Keen Hue - Ogre King (1985)

A rather odd cover which at first suggested to me some type of '70s prog oddity but this in fact a rather striking, stomping heavy rock no thrills metal experience out of Sweden and it's one which grows and grows on the wars. So stuck in that '80s time-warp were Keen Hue that I'm rather surprised they returned with another opus in 1993; but 'Ogre King' is a fairly bog-standard rocker hinting at power metal flecks on tracks such as 'Liar' and the superb 'Prisoner but Guiltless'. There's plenty of macho power in the voice of  Patrick Silén but a majority of the tracks do have that early '80s, stripped-back almost New Wave of British Heavy Metal feel but however one tries to throw this in with the rock rather than the metal only has to check out the glorious, chest-pounding entity that is the title track. Indeed, after a few spins you begin to realise that the cover is very apt for this stone-faced rocker.
7/10

Arrow - Diary of a Soldier (1986)

Although a touch tepid; 'Diary of a Soldier' is a nice, watery dose of melodic metal that came out of Sweden at seemingly the right time only for the band to disappear immediately afterwards. We get four tracks; the best probably being the opening title plod with its nice and tidy musicianship and subtle yet no thrills vocal performance from Mattias Höijer. There's certainly nothing heavy about Arrow and tracks such as 'Straight to your Heart' have a certain obscure charm and pop-laced quality; but it's all over so quickly that it's no wonder Arrow became so very quickly forgotten.
6/10

Leather Nunn - Take the Night (1986)

I'm surprised these guys never went on to release more records; but 'Take the Night' is the only chunk they spewed out and I'm grateful for it. This is heavy metal played for keeps; hinting at a glam style to some extent but as fiery as the bottomless pots of Hell. The album comes complete with chunky, trashy guitars - accessible grooves; a strong metallic percussion and the archetype drools of Wade Williams. In a sense there's a streetwise feel to this as the band explores the rather naïve and almost predictable themes of metal but it's all encapsulated in that dingy production and the fact that there's such an instant charm about proceedings with the simple choruses of the title track and the creaky old school Crue-like clatter of 'You're the One.' A fantastic slab of metal that has become pretty collectable but essential...
8/10

Hands of Mercy - Fallen Angel (1988)

Rather standard obscurity here from Belgium; Hands of Mercy being a short-lived quartet who played a catchy style of hair metal with nice sleazy riffs and a dose of pomp. 'Fallen Angel' was a three-track EP - sadly only lasting for twelve minutes and it was to be the last twelve minutes of their career but there are some nice sassy tunes on offer, particularly the catchy title track with it's Kiss-like melodies and extra saucy riffage courtesy of Stef Hermans. The EP being a pretty much instant slice of heavy rock featuring some nice solos and occasional fiery input as each track progresses. 'Lonely in the Night' is probably the most 'metal' tune on offer,a  slow builder with a darker plod and some subtle touches, bringing an all too brief career to a close.
6.5/10

Liquid Mirror - Kicked out of Fantasy (1987)

Another glammy gem; Liquid Fantasy hailed from California and disappeared after they released these rollicking slab of melodic rock. The band featured former Hawaii man Tom Azevedo who has a rather comforting tone to his voice although musically it was a mish-mash of pop-edged melodies ('I Wanna Be With You') and a harder pomp ('I Don't Care') but in its inoffensive manner there was something so engaging about this glittery slab of glam. We get nine decent tracks which run for a duration of just over half-an-hour and it's a record I recommend you track down if you like fiery stomp rock.
7.5/10

Swedish Erotica - s/t (1989)

If I told you that in spite of their atrocious band name that members of Swedish Erotica (and yes, they are Swedish) played with numerous metal legends as Malmsteen, TNT, King Diamond, Vinnie Vincent then you'd be thinking that maybe this is one of those really cool, majorly talented acts let down by its moniker, and to some degree you'd be correct. Swedish Erotica are a peculiar bunch - very much archetype melodic metal with punchy, sassy choruses and a few cheeky licks thrown in for good measure - think of a rather harmless blend of Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and slightly harder pomp hair metal and you'd be on the right track. It's almost Steel Panther without the overtly tacky lyrics but in its predictability there is a distinctive charm where the likes of 'Love Me or Leave Me' become honey-drenched chuggers showcasing the decent vocal strains and almost run-of-the-mill hair metal joys and chants. In the end this album grows on you like a cheesy fungus, because it's often bombastic, always anthemic and just so generic but how could the '80s survive without a foundation of songs such as 'Downtown' with its formulaic lyrics and middle of the road riffage. But it's good, fuzzy late '80s metal that kept the band in good stead in spite of several line up changes and a career into the '90s and beyond - even if actual output has been somewhat sporadic. For good ol' fashioned party metal, look no further...
7/10

