nice subtle touches, mainly in Kevin Nugent's almost calm persona but there is certainly a dark edge throughout this record, more evident on the brooding 'The Destroyer' which features some superb guitar work from the Nuge'. Eight tracks on this one, and the sort of mythological metal that one can easily become lost in while the rest of your mates are down the pub!
7/10