Wolfgang's Classic Metal Blog

Marshall Law - Marshall Law (1989)

2011-04-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

Artist: Marshall Law

Release Title: Marshall Law

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1989

Artist Genre: Heavy/Power Metal

Artist Origin: UK

Track Listing: 1. Armageddon 2. Under The Hammer 3. Rock The Nation 4. Marshall Law 5. Hearts And Thunder 6. Screaming 7. We're Hot 8. Feel It 9. System X 10. Future Shock 11. When Will It End?

Total playing time: 40:08

This group and debut release from them was like the son of Judas Priest's "Ram It Down". They hailed from Birmingham just like the metal gods do and on this release have a sound very similar to that of that 1988 album from Priest, the slick sound albeit maintaining a metal edge so it wasn't something David Coverdale would drool over, and having a typical pick n' mix bag of 80's metal goodness with some rip roaring speed metal numbers, some slower, bouncier tracks about humping and rocking and some moodier epic cuts.

Highlights certainly include the raging speed metal track "Under The Hammer", the catchy title track, "Screaming" and "Feel It". All of the tracks pack a punch and are well manufactured "Ram It Down" worship. This isn't a sacred release but it's definitely a worthy purchase. If you can't get it download the MP3s for free.

Kreator - Pleasure To Kill / Flag Of Hate EP (1986)

2011-04-12T18:41:00.000-07:00

Artist: Kreator

Release Title: Pleasure To Kill/Flag Of Hate

Release Type: Compilation

Release Year: 1986

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Germany

Track Listing: 1. Choir Of The Damned 2. Ripping Corpse 3. Death Is Your Saviour 4. Pleasure To Kill 5. Riot Of Violence 6. The Pestilence 7. Carrion 8. Command Of The Blade 9. Under The Guillotine 10. Flag Of Hate 11. Take Their Lives 12. Awakening Of The Gods

Total playing time: 56:42

Kreator made a solid impact with their debut "Endless Pain" in 1985 with a superb slab of warp speed thrash garnished with Mille Petrozza's unique harsh vocals which eons of proceeding extreme metal vocalists should pay royalties to. In 1986, they followed up where they left off with blistering speeds, "zombie with a sore head" vocals and a malevolent guitar tone but this time with better production and an absolute treasure chest of neck cracking riffs on this release. All of the tracks, including the ones from the "Flag Of Hate" EP, are a blast. One of those rare releases where you'll be entertained until there's peace and quiet, but you'll have to go through a hellstorm of violence before you get there. It's so ferocious and demonic in it's spirit that you can't believe your ears...

Standouts would be the title track for it's "Bigger than Jesus" half time riff break, "Carrion" has another huge one, "Riot Of Violence" has an epic main riff, "Take Their Lives" is an awesome chuggy catchy number and "Awakening of The Gods" is possibly the crown jewel. Kreator's best release and fully deserving of it's status as one of the unholy trinity of 1986 alongside "Darkness Descends" and "Reign In Blood". Download the MP3s for free of the release to sample it then go out and buy it if you're anywhere near a fan of the more extreme end of thrash metal.

Iron Angel - Winds Of War (1986)

2011-04-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

Artist: Iron Angel

Release Title: Winds Of War

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1986

Artist Genre: Power/Speed Metal

Artist Origin: Germany

Track Listing: 1. Winds Of War 2. Metalstorm 3. Son Of A Bitch 4. Vicious 5. Born To Rock 6. Fight For Your Life 7. Stronger Than Steel 8. Sea Of Flames 9. Creatures Of Destruction 10. Back To The Silence

Total playing time: 39:15

For Iron Angel's follow up to the excellent "Hellish Crossfire" from 1985, they decided to exchange the vicious thrash riffs for more power metal sensibilities and take their hats off to Accept with fairly happy, uplifting choruses and melodic leads but maintaining mostly speed metal tracks. It's pretty close to Helloween's "Walls Of Jericho" from the same year but with a rougher guitar sound closer to Destruction's and a different vocal take.

Highlights would definitely be the ultra catchy Accept style tracks "Son Of A Bitch", "Stronger Than Steel" and "Sea Of Flames" and the rip roaring evil speed metal which is more in the style of their first album "Metalstorm", "Vicious" and "Creatures Of Destruction". All of the tracks are enjoyable in their own way and this is just as stellar and classic as their debut maybe moreso depending on your taste. Iron Angel were the best showcase for 80's german metal ranging from the happy go lucky jigs of Accept to the vicious thrash of Destruction. If you can, Download MP3s for free of the album to sample it then go buy it.

Razor - Malicious Intent (1986)

2011-03-28T16:39:00.001-07:00

Artist: Razor

Release Title: Malicious Intent

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1986

Artist Genre: Thrash/Speed Metal

Artist Origin: Canada

Track Listing: 1. Tear Me To Pieces 2. Night Attack 3. Grindstone 4. Cage The Ragers 5. Malicious Intent 6. Rebel Onslaught 7. A.O.D. 8. Challenge The Eagle 9. Stand Before Kings 10. High Speed Metal 11. K.M.A. 12. Mosh

Total playing time: 35:38

Razor started to find some real form on 1985's "Evil Invaders". The tracks had become more developed than some of the filler tracks they'd released previously and Stace "Sheepdog" McLaren's charismatic gruff "Lemmy's little brother" style bark and car skid imitating shrieks were being perfected alongside some real whiplash causing riffs. On this follow up, they'd pretty much carried on with the pedal to the metal thrashy speed metal sound and cooked up some real winners again. The productions a bit more advanced which makes the release more enjoyable and all of the tracks are fast and balls out anthems for blazing up the road, so much so that you can practically smell petrol whilst listening to it.

Real standout tracks that you should download would be the ultra catchy "Cage The Ragers", the title track, "Rebel Onslaught", "Night Attack" and "Stand Before Kings". All of the tracks deliver and are really enjoyable if adrenalin fueled speed metal mayhem is your cupajoe. There's also a nice dose of fun apparent in the intro to "Stand Before Kings" and the closer "MOSH" which is a Canadian homosexual trying to appeal to the guys by playing "Jeepers Creepers" to them which ends hazardously for him!

There's nothing fancy about this. No intricate solos or progressive attempts or real range in styles but what they do, they do really f**king well! Testosterone and adrenalin fueled Motorhead worship being dragged into the Thrash age. If someone were to ask me what real men listen to, I'd show em this... Download the MP3s for free if you can or buy if you can afford it.

Pantera - I Am The Night (1985)

2011-03-23T17:23:00.000-07:00

Artist: Pantera

Release Title: I Am The Night

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1985

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal

Artist Origin: USA

Track Listing: 1. Hot and Heavy 2. I Am The Night 3. Onward We Rock 4. D*G*T*T*M 5. Daughters Of The Queen 6. Down Below 7. Come-On Eyes 8. Right On The Edge 9. Valhalla 10. Forever Tonight

Total playing time: 37:51

As Pantera progressed through the 80's, heavier influences became more predominant in the sound. They started looking starry eyed more at their Priest and Metallica records than their Van Halen and Kiss ones. Yeah they still looked like ugly female gym teachers but they were really rocking their socks off and making modestly good 80's metal. That's not to say you won't hear some "ooo baby's" on here cos you will but most of it is definitely metal in the Malice/early 80's Priest/Keel mode and not some generic Poison copycat that many idiot fans of the groove metal era would have you believe. The productions pretty rough and coarse but not bad enough that you can't enjoy it and the formula for the album is pretty similar to "Projects In The Jungle" the previous year with the ballad track, a couple of speed metal burners, some mid paced crushers and a couple of glam ditties.