Blackboard Jungle - I Like It A Lot (1992)

For those of you who dig stuff like Saigon Kick, The Front, Kik Tracee et al, then Blackboard Jungle would have been right up your street. Trouble is, this album was so hard to find...as it is today and so they never made any sort of impact on the music scene; in fact they were too cool for school and remain a cult act responsible for some of the grooviest numbers that came before the grunge wave. The title track itself is a semi-psychedelic sway of rousing vocals and varying musical injections to create an almost flowery, funky trip but it was always going to end in tragedy in spite of the glories of 'Chicago', 'Everybody Talk About It', and 'Forever You & I'. Brilliant throughout I can only hang my head in shame at those who failed to recognise such talents.
8.5/10

Aidean - Promises (1988)

Almost sickly in its harmonies, 'Promises' is a bit of an obscurity in terms of melodic rock and comes complete with some rather sneering vocal gripes. Even so, there is a low-budget charm and real catchy quality about this band who hail from German and spout out some of the most irritatingly catchy AOR I've ever heard. One listen to 'Do You Call Again' and 'Rocks You' will put you under the spell of these boys who clearly have an eye for the infectious. With its strong bubble-gum flavour I found myself constantly spinning this obscurity so if you can nab yourself a copy then do give in to the craving.
7/10

Messiah Force - The Last Day (1987)

Hey, it may be a tad tuneless at times but Messiah Force made the mid '80s an extremely entertaining place to be; 'The Last Day' being a wild slab of power metal boosted by the flailing vocal traits of loose cannon Lynn Renaud whose metallion style of breast-pounding was wonderfully complemented by the twin guitar rage of Jean Tremblay and Bastien Deschenes, the overall result being a speed metal fireball to the scrotum built upon the foundations of galloping percussion courtesy of Jean-Francois Boucher and some truly mesmerising songs such as 'Call From The Night' with its ominous intro. Imagine Warlock at their most devilish and 'The Last Day' will no doubt be the sort of '80s metal quest we'd all be privileged to partake in; because in spite of its flaws this is a superb record marrying traditional metal with dense, power and thrash metal.
8/10

Mindless Sinner - Turn On The Power (1986)

Also responsible for the half-decent 'Master of Evil' album, Mindless Sinner were a Swedish bunch who made their living by churning out fiery traditional metal. The '80s were the most productive era for the guys who actually reunited twice; the most recent being in late 2013. 'Turn on the Power' is one of those no thrills records that attempts some sort of epic, chest-pounding metal and it succeeds to some extent - mainly with songs such as 'I'm Gonna (Have Some Fun)' - lyrically basic but some effective guitar work throughout and a few catchy choruses means that in spite of the rather average vocals; this is still a good, solid generic metal release.
6.5/10

Heavy Bones - Heavy Bones (1992)

Just a shame these guys never formed earlier than 1990, the wonderfully unknown Hollywood act Heavy Bones had everything going for them - great vocals from Joe Ellis, a catchy rhythm section hardened by the percussion of Frankie Banali (better known for featuring with Quiet Riot) and bass of Scott Thunes who would be replaced in 1992 by Rex Tennyson.

Their self-titled album was an absolute corker of an opus sporting weight and melody which shone on tracks such as '4:00 A.M. T.M.' which reminded me of War Babies in the sense that serious groove-orientated rock was the order of the day; no time for gimmicks and lashings of extra crunch. It's crazy that this album hardly sold and so as grunge began its sickly takeover Heavy Bones were already dead in the dust but this was a mighty fine legacy to leave behind. I still think that these guys could have survived into the mid to late '90s because their sound was versatile enough to break the boundaries of ordinary sleaze rock, but alas it was not to be...but if you are able to lend an ear to the likes of 'The Light of Day', 'Anna', 'Beating Heart' et al then you'll hear a mature and promising act cut down by the cruel hand of fate.
8/10

Cherry St. - Cherry St. (1992)