Must hear tracks that you should download would be the speed metal tracks in the title track, "Down Below" and "Valhalla", the catchy "Right On The Edge" and the closing ballad "Forever Tonight" which they nail with some finesse. "D.G.T.T.M" is a disposable piece of guitar noodling with bizarre monster voices and screaming, pretty stupid and "Hot and Heavy" is an embarrassing track with double entendres that would make Spinal Tap squirm.

Overall a solid 80s metal album. It's so ignored because the band belittled it because the glammy image and music was a contradiction of their suddenly new TUFF, socially relevant, grunge conscious reputation and of course all their fanboys nodded along and acted like what they said was gospel. Help turn the opinion of the 80's material around by listening to it and recommending it to a friend. The cost of the album is pretty pricey to buy so download the MP3s for free if you can to check it out before buying.

Enchanter - Defenders Of The Realm (2008)

2011-03-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

Artist: Enchanter

Release Title: Defenders Of The Realm

Release Type: Compilation

Release Year: 2008

Artist Genre: Power Metal

Artist Origin: USA

Track Listing: 1. Thor 2. Beckoned With The Call 3. Defenders Of The Realm 4. Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier 5. Time Gone Past Nevermore 6. Beckoned With The Call 7. Keepers Of The Dawn 8. Imaginary Throne 9. Intro 10. Ethereal Quarter

Total playing time: 52:57

The duo of "The Spectre Within" and "Awaken The Guardian" have always been lauded as cornerstones of US Power metal but I've never been able to catch on. Which is almost ridiculous to many being that I'm a US power metal nut. Sort of like being a huge thrash fan and not liking Metallica's first 2. Musically I always found those Fates Warning releases as accomplished, songwriting and riffwise BUT I....just...CANNOT STAND John Arch. A combination of a weak delivery along with a very nasally tone make him really irritating for me and I've seen many others object to his vocals as well, regardless of how he made his vocals unique and act like a melodic instrument, his tone and delivery are strange and not in a good way.

Well I divulge, this release by Enchanter is the answer to my prayers. It has the atmosphere and style of those Fates Warning releases but with a vocalist which I can appreciate and closer to Geoff Tate in his approach. Enchanter were a Michigan unit who released a couple of demos in the late 80's clearly taking notes from the John Arch Fates Warning releases. You'll be able to hear a riff or two you've heard on those releases but Enchanter are original enough to not be a rip off or anything. This release from 2008 has the 2 demos they released in the 80's along with a single they released in 1990 and don't sweat they haven't been remastered! The tracks from the first demo are very close to early Fates Warning in sound and production but the tracks from the second demo are more loud in the mix and the guitars more thrashy. I tend to prefer the earlier tracks because of the added ambience due to the more raw production but the latter tracks are pleasing as well.

What must be the strongest track on here is "Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier" which goes through several different moods nicely including a spoken ambient section with wind blowing and an epic verse whispered alongside a glorious melodic choral section similar to the one at the start of Fates Warning's "The Apparition". Other standouts include "Thor", "Beckoned With The Call", The speedy "Time Gone Past - Nevermore" and "Ethereal Quarter" is a nice melodic closer.

Just a nice classy USPM record. If you liked the early Fates Warning releases but wanted more pallatable, balanced vocals this is it. Try to buy it, if you can't download the MP3s.

Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance (1982)

2011-03-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

Artist: Judas Priest

Release Title: Screaming For Vengeance

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1982

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal

Artist Origin: UK

Track Listing: 1. The Hellion 2. Electric Eye 3. Riding On The Wind 4. Bloodstone 5. (Take These) Chains 6. Pain and Pleasure 7. Screaming For Vengeance 8. You've Got Another Thing Comin' 9. Fever 10. Devils Child

Total playing time: 38:50

Priest on their previous release "Point Of Entry" had dropped the ball and a lot of the release was more rock n' roll than heavy metal. Needless to say with Priest they always see the error of their ways and return to keeping their nose to the grindstone and on this subsequent release they created one of the sacred cows in their back catalog. The sound on this release almost has the perfect sheen to it like it does on "British Steel" (but not too much sheen like on Turbo!!), all the instruments are at a nice volume in the mix. Difference between this and "British Steel" is that the tracks here are more developed and memorable and also have a more epic approach than the meat and potatoes approach of "British Steel".

Stand alone classics on here include the opener "The Hellion/Electric Eye", "Riding On The Wind" and the speed metal title track. The rest is more mortal but still packs a punch albeit "Pain and Pleasure" is the dud and demands the skip button. "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" is one of the tracks they're best known for. Needless to say, as with most artists, their best known track is far from their best. That's the case with this track too but it's still a catchy ditty but you may just be sick of it by now seen as every classic rock station will have rammed it down(excuse the pun) for years on end now...

An essential Priest release. Download MP3s for free of it then buy it. If you don't own it, you're not metal. Full stop.

Blacklist - The Sign Of 4 (1984)

2011-03-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

Artist: Blacklist

Release Title: The Sign Of 4

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1984

Artist Genre: Power Metal

Artist Origin: USA

Track Listing: 1. Steady On The Steel 2. Confrontation 3. Sin Sentence 4. Revenge

Total playing time: 24:36

In 1984 Power Metal was taking it's first baby steps with groundbreaking releases and from that same year a little outfit from Wisconsin released this EP, nectar for the ears of any US Power Metal nut such as myself. The sound is pretty close to early Jag Panzer although with a more raw overall sound, a less epic and more 80's metal fun approach and also with a vocalist who was way different to Harry Conklin. In fact the Blacklist vocalist, who sadly isn't with us anymore, is one of the key reasons why this EP is special. His style wasn't operatic and wide ranging like his contemporaries but it had enough attitude and uniqueness in it to hook you in. Sort of sounds like a cross between Dio and Phil Anselmo (and that's Anselmo circa 1988-90 not his pig squeals of latter years!!).

The glory of the EP is the track "Confrontation" which slays with it's killer riffs and epic chorus. "Steady On The Steel" is a more light hearted rocker which delivers, as does the speed metal track on the EP "Sin Of Sentence" and "Revenge" spans the range of mood with a slow, murky number which is entertaining enough.

Not an amazing EP but definitely is a pleasing listen. If you love old US Power metal with a swig of good ol 80's fun in the mix, this is just the ticket. Download the mp3s free and buy if you can but it is a rare snatch.

Banshee - Cry In The Night (1988)

2011-02-27T14:25:00.000-08:00

Artist: Banshee

Release Title: Cry In The Night

Release Type: EP

Release Year: 1988

Artist Genre: Power Metal

Artist Origin: USA

Track Listing: 1. We Want You 2. Back Your Way 3. I Believe 4. The Stranger 5. Cry In The Night

Total playing time: 25:00

Banshee were a group that hailed from Kansas and initially had a very US power metal orientated sound but with a small dose of glam fun which became more prevalent on their subsequent releases. The sound is loosely close to the Fifth Angel debut in that regard although with a more muscular snarling melodic vocalist, sorta like a possessed version of Dio and the sound here is more raw than the silky glam sound they'd have on later releases. The quality of the tracks is solid and the tracks are all a blast and revel in the over the top 80's metal fun that was rife until the grunge sh*t hit the fan..

The jewel on here is far and away the closing track "Cry In The Night" which is a triumphant, Epic, jaw dropping barnstormer which is so satisfying and irritatingly obscure that you'll greet it like the brother you never knew. The rest is all enjoyable in it's own way too. "We Want You" is a loud and proud anthem, "Back Your Way" more melancholy, "I Believe" is a nice mix of light melody and heavy rocking with some cool lead guitar and "The Stranger" is a more balladic and atmospheric piece which also works well.

Just a really cool EP that if you like classic melodic metal you have to appreciate. I still can't figure out what the front cover is supposed to be but who cares... Download the mp3s free if you can and buy it.

Rainbow - Rising (1976)

2011-02-20T17:03:00.000-08:00

Artist: Rainbow

Release Title: Rising

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1976

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal

Artist Origin: UK

Track Listing: 1. Tarot Woman 2. Run With The Wolf 3. Starstruck 4. Do You Close Your Eyes 5. Stargazer 6. A Light In The Black

Total playing time: 33:35

The Rainbow debut was mostly a more laid back hard rock affair compared to the Blackmore monsters of old he unleashed in Deep Purple like "Highway Star", "Space Truckin" or "Hard Lovin Man" but here he definitely lets the vibe of those aforementioned tracks shine through and put into the mix the delivery and range of a Mr Ronnie Dio (God rest his soul RIP) and some nifty quality tracks and you have another metal smash similar to "Machine Head" on your hands. Basically a revamped version of that release with more accomplished production and in my opinion a better vocalist although without anything as groundbreaking as "Smoke On The Water" or "Highway Star".

However there is a pretty groundbreaking track with the diamond of the release, "Stargazer". An eight and a half minute progressive stunner with a nice range of moods, great performance from Dio and an awesome chorus and interchange between classical keys on the keyboard and Dio. The rest is more modest in nature but still contain belters like "Starstruck", "Tarot Woman" and "A Light In The Black" which are nice catchy ditties whereas "Run With The Wolf" and "Do You Close Your Eyes" are more standard. Overall a very cool release, their best and mandatory if you dig early Deep Purple. Download the mp3s for free if you can to check it out and buy it if it's your cup of tea.

Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith (1984)

2011-02-19T16:24:00.000-08:00

Artist: Judas Priest

Release Title: Defenders Of The Faith

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1984

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal

Artist Origin: UK

Track Listing: 1. Freewheel Burning 2. Jawbreaker 3. Rock Hard Ride Free 4. The Sentinel 5. Love Bites 6. Eat Me Alive 7. Some Heads Are Gonna Roll 8. Night Comes Down 9. Heavy Duty 10. Defenders Of The Faith

Total playing time: 39:02

If you consider yourself a big Priest fan you can't consider "British Steel" their best and if you do, I'm sorry but you deserve to be chained up and have rotten fruit thrown at you for a month. The shortlist should involve releases like "Screaming For Vengeance", "Sad Wings Of Destiny", "Stained Class" and this, "Defenders Of The Faith". For me this is the best Priest release, a hair over "Sad Wings Of Destiny" because everything we love about metal, the 80's and Priest is best on show here. It's got the anthemic choruses, the riffs, the glass shattering Halford shrieks and the Tipton Downing guitar flair peaking out. This is the last awesome Priest release and DEFINITELY one of the top 3 metal releases of all time.

What makes the album so bow worthy is the range of tracks, the anthems and the performance in general. The tracks range from the blistering speed metal of "Freewheel Burning", "Jawbreaker", "The Sentinel" and "Eat Me Alive" to the more anthemic "Rock Hard Ride Free" and "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll" to the broody sinister "Love Bites" to the well done balladic "Night Comes Down", you can really tick off all the different approaches of well done traditional metal. However, the release, whilst soaring in front of everybody else in the metal classics race, sort of trips and stumbles over the finish line. If only they'd left "Heavy Duty" off. The track is just really cheesy and it makes me think of Spinal Tap seen as they had a track called that, also Spinal Tap were out the year of this record. Was it a salute to Nigel Tufnel and co? Who knows but it's where the skip button is needed and then the release closes with an outro called "Defenders Of The Faith". Oh well....still doesn't tarnish the fact the release is a wonder and you just HAVE to own it, if you like classic metal in even the slightest bit. Download the mp3s free to check it out and buy it.

Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly (1985)

2011-02-18T16:29:00.000-08:00

Artist: Watchtower

Release Title: Energetic Disassembly

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1985

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: USA

Track Listing:
1. Asylum 2. Meltdown 3. Tyrants In Distress 4. Social Fears 5. Energetic Disassembly 6. Argonne Forest 7. Violent Change 8. Cimmerian Shadows
Total playing time: 37:41

It's a damn shame Watchtower never had the exposure or caught on as much as Metallica because their debut release is as good or maybe better than anything they did. Granted they were drinking more from the jar of "WHAT THE F*CK!" Than Lars and co were with the demonic Geddy Lee vocals and uber technical play which is the soundtrack to someone tap dancing whilst juggling 5 balls in the air whilst dodging knives thrown at them. It's thinking man's thrash and back in '85 thrash wasn't all about being cerebral, progressive or technical. It was mostly stuffing riffs down your throat as hard and fast as you can as well as screaming about killing people who like Dokken and drinking and headbanging till you puke and bleed. Granted Watchtower certainly had all that nature to them but they also proudly waved aloft the flag of Rush in the music, offering more than just guitar testosterone. It very much is Rush meets early Metallica as many people have tagged Watchtowers sound as being over time.

All the songs deliver here, there's no weak ones. If I had to choose the must hear ones it'd have to be "Cimmerian Shadows", "Argonne Forest", the nice and catchy "Meltdown", "Tyrants In Distress" and the title track. This is one of the best thrash releases, albeit being very progressive but it's still death by riffs whilst turning you inside out and upside down with awesome progness and technicality. It's pricey to buy but if you do you'll truly be too cool for school. If it's too much for you

Download the mp3s.

Iron Maiden - Powerslave (1984)

2011-02-17T09:30:00.000-08:00

Artist: Iron Maiden

Release Title: Powerslave

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1984

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal

Artist Origin: UK

Track Listing:
1. Aces High 2. 2 Minutes To Midnight 3. Losfer Words (Big 'Orra) 4. Flash Of The Blade 5. The Duellists 6. Back In The Village 7. Powerslave 8. Rime Of The Ancient Mariner

Total playing time: 50:58

Maiden were a juggernaut in the 80's. Their logo was perfect, the cover art was perfect, the stage set was perfect, the performance was perfect and the albums were pretty much perfect (**coughquestforfirecough**). What is Maiden's best album? Well unless you spend half your days licking windows you'd certainly have to say it's one from the 80's. For me it'd definitely between "Piece of Mind" or this album, "Powerslave". They were the two albums where their mix of epic, heavyness and melody were in their zenith and most of the songs on those two albums stand on their own as classics of the metal art form. I'd be pulling my hair out til I looked like Kojak if I was to decide on the winner so I'll just divulge on "Powerslave".