And yep, it's another ultra-cool sleaze/glam band who came at the wrong time. In spite of carving out a career beyond the realms of the grunge invasion; these guys should've been huge. Musically as infectious as a sexually transmitted disease, Cherry St. boasted the talents of members who would eventually go on to feature for acts such as Dangerous Toys, Vain, Roxx Gang, and in a sense they followed the same theme of releasing decent albums but not getting the recognition. Cherry St's debut album is one that stands out from the crowd; bolstered by fiery vocal sneers and weighty rhythms and above all, cool, classy swaggering tunes in abundance - nowhere more evident than on the smokin' title track and the drunken slam of 'Here I Come'. One of my favourite records in regards to releases that were criminally out of time and proof that 1992 wasn't just about lank-haired moodiness and dressed-down dullness.
8/10

Slik Toxik - Doin' The Nasty (1992)

Oh if only this had been released a few years before then maybe Slik Toxik would've been up there with some of the best; Love/Hate, Kik Tracee etc - mind you, it's not as if those talented chaps got the recognition they deserved either but 'Doin...' was a fine debut record if you have a craving for groove-based sleaze metal. These Canadian's had so much talent; from the cool, sassy vocal sneer of Nick Walsh and that oomphy guitar twang and it wasn't just the usual formulaic sleaze n' roll but sure; there was that element of Guns n' Roses but boy there were times when this album smoked; 'White Lies/Black Truth', 'Sweet Asylum', 'Cherry Bomb' - the list goes on and on and yet it was an album that failed at putting Canada on the map. Of course, from here it was a case of grunge suffocation - Slik Toxik just not knowing where they stood in the scheme of things, but for ballsy sleaze metal you just couldn't go wrong with this punch to the face.
8/10

Trouble Tribe - Trouble Tribe (1990)

Here's a band I never gone on with initially; I guess at the time of its release this self-titled album just lacked the glitz and attitude to really shake the ground; and yet here I am decades later enjoying it for what it is; a solid no thrills hard rock opus boasting a number of simply melodies. Trouble Tribe was the sort of band which simply didn't have the bite to succeed and yet it wasn't really their fault; their modest harmonies and occasionally infectious, pop-edged chants could well have put them in the limelight; but it just didn't happen. 'Here Comes Trouble' was most certainly the sort of track that could have been an accidental hit but that simplistic hair metal design - but one which seemed to lack attitude - didn't put them in good stead and so this debut album was all she wrote. It's worth giving these guys another chance though...
6.5/10

Sgt. Roxx - Weapons of Miss Distraction (2009)

This compilation ties up the best bits of the very brief career of glam rockers Sgt. Roxx who formed back in the mid '80s. The quintet promised much with the release of their 1987 demo 'Squeeze It Some More...' and although this was followed in 1990 by the 'Push & Squeeze' EP it was a case of too little too late and they dissolved, but this opus is a good way of reliving some extremely sprightly moments of a band who were a lot heavier than initially given credit for. Very much on that Crue trip what with Jack Adams' sneering vocals and that weighty guitar sound which enables the likes of 'Push & Squeeze' to really lift off like a love rocket to the moon. Tracks such as 'My Lady' also give an inkling as to how good this band was but with a bulging scene at the time it was just a case of Sgt. Roxx slipping under the radar, so snap this up if you like infectious, swaggering, pouting metal.
7/10

Roxx - Outlaw, Fools & Thieves (2004)

Well, well, well, here I go again, injecting a 'newie' in this vast cauldron of vintage sleaze, glam, death, doom and thrash destruction. Roxx aren't original but there is something charming about this opus - maybe it's the rough vocal rasps of vocalist Joey D'Angeli - the same guy who oh so briefly fronted Skid Row before Sebastian Bach took the throne. But this is no one-trick pony; so what we get are eleven very catchy, glam-laced tunes - the best of these being the infectious bubble-gum sway of 'Give Up Your Heart' and the stomping lipstick drama of 'Too Little Too Late' delivered with enough hairspray to coat the lug-holes. Certainly one of the better contemporary rock n' roll glam bands doing the rounds and it's an album that reeks of experience and sugar-coated licks that should please fans of Pretty Boy Floyd and the likes.
7/10

Roxxi - Drive It To Ya Hard (1990)

Another extremely underrated dose of sleazy, pouting metal which is once again littered with fabulous solos and catchy melodies of confidence and yet once again, these U.S. rockers got nowhere. But we revel in their cult status of being an incredibly overlooked act who only released one album and then faded into further obscurity...but it was a decent legacy to leave behind; the quartet a shining example of how inoffensive metal should be played back in the '80s and driven by the dazzling guitar work of Dave Sciammacco and the cool vocals of Freddy Grasseschi. The title track was a punchy affair which connected well with the ears as a pompous yet angelic chant whilst 'Give It To Me' had that summery guise of joyous, buoyant percussion and breezy recklessness. In a sense al rather formulaic but as a solid as all cock-rock should be, but they weren't afraid to inject a dose of Crue playfulness too with tracks such as 'Fire In My Heart'.
7.5/10