Aces High sets the album off on a nice speed metal setting, then "2 Minutes To Midnight" is a more catchy mid paced affair with one of the most memorable metal riffs of all time chugging the song along. "Flash Of The Blade" and "The Duellists" are 2 nice heavy odes to fencing and "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" is their best song of all time for me. Just has everything. Goes through different moods nicely, great vocals from bruce, some of Maiden's heaviest riffs in there and never gets boring. The rest of the tracks all deliver and keep you entertained throughout. The album is just a blast from start to finish. If this blog appealed to you and you don't own "powerslave"...WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!?! DOWNLOAD FREE MP3S OF ITTO SAMPLE AND GO OUT AND BUY IT NOW!!!

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Metallica - Ride The Lightning (1984)

2011-02-13T09:57:00.000-08:00

Artist: Metallica

Release Title: Ride The Lightning

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1984

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: USA

Track Listing:

1. Fight Fire With Fire 2. Ride The Lightning 3. For Whom The Bell Tolls 4. Fade To Black 5. Trapped Under Ice 6. Escape 7. Creeping Death 8. The Call Of The Ktulu

Total playing time 47:23

So it turns out there was a time when Metallica weren't a bunch of Rolling Stone conscious, fame wh*res and they actually were 100% metal to the bone. Yep, they actually were in the early 80's believe it or not and it certainly is hard to believe for some seen as it was so long ago now. If you have to buy one Metallica record this is it. Not the black album or master of puppets like the mainstream would have you believe. "Ride The Lightning" is the best. Why? Because it's their creative peak. They never had any better ideas after this album. Here the riffs along with the melodies and songwriting are grade A and most of the songs are great and stand on their own as model exhibits of what the metal genre has to offer.

At this time however the band were still dipping into the Mustaine jar for ideas like the main riff for the title track here which is a spider chord trademark Mustaine riff, even so most of everything else is brutal and epic enough for you to gawp at. The leap from "Kill 'Em All" to this album is glaring. Not that "Kill Em All wasn't a great album because it was but here they exchange the more happy go lucky odes to traditional metal of their debut for a more bleak, angry and full on thrash sound but utilising more classical displays of guitar and epic mood setters. You'd definitely have to say that this was the first proper full on thrash album, with Slayer's Haunting The Chapel from 84 being an EP and the debuts from Metallica and Slayer both being crosses between speed metal and thrash.

The monsters on here that have to be applauded are the furious opener "Fight Fire With Fire" which is the ultimate fighting anthem. It hasn't been bettered. The title track, the zippy and catchy "Trapped Under Ice", the epic closer "Call Of The Ktulu" and "Escape" despite the flack it gets(merely because it's more upbeat and less angry than the rest! It's called having a range of emotions people!). "Creeping Death" is merely solid. Cool but nothing amazing.

I've personally always been repulsed by the helpless suicide sentiment of "Fade To Black" although musically it's a pretty stellar song. For "Whom The Bell Tolls" however is irritatingly repetitive and if you play this on vinyl it's like the record is stuck...

That's the run down of Metallica's crown jewels. Funny the band seem to think Master of Puppets, which is a less interesting rehash of ride the lightning, and the black album, which is a dull mainstream version of their 80's stuff, are better albums! Don't listen to Lar$ and make sure you have this. On vinyl if you can.

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Razor - Open Hostility (1991)

2010-12-10T19:58:00.000-08:00

Artist: Razor

Release Title: Open Hostility

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1991

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Canada

Track Listing:

1. In Protest 2. Sucker For Punishment 3. Bad Vibrations 4. Road Gunner 5. Cheers 6. Red Money 7. Free Lunch 8. Iron Legions 9. Mental Torture 10. Psychopath 11. I Disagree 12. End Of The War

Total playing time 37:18

Razor were like the AC/DC of Thrash. Straight forward, one dimensional bashing tracks without any hope of there being a peaceful ballad or an attempt to be all proggy and poncey. As the band grew through the eighties and into the nineties they gradually moved away from the thrashed up Motorhead mold they had in their hokey but loveable early days and started producing a more bonafide thrash sound, which began on the stellar "Violent Restitution". "Open Hostility" appeared three years later and I'd place that into the box of must have records by the band. The tracks are the usual set of short, sweet numbers delivered with the usual vitriol and they have enough appeal for you to be pleased even tho they're all very similar in their approach. A few people tend to dislike this release because of the programmed drums but I think programmed drums are well suited to Razor's no nonsense, what you see is what you get mode of thrash. The production on here lends itself to a heavier sound than there was on "Shotgun Justice" as well as the tracks being catchier too.

The first side of the release is certainly the stronger, the highlights being the brilliant "Sucker For Punishment", "Bad Vibrations" echoes the fun and catchy previous tracks by the band like "Behind Bars", "Road Gunner" has some killer riffs in the verses and "Red Money" is very nifty. The rest of the tracks are merely cool. A really solid release, a bit by the numbers with no surprises, like all Razor releases, but still when you're in the mood for take no prisoners thrash with some almost sing-a-long choruses, this band and Vio-lence are probably the masters. Download mp3s of the release to sample it and buy it if you can.

Rozz - Une Autre Vie (1986)

2010-12-09T16:49:00.000-08:00

Artist: Rozz

Release Title: Une Autre Vie

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1986

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal

Artist Origin: France

Track Listing:

1. Possession 2. Ku Klux Klan 3. Né Pour Le Hard 4. Cauchemar 5. Another Life 6. Publicité

Total playing time 30:18

The 80's underground French metal scene is one of metal's best kept secrets. Half of the good traditional/speed metal bands I seem to be finding lately are from France and it really seems there's a lot of gold in dem hills. Rozz are very comparable to compatriots ADX, except with gravelly vocals which bow at the altar of Lemmy, and this debut from them has a nice range in songwriting, some wham, bam, thank ya man speedy numbers mixed in with more mid paced crushers which echo early Accept and also a ballad which they execute without betraying their testicles.

Definite winners on here include the ace thrashy speed metal of "Né Pour Le Hard", "Possession" ends up being a really cool catchy ditty after it's overlong intro and "Another Life" manages to be over 8 minutes long and remains an intriguing ballad. The rest is all pleasing fare too. Definitely a very cool record and one of the top 5 French releases. Put up with the French Lyrics! The metal's too good to be dismissed because of em! It's a pretty penny to buy so if you can't Download the MP3s .

Oliver Magnum - Oliver Magnum (1989)

2010-12-08T18:14:00.000-08:00

Oliver Magnum emerged towards the end of the 80's coming from the power/speed metal camp in the undeground American scene. They're probably best penned as Vicious Rumors' faster little brother. They have the same small spoonful of mainstream hair metal fun and slickness to them although focusing more on a fast pace than Vicious Rumors did on their material. The vocals have a nice blend of Rob Halford shrieking, epic soars and lower moody vocals and the songs are all solid throughout with a good mix of the slow and epic with the fast and volatile.

Best tracks would have to be "Old World Nites", the moody "Evilution" which echoes Crimson Glory and Queensryche's quieter numbers and "Trapped" is nice. A gem of the USPM scene of the 80's and one of the record's you have to get a kick out of if you love stuff like Liege Lord, early Vicious Rumors and the like.

Artist: Oliver Magnum

Release Title: Oliver Magnum

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1989

Artist Genre: Power/Speed Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Sister Cybele 2. The Last Prophet 3. Old World Nites 4. Evilution 5. Trapped 6. Mendes Prey 7. Tongue Tied 8. Silent Scream
Total playing time 38:56

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Preyer - Terminator (1986)

2010-12-06T18:18:00.000-08:00

To be honest I was expecting to need a vomit bag when I heard this. The band were from Wales, where virtually no good metal exists, Budgie aside, and you got god awful glam rock bands in the 80's like Wrathchild and Tigertailz from there. The band photo was pretty hokey and the album cover is a horror concept so cheesily executed it's terrifying. However it was a welcome surprise to hear this was actually kickass. They play traditional metal that morphs into speed metal here and there in a similar vein to Judas Priest but with more of a thrash influence in the coarse tone of the guitars and more frantic punkish energy. The vocals have a Halford style in the enunciation but are better comparable to Joe Comeau of Liege Lord's "Master Control" album.

Highlights would have to be the masterful chorus of "Shout It Out", "Rifferama" is the song by name and also by nature with some wicked thrash/speed riffs and the catchy "Leather & Chains" is like some great homage to Priest. The rest is all competent enough and can't be complained about. Just a nice little bundle of 80's heavy/speed metal. I wouldn't trust any metalhead who didn't have a soft spot for this.

Artist: Preyer

Release Title: Terminator

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1986

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal

Artist Origin: U.K.

Track Listing:

1. Reserve The Right 2. Terminator 3. Leather And Chains 4. Over The Top 5. Beware The Night 6. Shout It Out 7. Rock Crusader 8. Rifferama

Total playing time 31:29

Tension - Breaking Point (1986)

2010-12-04T19:19:00.000-08:00

Tension were an American band that emerged around the mid 80's and played a nice mix of Power Metal, Speed Metal and Thrash and their debut is just another cool fossil of 80's metal that deserves to be unearthed by everyone. The sound is sort of like a mix of early Helstar, a more thrashy version of Savage Grace and a more epic version of the Malice debut..are you nearly drooling? Read on if you are...The songwriting is solid and effective and the vocals nicely juggle epic tones with a ballsy streetwise attitude.

Highlights would probably be the break neck "Wrecking Crew", "One Nation", the moody epic "Angels Of The Past" and the catchy "Seduced". All the songs are satisfying and you're unlikely to oggle at the skip button when hearing the whole album. An album undeserving of it's wretched front cover.

Artist: Tension

Release Title: Breaking Point

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1986

Artist Genre: Power/Speed/Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: USA

Track Listing:
1. One Nation 2. Wrecking Crew 3. Reach For The Sword 4. Angels From The Past 5. W.O.C. 6. Shock Treatment 7. The Downfall Of Evil 8. Metal Paranoia 9. Seduced

Total playing time 39:44

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Lust - Lust (1985)

2010-12-03T18:09:00.000-08:00

By the name of the band you can maybe guess what's on offer here but don't worry it's not Poison, it's heavy f**kin metal alright, just with sleazy themes. Just a no nonsense, bread and butter 80's metal release. Nothing fancy but get's the job done when you wana bung something on your speakers which rocks out with it's c*ck out, literally, and makes you pine for the good old days when Jonathan Davis was getting picked on by jocks and metal knew where it's testicles were as well as it's musical common sense. This EP from Lust has a nice bit of variety to help it flow well and keep you glued. There's a couple of balladic, slower tempoed songs and the rest being faster, more up tempo rocking songs. The sound is fairly close to say early Dokken, W.A.S.P and Motley Crue although having to utilise a more rough production.

The best track is definitely the heavy but balladic "Nites Are Lonely" which works brilliantly. The rest of the songs are all entertaining enough and have nice flashes of fun and catchiness. The "hey baby! do you take traveller's cheques?" line in "Hooker" made me spit my coffee out laughing. Fun little EP, nothing brilliant but worth a listen if you like the heavy 80's glam bands or metal bands who had sleazy themes.

Artist: Lust

Release Title: Lust

Release Type: EP

Release Year: 1985

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal

Artist Origin: USA

Track Listing:
1. Hooker 2. Nites Are Lonely 3. We're Gonna Come Gunnin' 4. Don't Say It's Over 5. You Can't Rape The Willing

Total playing time 22:14

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Griffin - Flight Of The Griffin (1984)

2010-12-02T18:21:00.000-08:00

Artist: Griffin

Release Title: Flight Of The Griffin

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1984

Artist Genre: Power/Speed Metal

Artist Origin: USA

Track Listing:
1. Hawk The Slayer 2. Heavy Metal Attack 3. Submission 4. Creeper 5. Flight Of The Griffin 6. Fire In The Sky 7. Hell Runneth Over 8. Judgement Day 9. Travelling In Time

Griffin's "Flight Of The Griffin" is one of the forefathers of US power metal. Along with the Queensryche EP, Jag Panzer's "Ample Destruction", Helstar's "Burning Star" and Omen's "Battle Cry", it was one of the first landmark releases in this definitive strain of Power Metal, building on the epic songs of previous traditional metal bands such as Maiden, Priest and NWOBHM bands, it used emphasis on epic vocal stylings and subtle uses of the guitar to create grandiose atmosphere as well as strikingly good riffs and catchy choruses. Griffin's debut delivers on all these fronts and most of the songs here work great on their own and have enough ideas up their sleeve to leave you impressed. The vocals have a nice shrieky quality which compliment the dark guitars perfectly as well as well as more of a thrash influence than their contemporaries at that time in USPM.

Particular highlights include the marvellous closer "Travelling In Time" with a killer display of vocals and a superb solo, The title track is also very cool along with the insanely catchy "Submission" and speedy opener "Hawk The Slayer" but every song gets at least 8/10. Definitely one of the BEST and most OVERLOOKED metal albums you can hear. Buy it if you can or download the MP3s.

Steel - Heavy Metal Machine (1998)

2010-12-01T18:03:00.000-08:00

Well spank my Ar*e and call me charlie...THESE ARE THE GUYS FROM OPETH!?!? I'm sorry but this EP has all of the Opeth albums in it's back pocket as far as high quality ROCKING goes (Opeth are pretentious drivel in my opinion). You love Accept?? You'll crank this till the cops are banging on your door for disturbing the peace. The vocalist Dan Swano has an almost identical Udo tone to his voice with the high pitched maniacal shriek and the menacing rasp, and the music is pretty comparable to Accept on top form although with a loud and crisp 90's production.

The songs tend to represent the 3 main different natured beasts of 80's metal. The title track is great speed metal, the second song is the more mid paced "Rock till you drop!" style song and the third is the ballad. All three are delivered great and the cover of Judas Priest's cover of "The Green Manalishi" is nicely done. There's a layer of cheese over all of the songs as it's these guys having fun but all fans of classic metal appreciate the fun in the cheese.

Awesome irony that Opeth consider this music just a laugh and their main project is what they're most proud of!! If like me, you love 80's Heavy Metal, the fun, the catchiness, the over the top song elements and loveably fun dose of cheese, you NEED to hear this.

Artist: Steel

Release Title: Heavy Metal Machine

Release Type: EP

Release Year: 1998

Artist Genre: Power Metal

Artist Origin: Sweden

Track Listing:
1. Heavy Metal Machine 2. Rock Tonite 3. Say Goodbye (To Love) 4. The Green Manalishi 1998 (Judas Priest cover)

Egypt - Egypt (1988)

2010-11-30T17:23:00.000-08:00

The NWOBHM craze was most fervent from 1979 up to about 1983 when it's appeal wilted with the LA glam bands appearing and then with the novel heaviness of thrash, but there was still bands staying in the trenches battling out with the NWOBHM sound in the underground. Egypt were one of these bands who built on the initial sound by branching out into more epic power metal territory and it in turn makes this a nice mix of the styles. Mix Diamond Head with the first Liege Lord album and you pretty much get this.