Tuff Luck - Tuff Luck (1987)

Hardly blessed with the most imaginative moniker; these guys were kinda hard done by due to lack of exposure in a clogged field of similar-sounding acts; but then again these guys weren't half bad at all. When I first heard this many moons ago I expected something rather lame and watery but was pleasantly surprised by the heavier, racier passages particularly on tracks such as 'Tonight Tonight' which dare I say it has a thrashy edge especially with the extra dose of shredding. Vocally Andrew Klein did struggle with the notes throughout but one could not argue with the chunky riffs of 'Time Will Tell' and the poppier 'Take It Or Leave It' - the band were a healthy mixture of sleaze and just good ol' fashioned hard rock spruced up by those weightier guitar clanks courtesy of magician Dave Scott. This is an album that grows with each listen and is one where the musicianship outshines the vocal performance; but the overall result is a positive one.
8/10

Atom God - History Re-Written (1992)

Hard to believe this festering slab of speed metal-meets-NWOBHM emerged just as grunge was taking over. But look past the dreadful cover art and you'll find a flailing, flaming mini-masterpiece built upon a foundation of blazing, hurtling guitars and rampant drums. The only real issue here is the production which means that the vocals are pretty much lost to mankind as they lamely flitter between the searing hot riffs and frothing percussion. Trev Toms (who sadly passed away in 2010) deserved to have his voice heard because with a decent producer this could well have been one of metal's finest offerings within the vintage realm. Eight seething tracks, climaxing with the epic 'Death Will Come...' and this is one of those creaky albums you must own but it might be worth ignoring the debut album which emerged at the tail end of the '80s.
7.5/10

Roxanne - Roxanne (1988)

Roxanne were a pretty obscure heavy rock band who had this debut platter released under a different name ('Burning Up The Night') which featured two previously unheard of tracks. Either way, this is a solid, inoffensive opus boasting the powerful vocals of Jamie Brown. I was never sure about the inclusion of the 'Play That Funky Music' cover; but the album did showcase a healthy set of tunes such as 'Burning....', the steady jab of 'Do It All' and the subtle wash of 'Over You'. Extremely underrated stuff and worth checking out if you like melodic rock with a hint of spice.
7/10

Ransom - Ransom (1991)

I don't a lot about these Christian rockers but if you like driving, commercial metal fronted by a fiery female vocalist in Lisa Faxom then you've gotta lend an ear to this. As far as I'm aware they only released a couple of records; but they were more than capable of churning out a top tune more so due to the fact that the guitar work of Tony Ortiz is just fantastic and with that pompous tracks such as 'Lasting Love' take on a whole new guise with that steely backbone and Lisa's superb melodies. Top notch clean-cut rock.
7.5/10

Ice Tiger - Love 'n Crime (1991)

Interesting melodic rock here from Australian posse Ice Tiger who came rather too late with this half-decent, middle of the road plodder of an opus which showcased such obscure delights as the fancy 'Little Runaway' and the sublime 'Turn to Fantasy', all the numbers on offer having a Dio feel only with a fleck of subtlety to separate the two bands. Vocally, Dave Crosby could never match the wizardry of Ronnie James Dio but his soothing voice is certainly ideal for any mid to late '80s commercial rock so it's a shame these guys didn't really make the grade.
7/10

Concrete Jungle - Wear & Tear (1988)

A bit of a personal favourite this one; even with the inclusion of the rather awful cover of 'Great Balls of Fire'. Having said that Concrete Jungle's twelve track affair is still a sturdy slab of sleaze-edged rock n' roll boasting a number of infectious, and yet surprisingly heavy tunes including the fantastic title track; the short but sweet stomper 'Sweet Missy' with its bubble-gum rock edge and the fiery swagger of 'Right on the Line of Love' showcasing J.C. Ryan's cool, sassy vocal swoon. Certainly not the world's most successful band but 'Wear & Tear' was symbolic of its time and an album I highly recommend.
7.5/10

Beau Nasty - Dirty, But Dressed Well (1989)

So, this is a reasonably rare clump of wholesome 'hair metal' that kind've mixes Skid Row, AC/DC and just about every other band in-between. there's nothing original about this bunch but the opus does boast some rowdy tunes, namely 'Shake It' and the tear-jerking (apparently!) 'Make a Wish' with its cheesy, melodic strains and that soulful vocal croon. It could be argued that Beau Nasty were a typical '80s good time band straight outta California but I always enjoyed the vocals of Fritz but with so many bands of this ilk bustin' at the seems back in the day, Beau Nasty oh so quickly faded from view in spite of supporting killer bands such as Love/Hate.