Highlights include the Osmonds cover "Crazy Horses" which they pull off quite nicely, the epic "Metal Ships" and the catchy speed metal of "On The Road" and "Got No Fear". "Richard III" tends to fall a bit flat but the rest of the tracks are at least above average. A nice mix of the fast and mid paced and the epic and catchy make this a blast to spin.

Artist: Egypt

Release Title: Egypt

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1988

Artist Genre: Heavy/Power Metal

Artist Origin: UK

Track Listing:
1. Crazy Horses (The Osmonds cover) 2. Metal Ships 3. On The Road 4. Richard III 5. Got No Fear 6. Crazy 7. Find A Way 8. The Gallows Wait 9. The Tower

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Black Fate - Commander Of Fate (1986)

2010-11-29T19:06:00.000-08:00

Here's another interesting little unit from back in the day and it seems like they're only appreciated by 50 people worldwide because they're so overlooked, Black Fate from Germany. You wouldn't think this was released in Germany in 1986, more like the UK in 1982 or 1983. It sounds like it could have been the follow up to Satan's "Court In The Act" if Satan had been listening to Accept and decided to take a more clinical and catchy approach with the songwriting/guitars. Main reason why it sounds like Satan is the vocalist who is a dead ringer for Satan singer, Brian Ross but without hitting the high notes that Brian Ross could.

Must hear songs on here are certainly "Warchild" with it's stunning chorus, also "Heaven Can Wait" and "Champagne" is interesting as the vocals aren't a dead ringer for Brian Ross but Tom G. Warrior!!! The bonus tracks that appear on the CD version "Hello America" and "Hot and Pretty" are also very cool and strange that they omitted them from the vinyl release. As a whole a very good disc with no real weak spots. Consider yourself very lucky if you can get the record from somewhere without having to splash out a lot...

Artist: Black Fate

Release Title: Commander Of Fate

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1986

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal

Artist Origin: Germany

Track Listing:
1. Heaven Can Wait 2. Champagne 3. Child Of Hell 4. Wild In The Streets 5. Warchild 6. Frozen Heart 7. Prelude 8. Midnight 9. Hello America (CD Bonus) 10. Hot And Pretty (CD Bonus)

Total playing time 34:11

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Apollo Ra - Ra Pariah (2000)

2010-11-28T20:21:00.000-08:00

When I first heard this material I literally couldn't believe my eyes that it was released in 2000. It sounded like the lost Crimson Glory album from the 80's!!! Lo and Behold, it WAS initally conceived in the 80's as a demo and only able to get released on vinyl and CD at the start of this century. This is like honey nectar for the ears of fans of early Savatage/Crimson Glory. The vocals are fairly comparable to Midnight's and are almost as good as his, the songwriting is solid and the riffs and solos are very satisfying slabs of 80's heaven.

The cream of the crop would probably be opener "Crimson Streets" which echoes Savatage "Gutter Ballet" in it's piano intro which then explodes into life shortly afterwards and the song closes with an epic solo. Also "Heaven's Just Another Way" has a winning chorus and riff, the speedy and epic "Bane Of The Black Sword" is very cool and last track "To Be A Hero" which yeah unabashedly steals the "2 Minutes To Midnight" riff but puts it to great use and makes this the catchiest number on here. All of the other tracks are above average and deliver but "Creating Zero" really disturbs the flow as it was recorded at a louder volume than the previous tracks and is more up tempo and simple than the rest. Apart from that the album is a real USPM treat.

Artist: Apollo Ra

Release Title: Ra Pariah

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 2000

Artist Genre: Power Metal

Artist Origin: USA

Track Listing:
1. Crimson Streets 2. Out Of The Night 3. Heaven's Just Another Way 4. Obsession 5. The Challenge 6. Creating Zero 7. Ra Pariah 8. Bane Of The Black Sword 9. March Of Fire 10. To Be A Hero

Total playing time 41:39

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Anthem - Tightrope (1986)

2010-11-27T17:44:00.000-08:00

Anthem are along with Loudness probably the most popular Japanese bad of the 80's. They also have far more respect in the underground than Loudness as they've largely kept down the path of traditional metal whereas Loudness started letting the whiff of aquanet and the lure of the LA scene f*ck up their brain cells in the late 80's and nowadays they don't even play metal...Anthem still do and have released a huge string of albums in their 16 year career of material and whilst none of them are really "great", they released some nifty discs back in the day. For me, "Tightrope" from 1986 is the strongest and has the least filler and whilst it isn't mandatory stuff, the album is a fun slab of 80's metal. It's comparable to the American Judas Priest worshippers at that time like Malice and Obsession and is delivered with the same slick and simple catchy hooks although with a more rough production.

Highlights include "Tightrope Dancer", "Finger's On The Trigger" and the obligatory speed metal song which there is at least one of on EVERY classic/power metal album, here it's "Victim In Your Eyes". Songs like "Death To Death" and the 2 last tracks Black Eyed Tough" and "Back Street Tough" are average in their appeal and may make you wana hit the skip button. Most of the songs tend to be a bit samey but there's more killer than filler here compared to their other albums and so this is the best place to start at with the band.

Artist: Anthem

Release Title: Tightrope

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1986

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal

Artist Origin: Japan

Track Listing:
1. Victim In Your Eyes 2. Night After Night 3. Death To Death 4. Tightrope Dancer 5. Driving Wire 6. Finger's On The Trigger 7. Light It Up 8. Back Street Groove (CD bonus track) 9. Black Eyed Tough

Total playing time 40:08

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Airwolf - Victory Bells (1988)

2010-11-26T12:50:00.000-08:00

The NWOBHM was one of the best things that happened to mankind. The music from the movement was great but it also planted seeds for the thrash scene and more significantly here, the power metal scenes of the 80's. Airwolf are one of the many pupils to graduate from the German school of NWOBHM worship and they built upon that sound with a power/speed metal approach which was a path many bands both sides of the atlantic tread down at that time. This is a nifty little display of that style that echoes the raw production with gruff vocals of the Cloven Hoof debut as well as it does the breathtaking speed and sing-a-long melodic licks of the Helloween debut.

Standout tracks include the misleadingly titled "Death Metal Rain" which is moody epic power/speed metal, the title track and "Starfire". A solid disc, nothing groundbreaking for 1988 but if you like 80's power or speed metal this is candy for your ears.

Artist: Airwolf

Release Title: Victory Bells

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1988

Artist Genre: Power/Speed Metal

Artist Origin: Germany

Track Listing:
1. Legion Of Doom 2. Through The Fire 3. Swordbreaker 4. Death Metal Rain 5. Victory Bells 6. Starfire 7. (Take Off) Atlantis 8. Schizomania

Total playing time 44:39

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ADX - Suprématie (1987)

2010-11-25T17:51:00.000-08:00

Speed Metal is very often a hazy term that gets misplaced on bands that are actually thrash or far worse on bands like Devildriver(kiss my arse Scrubs!!1) but this band are pretty much a perfect definition of the term and they focus on playing traditional metal at fast speeds and picking up where songs like "Aces High" and "The Sentinel" left off. This release from them can probably best be penned as the French version of the US band Abattoir with a similiar melodic approach to vocals.

Highlights here include the title track, "Le Jugement De Salem", the more brooding, mid paced piece "Broceliande" and "L'Ordre De Sacre". Most of the songs deliver the goods and it's a solid disc. The French lyrics might put off a few but it's their loss as this is great metal.

Artist: ADX

Release Title: Suprématie

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1987

Artist Genre: Speed Metal

Artist Origin: France

Track Listing:
1. Nostromo 2. Suprématie 3. Le Jugement De Salem 4. Notre Dame de Paris 5. Victime 6. Les Secrets de l'Olympe 7. Brocéliande 8. La Peur et l'Oubli 9. L'Ordre Sacré

Total playing time 36:51

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Cyperus - Cyperus (1986)

2010-11-24T14:41:00.000-08:00

Classic US Power Metal is one of my main loves in life along with Beer, Mexican Food and anything showing Charlize Theron in revealing outfits....so when I heard this demo many moons ago it felt like it was christmas for me. Really briliant stuff as it goes that comes from the Queensryche/Fates Warning mold of US power metal with progressive touches here and there, albeit with thrashy riffs put in for good measure. Vocals are very impressive too, great range and showcase a nice display of falsetto in patches.

The jewels on here are certainly the epic opener "Judgement Day" and the more catchy "Black As Night" but the rest of the songs satisfy nicely in their own ways. Really a very impressive little USPM release and crying shame they could never put the songs from this demo and their 1988 demo "Blow It Out Your Ass" onto a full length and have more fame...

Artist: Cyperus

Release Title: Cyperus

Release Type: Demo

Release Year: 1986

Artist Genre: Power Metal

Artist Origin: USA

Track Listing:
1. Judgement Day 2. Promised Land 3. Black As Night 4. Time To Make Time 5. Mr. Only
Total playing time 27:28

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Legion - Lethal Liberty (1989)

2010-11-22T14:47:00.001-08:00

Spain have largely been a spectator when it comes to the world of old Heavy Metal classics, Baron Rojo are in some people's minds an exception, being the classic NWOBHM influenced headbanging darlings of the land(I've never really rated them that high tho!). However, Legion's first album is an album I enjoy spinning now and then. A competent and enjoyable slab of thrash where they show their appreciation for the bay area scene proudly on their sleeves. There's clear love for early Metallica and influence in the sombre guitar melodies, epic themes and the guitar sound but delivered with a rougher production and vocals more gravelly and not squeaky like Hetfield's classic bark and the songs also have a nice display of gang vocals Exodus/Death Angel style.

Standouts include the title track, "Rhythm Rider", "Dark Force" and the fun jig "Mili K.K.". Overall you could do a lot worse for a 1989 thrash release. Nothing amazing but still well worth checking out if you like thrash, especially if you love the bay area bands. Just a shame it's as rare as a solar eclipse...

Artist: Legion

Release Title: Lethal Liberty

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1989

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Spain

Track Listing:
1. Lethal Liberty 2. Rhythm Rider 3. Possessed 4. Mili K.K. 5. Young Soldier 6. Dark Force 7. If You Cross The Line 8. Live For Today 9. Acid Wrath
Total playing time 41:27

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Mandator - Perfect Progeny (1989)

2010-11-13T19:35:00.000-08:00

Mandator was formed after the dissolving of Mysto Dysto towards the late 80's and after a standard first record, they released this the following year where they found more inspiration to make it possibly Holland's best offering to the table of thrash. There's definite shades of the German thrash outfits Kreator and Destruction in the sound but with less evil and more punk posturing in the vocals and tone. Also the riffs have a savage quality to them similar to Exodus or Vio-lence. You definitely couldn't play this with an elderly person nearby as their ticker wouldn't recover...

Killer tracks include the brutal "A.I.D.S." and "Brain Desire" and the more melodic title track echoing their past work in Mysto Dysto. Nothing ambitious or groundbreaking, just good honest, no nonsense style thrash with plenty of riffs for you to jive to.

Artist: Mandator

Release Title: Perfect Progeny

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1989

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Holland

Track Listing:
1. Stick Your Knife 2. Coitus Interruptus 3. Surrealistic Maneuvers 4. A.I.D.S. 5. Brain Desire 6. Perfect Progeny 7. Automatic Artillery 8. Life Is Calling
Total playing time 44:27

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Damien - Stop This War (1989)

2010-11-12T18:50:00.000-08:00

I wasn't expecting much from this album after hearing their debut which was pretty standard, and then seeing the album cover for this album, which is at best, awful, but the material here is superb. Goes to show don't judge a CD cover by it's cover (certainly the case with the Metal Church albums!). This is some stellar Judas Priest inspired US power metal and it's clear they were raised on a heavy diet of "Screaming For Vengeance". The vocals definitely have a heavy mark of Halford in the enunciation and deranged snarling but done in a more deep tone of voice similar to the guy out of Fifth Angel. The music here is epic whilst being fun and there's enough variety and great hooks to keep you glued for most of the album.

Real highlights include the title track, the majestic "Rising Dawn" and "Matilda". So nothing that unique or exceptional especially as it was released in 1989, but nonetheless a competent record that fans of 80's Heavy Metal and Power Metal will get a kick out of.

Artist: Damien

Release Title: Stop This War

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1989

Artist Genre: Heavy/Power Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Stop This War 2. Break Out 3. Rising Dawn 4. Matilda 5. 30 St. Clair 6. Stormwind 7. Warlord 8. Always In Lust 9. The Priests Are Coming 10. Corpse Grinder
Total playing time 41:00

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Ray Gunn - Ray Gunn (1987)

2010-11-11T19:03:00.000-08:00

This a very interesting find from the U.S. with a fairly unique sound. Imagine classic US power metal waltzing with hair/glam metal and you'd end up with a sound close to this. Fairly comparable to Banshee's "Race Against Time", although Ray Gunn have more of a David Wayne bite in the vocals and a raw production, and despite all the songs being short, sweet affairs, the songwriting is impressive and vocals quite brilliant, expertly juggling a melodic glam style with a punchy epic wail.

Songs to write home about include the breathtaking "I Am Yours (You Are Mine)", "Don't You Dare", the killer ballad "Heart and Soul" and the speedy "Critical Miscalculation". Just another gorgeous classic metal release that will leave you starry eyed and sore necked. It's pretty hard to find when trying to buy it but it was released on a CD called "Forgotten Metal: Outstanding Metal Gems" in 2006 which is easier to locate and that Disc also includes 2 other albums from cult acts so worth tracking that down.