7/10

ESSENTIAL HEAVY METAL on YOUTUBE and FACEBOOK

For those of you interested in visual reviews, ESSENTIAL HEAVY METAL is now on FACEBOOK as HEAVY METAL CORNER and YOUTUBE. This is a regular show where I'll be looking at various heavy metal vinyl albums. Feel free to join/subscribe - for the YOUTUBE page click HERE

Polluted Inheritance - Ecocide (1992)

Nothing beats a remarkable slab of technical, arrogant death metal and Polluted Inheritance's debut outing is one such record that every self-respecting extreme metal fan should own. Hailing from the Netherlands this quartet really should have done more because as debut albums go this is one of death metal's finest - complex rhythms, jarring bass-lines, guttural vocal sneers and a kick-ass drum sound; everything you could want from a death metal record which combines slower chugs of menace with faster jolts of mayhem. Although they followed up 'Ecocide' with 1996's 'Betrayed' they began to change their style and didn't release their third platter until 2001's 'Into Darkness' but for me this is the master of the trio; a formidable, domineering chunk of complex metal featuring some fantastic axe-work and above all accomplished songs such as 'Faces,' 'Dissolved,' 'Fear', 'Stillborn' and 'Look Inside'. Classy death metal full of intricacy but with enough snarl and beef to match some of the finest of the genre.
8.5/10

Silent Scream - From The Darkest Depths Of Our Imagination (1992)

Certainly one of the best death metal albums I've heard over the years and yet it's not one often recognised as being classic. Silent Scream came from Long Beach, California and they only existed for around five years with this album being their only offering and such a shame that is too because this is strong, heavy death metal with a thrashy twist to it. There's plenty of dark atmospheres on this opus and enough slower passages to remind one of Death at their most foreboding. Vocalist Mario Atencio really makes his mark on this album but the riffs just chug with total menace allowing for the faster segments to complement them. This is an all-round belter of a record featuring some truly solid structures and brilliant tracks throughout; particularly the savage opener 'Self Abuse' and the snarling title track with its excellent bass-lines and sinister barrage which has hints of Dark Angel.

'From the Darkest...' showcased a band with huge potential and yet they were gone as quickly as they had emerged but thank goodness they left us with this mini cult classic.
8/10

Abattoir - Vicious Attack (1985)

Twenty-seven minutes of pure thrash metal mayhem! Abattoir take the rattling, oily sneer of early Metallica and bump it up a notch into the realms of say Agent Steel. Frenzied solos, hurtling drums, volatile vocal spits - it's all here right from the off as they explode like a firework in your face with the racing, raging intensity of opener 'Screams From The Grave' and take in the havoc-drenched delights of the maniacal title track, the speedy steel of 'The Living and the Dead' plus a blazing cover of Motorhead's Ace of Spades' before finishing off their prey with 'Game of Death' which is the longest track on this platter. Certainly a thrash metal fest worth diving into if you need an instant pick-me-up.
7/10

Funeral Nation - After the Battle (1991)

Classic one-album wonder thrash from this Chicago act. 'After the Battle' is the only studio opus released from these talented extreme metallers who began life back in the late '80s and then split in the mid '90s only to reform in 2010. Best described as classy death/thrash metal - Funeral Nation - like so many bands - have a hint of old Slayer about their speedy segments; but there's even a punky/hardcore edge to this raw metal-fest too. Pure underground metal doesn't come much better than this and the turbulence the band experienced in their early days somehow seems to make the music seem a lot more aggressive and bludgeoning. There's certainly nothing ground-breaking on offer here - in fact it could be argued that the style is rather dated, but if you like music of this ilk with no thrills attached then check it out.
8/10

The Storm - s/t (1991)

Another prime example of a band who simply came too late within the hard rock genre. The Storm featured the talents of one Deen Castronovo who seems to get everywhere nowadays, but this debut self-titled platter from the San Francisco-based combo was one that should have stirred a few souls with its funky strut and, high energy and of course subtle melodies but by 1991 heavy metal was already moving off into more colourful and at times slightly more demented and serious voids; meaning that this type of struttin' rock was being left behind and would never recover. However, if you want a glimpse as to how some of rocks coolest bands never made the grade then you should track down The Storm' debut offering because it's a real cracker of an album featuring some wonderfully sleaze-edged metal in the form of 'Touch & Go', and all manner of heart-wrenching semi-power ballads such as 'You're Gonna Miss Me' which is both sweet and sickly.

The band was of course formed by vocalist Greg Alan Rolie who has also featured for seminal acts such as Santana and Journey; so The Storm's debut was always going to be something of an undiscovered minor classic.
7/10

RIO - Sex Crimes (1986)

Surprisingly weighty...well, at least fiery hard rock, boasting plenty of '80s styled melodies but a few driving, catchy numbers, favourites being the excellent title track, the feisty 'Bad Blood' and slightly more predictable 'High School Rock' aimed at rebellious teenagers everywhere! Even so, this is a nice,  polished record with punchy vocals and a good, solid guitar sound which enable the album to rise above AOR mediocrity. It's also very hard to ignore the slam and clank of 'When the Walls Come Down' and the sleaze riff energy of 'Dirty Movies.' An absolutely cracking album cover which would have sent many a teenage metal-head crazy with excitement, and thankfully the music packed within is just as steamy.
7.5/10

Transgression - Cold World (1988)

By an adopting a manic crossover slant to their sound, Transgression have carved out a speedy assault on the senses via this, their most impressive opus of cutting, politically-minded thrash. 'Think for Yourself' and 'Death To All' are my favourite tracks on offer but each every one has a sort of jarring, groove-based menace about it, bolstered by the dry rasps of the vocalist. Certainly any fans of metal which combines hardcore, thrash and punky elements will enjoy this cult offering from this little known Indiana act.
7/10

Star Star - Love Drag Years (1992)

Now, I'm always waffling on about albums that came before or after their time, and one such record is this. Star Star's 'Love Drag Years' was the perfect mix of sleaze, pop and glam - in fact it was such an infectious record that I'm rather concerned that no-one really knew fuck all about them. Taking the swagger of the New York Dolls, the bounce of the Ramones and the sleaze of Faster Pussycat. Typically lipstick-ridden and dishevelled, and fronted by the sickly sweet tones of one Johnnie Holliday, it was simply an album that should have come about five years previous because in 1992 that fetid grunge stink wafted over our towns and removed the last stains of metal from our souls. Considering these received some excellent reviews in the music press, the marrying of punk and glam was probably seen as too synthetic for a time when it was 'cooler' to wear slacker gear. But this is a cracking sleaze-pop-punk opus that goes for the early Alice Cooper-styled sneer whilst bringing with it some bubble-gum ditties to match. If you're looking for criminally ignored band's then Star Star are right up there. Whether in the form of the Bolan-esque hum of 'My Little Cuisinette' or the trash n' roll attitude of 'Science Fiction Boy,' these guys coulda been the next Guns n' Roses but just like The Throbs they didn't have enough behind them to rattle the grunge generation.
8/10

Keel - Lay Down The Law (1984)

As debut albums g this is one of the finest in metal history and the cover isn't bad either! Fist-pumping metal it most certainly is; the sort of studded tumult that band's to this day are still trying to replicate, but often fail miserably. Featuring the distinctive vocals of Ron Keel - who had featured for Steeler the year previous - 'Lay Down The Law' boasts nine tracks, only one of this is a major let-down, that being the cover of the Rolling Stones' 'Let's Spend The Night Together', but everything else is pretty emblazoned with that signature Keel sound ranging from the explosive opener 'Thunder & Lightning' to the pounding melody of the title track. Some excellent axe-work here to from Marc Ferrari.
7.5/10

Steeler - s/t (1983)

A solid heavy metal album which featured the noodling talents of guitar masturbator Yngwie J. Malmsteen who overplays himself to death on this opus which is fronted by Ron Keel. The album also features Rik Fox on bass and Mark Edwards on drums. It's one of those straight down the line metal tear 'em ups that I'd recommend to any denim-clad metal-head especially if you're young and you want a history listen regarding what albums from the early '80s you should own. Admittedly, the likes of 'Hot On Your Heels' can be deemed a tad self-indulgent as far as Malmsteen goes, especially when you consider he was only nineteen at the time, but the album also boasts the excellent 'Cold Day In Hell' which kicks the record off. The album is robust and the sort of platter you'd associate with the rise of the genre.
7.5/10

Various - A Taste of Armageddon (1989)

I've always been a huge fan of heavy metal compilation albums, especially those leaning toward the thrashier side of things. 'A Taste of Armageddon' was a bit of an obscurity in the sense that it featured ten band's who had yet to be signed to any label, and despite the quality of acts on this record I don't think hardly any of them got snapped up after this. Quality naturally varies throughout, as does the production but of all the tracks it's Wreckage's 'Dogs of War' which sticks in the head despite being a rather formulaic plodder but the chorus suggests a band with some talent for writing hooky songs.

Most of the tracks on offer are listenable with Treason and Deviant being probably the best bands on Side One, and Metal Messiah being the best of Side Two but each act ranging from Snyper to the rather wobbly Warpspeed are essential listening. Compilation albums were a great way of being introduced to unknown bands, especially those of British blood.
7/10

Desecrator - Subconscious Release (1991)

Hard to believe that this British death metal release was so overlooked back in good ol' blighty in 1991. Due to a clogged scene and hordes of band's scrambling for Dan Seagrave's masterful artwork, Desecrator got left by the way side but it's wasn't for the want of trying because this is a fine slab of guttural death metal. Fuzzy, down-tuned guitars, miserable low-end vocals and some truly catchy segments make this an essential purchase for anyone who collects old school extreme metal. Extremely heavy throughout one cannot argue with the no thrills joy this opus brings whether in the form of 'The Suffering' and its blustery intro, the squalid 'Repressive Acceptance' or the silted glory of 'Ineffectual Condition,' this is one death metal that decades later still rumbles the knee-caps and I can't recommend this concrete slab enough. So if you like chunky death metal that's not too technical but the likes which will fill your ears with dirt then grab hold of this.
8/10

TNT - Tell No Tales (1987)

As far as melodic yet shredding metal goes, TNT are right up there with the best. A fantastic band who released a clutch of albums yet should've been bigger if they hadn't had such lovely hair!! Despite the bubblegum pomp that immediately meets and greets your ears, beneath the fuzz and hairspray there is an incredibly talented metal band who somehow made it through the '90s and were still active up until recently. These Norwegians were masters of their trade, especially guitarist Ronni Le Tekrø who was a mighty axeman and whose sharp licks walked hand in hand with Tony Harnell's high-pitched yet effortless wails of joy. 'Tell No Tales' was such a joyous record to behold combining strong wafts of melody to the point of pop-edged kookiness ('Listen to your Heart') but when the band got serious (the title track) they nailed it. The quartet could certainly right a hit too, '10,000 Lovers In One' a prime example of this type of happy-go-lucky yet astute metal. These guys formed back in 1982 - 'Tell...' being their third full-length release and one that should be in your collection.
8/10

Disciples of Power - Invincible Enemy (1993)

This being the third release from these Canadian death thrashers who rely heavily on technical prowess to communicate to the listener. Think Atheist in parts, and also Obliveon - somewhat of a cult band who reformed in 2002 but who never got recognised. Certainly one of the more interesting thrash albums you're likely to hear and I'd have thought what with the likes of Atheist, Pestilence, Death et al branching off into more complex stratospheres, this sort of album should have been all the rage but as it is it remains an obscurity you must hear. Clinical drumming, rasping vocals - yet those which do not bog down the production, and with the tight production it means that each instrument exists as a separate force that weaves itself through this maze of intricacy; the band shifting through moods; providing darker edges to the classical compositions which melt together mid-tempo thrash, traditional metal and deathlier caress. The title track is mesmerising in its ability to continually transform from one guise to another whilst 'Return from The Gates' is equally stirring. An excellent album for those of you who like thinking man's metal.
8/10

Protector - A Shedding of Skin (1991)

Protector are the sort of thrash band that are a must-have for thrash metal fans and most of their releases over the decades deserve their place on this blog. Incredibly underrated, these guys literally smoke from the vocals to the explosive guitars. 'A Shedding...' is the third studio opus from these German nutcases and at times offers a slightly deathlier grunt mixed with those harsher, seething tones but pick out any track on this twelve-track offering and you'll literally be blown away by the craftsmanship and Kreator-styled mayhem. I don't really know where to start with these guys but whether it's the frantic derangement of 'Mortuary Nightmare,' 'the bruising, throttling 'Face Fear' or my favourite act of battering, 'Death Comes Soon' you can not escape the fury of this band who consistently released potent albums up until the mid '90s and then re-emerged in 2013 with the fantastic 'Reanimated...' platter. Pure thrash to its core, 'The Shedding Skin' is a precise mini-masterpiece and the first to feature Olly on vocals who took over from Martin Missy.
8/10

A.R.G. - World Without End (1991)

This is some truly snarling thrash metal emerging from the deepest recesses of Polish lore. A.R.G. only released a brace of albums, this one being a tad more assertive than the 'Entrance' (1989) debut. Fans of the likes of Kreator will like this record especially the sneering vocals of Tepa Karjalainen but the whole product is delivered in quite belligerent fashion but it's also thinking man's metal too with the epic title track being an in-depth mind blower of varying tempo. The likes of 'Stray Bullet' sees the band in full chugging flow but most of the songs on this obscurity are worthy of any thrashers time. Not a lot more to say about this sort of record but the harsh, almost rugged feel of the production means this opus offers a nice gnarly dose of scything thrash metal mayhem.
7.5/10

Infected - Dark Century (1989)

A long forgotten thrash metal gem; these guys hailed from Switzerland and only released one platter, being this one. Very much politically-minded throughout and featuring vocals which have more in common with death metal, this is still a decent and often technical opus that mixes melody with faster, more aggressive segments. Arguably no thrills in its approach it still strips the meat from the bone with that sniping guitar sound. The drumming is also impressive and features the chap who appeared on Messiah's (also from Switzerland) 'Choir of Horrors' album. As I said, a good enough thrash metal record that should have got the recognition it deserved but how many times do you read me saying that? Either way, if you like dark and often rough thrash metal then this is one worth seeking out.
7/10

Aura Noir - Hades Rise (2008)

Aura Noir are the sort of band who, like more recent Darkthrone ramblings, effortlessly span numerous generations within the metal genre. A tad nastier and certainly with extra sneer than Fenriz and co', 'Hades Rise' is a despicable little offering best experienced on black spinning wax. It' certainly one of the best albums to emerge over the last few decades, having that sepulchral metal charm of so many obscure '80s records and yet with the steely glint to mercilessly scythe its way through the competition in the modern day. Oily, leathery and bat-winged this snarls from beginning to end chugging into effect with the rancid title track featuring its twisted riff injections whilst 'Gaping Grave Awaits' plods into the fray with grim aplomb. Featuring Blasphemer from Mayhem and Danny from Autopsy, 'Hades Rise' is a putrid ten-track affair that couldn't get any blacker or squalid if it tried. Effortlessly unkempt this sounds like it's been recorded in 1985, and that's the biggest compliment I can give to this seething pit of filth.
8/10

Frigid Bich - Tyrants of a Generation (2011)

This opus is a compilation featuring a mix of live and studio recordings from this cult U.S. metal act who disbanded back in the '80s. Although generic in places, this compilation is still a solid offering showing the talents of this rather obscure swashbuckling metal force who really come alive with the thrashin' mayhem of 'The Kids Are Gonna Fight' which has a NWOBHM feel combined with that old, greasy Metallica feel circa 'Kill Em All.' Not the greatest vocalist of all time, this has a loose feel at times but it's still a rollicking listen with the title track and 'We Rule The Night' being the sort of anthem that should stick in the ears for many moons to come. If you like your metal distinctly '80s then you can't go wrong with this slab.
7/10

Septic Death - Now That I Have Your Attention... (1986)

Typical of its time to some extent, Septic Death's 'Now that...' is a classic mix of punk, hardcore and attitude with a killer snare drum and some dirty grooves to boot. This cult band were fronted by Brian Schroeder, best known as Pushead who not only produced the fantastic sleeve art but also worked designed covers for the likes of Metallica, and the lesser known Kinghorse.

This chaotic little was the first full-length release by the band, featuring such killer cuts as 'Change' with its fuzzoid guitar, the raucous 'Silence' and the hostile 'Terrorain'. Eighteen solid tracks of riotous punk rock, it's an album that's difficult to argue with unless you want to lose all of your teeth.
7/10

D'Molls- s/t (1988)

One of m favourite glam rock albums from the '80s, this severely underrated group should've experienced the same success as bands such as Poison but probably took too long in releasing their debut platter despite being around years previous. The band were fronted by Desi Rexx (who also played guitar) who was accompanied by Lizzy Valentine (bass guitar), S.S. Priest (guitar) and Billy Dior (drums). The debut platter, one of only two they would release, mixed cheeky pop-tinged melody with plenty of lipstick and hairspray but beneath the glam and glitter were a set of fantastic tunes such as '777', 'Dressed to Thrill' and 'D'Stroll' all delivered with grace but also the cheery disposition of say, Cheap Trick.

It's a cool debut opus that really deserved the promotion but by the time the band's second opus, 'Warped' had come round metal had moved on considerably. It's a shame because this opus puts a lot of other glam bands in the shade - proof that there was a lot more to this scene than just pout. Extremely catchy throughout, this is one glam metal album you should own.
8/10

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