Artist: Ray Gunn

Release Title: Ray Gunn

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1987

Artist Genre: Heavy/Power Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Critical Miscalculation 2. Don't You Dare 3. No Control 4. Heart And Soul 5. I Don't Know 6. Watching You 7. I Am Yours (You Are Mine) 8. The Other Way 9. R.M.A.
Total playing time 27:44

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Fatal Violence - Ashes Tell No Tales (2008)

2010-11-10T18:53:00.000-08:00

This band are definitely on the shortlist for the award for best obscure band of the 80's. The material here is of the "WHO THE HELL ARE THESE MOTHERFU**ERS!!??" standard of high quality and to think they never got to release a full length of these 2 demos...Unbelievable....Anyways, enough salivating....the 2 demos dabble in the art of mixing US power metal with speed metal and thrash and come off sounding like the best moments of 80's Savatage and Metal Church mixed into one disc. Doug Trevisan sounds like an absolute dead ringer for Jon Oliva, when he goes into high register shrieks, and the double of David Wayne, in his menacing mid range. The riffs and songwriting are also just as impressive as Savatage's best stuff, which would be "Hall Of The Mountain King", but with leads not quite as impressive as Criss Oliva's. The 1985 demo sounds like more of a speed metal version of 80's Savatage, whilst by 1987 and with the thrash movement spreading like the black plague across the undeground it saw itself resonating into their sound to leave the 1987 demo more of a power/thrash mix.

Really breathtaking moments include "Faces Of Death", the chillingly epic "Terror On The Horizon" and "Cause for Deliverance" and the thrashtastic "Sonic Freeze" and "Fusebox". It can't be emphasised how impressive this compilation is. Godly USPM. If you like classic metal at all, you need to pump this out your speakers ASAP.

Artist: Fatal Violence

Release Title: Ashes Tell No Tales

Release Type: Best Of/Compilation

Release Year: 2008

Artist Genre: Power/Speed/Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Intro 2. Faces Of Death 3. Terror On The Horizon 4. Ashes Tell No Tales 5. Cause For Deliverance 6. Eye Of The Storm 7. Violence Is Golden 8. Sonic Freeze 9. Fusebox 10. Cyanide 11. Friday The 13th 12. Shades Of Sam
Total playing time 56:36

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Cerebus - Too Late To Pray (1986)

2010-11-09T15:36:00.000-08:00

Fan of the US band Glacier? Well you'll eat this band up like John Goodman at an "all you can eat". The same school of thought with an initial, metal and potatoes, traditional metal base but branching out into nicely done passages of US power metal spearheaded by the impressive emotive mid range and shrieky high register vocals of singer, Scott Board. In some parts here he actually reminds me of the bee gees....but with balls! Sounds interesting huh? Read on...

Clear highlights here include the stunning "Distant Eyes", "Taking Your Chances", the epic title track and the catchy "Rock The House Down". The album kinda loses me with the last 2 tracks, instrumental "Talk Is Cheap" and the lengthy and pretty dull "Longing For Home", but the rest of the tracks are all a hoot.

Sad that Heavy and Power Metal acts like this never got their just deserves in the underground towards the late 80's, mainly cos of record companies and fans being pre-occupied with the light hearted, preening of the glam scene and the polar opposite, homicidal maniac posturing of the thrash scene. There was a great mid range sound like the one on this album that is rich in quality.

Artist: Cerebus

Release Title: Too Late To Pray

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1986

Artist Genre: Heavy/Power Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Running Out Of Time 2. Taking Your Chances 3. Distant Eyes 4. Too Late To Pray 5. She Burns 6. Rock The House Down 7. Catch Me If You Can 8. Talk Is Cheap 9. Longing For Home
Total playing time 42:51

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Paradox - Heresy (1989)

2010-11-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

Paradox were a German band who rose to prominence in the underground in the late 80's alongside their compatriots from the Fatherland, the speedy power metal bands like Helloween and Scanner and thrashing brutes like Destruction and Exumer. Well, Paradox were pretty much a nice cocktail of both of those styles. Mixing the upbeat vocal and guitar stylings of Helloween with the frantic aggression and crunch of Destruction. Their debut was more of power/speed/thrash mix where this follow up sees them completely focusing on the thrashing but maintaining some nice epic power metal touches which hint at Helloween's work at that time. The album is also a conceptual story about the 13th century Roman Catholic crusades in the holy land and no it isn't a concept album like Judas Priest's "Nostradamus", so get your panic stricken breath back and read on.

Highlights include the title track, the mid paced and bouncy "Search For Perfection", "Crusader's Revenge" and the heaviest number "700 Years On" which you'll need a lie down after hearing and you can do that whilst listening to the acoustic outro "Castle In The Wind". "The Burning" and "Massacre Of The Cathars" kinda sound like carbon copies of the earlier songs but they're competent enough and everything's worth hearing. Nothing original but nonetheless cool power/thrash. Like if Helloween and Destruction had a baby.

Artist: Paradox

Release Title: Heresy

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1989

Artist Genre: Power/Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Heresy 2. Search For Perfection 3. Killtime 4. Crusader's Revenge 5. The Burning 6. Massacre Of The Cathars 7. Serenity 8. 700 Years On 9. Castle In The Wind
Total playing time 42:11

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Manilla Road - The Courts Of Chaos (1990)

2010-10-31T19:13:00.000-07:00

As the 80's progressed Manilla Road and Mark Shelton's love for Metallica and Thrash began to seep more and more into the Manilla Road sound and they follow on from the furious "Out Of The Abyss" with another thrash infused heavy/power metal disc on "The Courts Of Chaos". There's few songs that focus on a overtly "fast" tempo however, they're mostly mid paced affairs but with a very definite vicious guitar sound which in some way owes royalties to the scalliwags in the Bay Area scene and it's disciples. Along with showing his love for thrash, Mark Shelton also tries his hand at more progressive displays on the record revealing his appreciation for prog rock, by utilising Randy Foxe on keyboards to create epic suites and enhances the epic moods the band have always tried to perfect.

Highlights include the title track, as always with Manilla Road records, which has some nice majestic melodies, "(Vlad) The Impaler", "Dig Me No Grave" and the stunning closer "The Books Of Skelos" which utilises a melodic riff similar to the one in Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear The Reaper" to great effect, definitely one of the band's best numbers.

So another quality outing from the band making it 6 in a row after "Crystal Logic" in my opinion. "Courts Of Chaos" tends to get overlooked a little compared to the earlier records as it shifts away from their raw, acid rock tinged sound with the use of keyboards and drums which I believe are probably programmed but the general core of Manilla Road in the quirky experimentation and vocals are still at the top of it's game along with yet more killer riffs.

Artist: Manilla Road

Release Title: The Courts Of Chaos

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1990

Artist Genre: Heavy/Power/Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Road To Chaos 2. Dig Me No Grave 3. D.O.A.(Bloodrock cover) 4. Into The Courts Of Chaos 5. From Beyond 6. A Touch Of Madness 7. (Vlad) The Impaler 8. The Prophecy 9. The Books Of Skelos
Total playing time 52:14

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Stormwitch - Tales Of Terror (1985)

2010-10-30T17:33:00.000-07:00

Accept are sometimes referred to as the German Judas Priest. Well if there was ever a German Iron Maiden it was Stormwitch. Their riffs were more rolling and galloping and like Iron Maiden's, complete with the gorgeous noodling and pseudo Adrian Smith and Dave Murray guitar leads. As the 80's progressed Stormwitch were churning out snazzy pieces of NWOBHM/Iron Maiden worship, but also along with compatriots Accept were planting the seeds of the European Power Metal sound with nice happy sounding melodic passages which were a nice side salad to meaty heaviness. No surprises from this record, it's pretty much Walpurgis Night part 2, song quality wise and in the overall sound, although the production has less of a NWOBHM flavour to it and is louder. There's no mistaking that if you loved "Walpurgis Night" you'll want to play this on 10 until your ears bleed.

Highlights include the epic "ballad turned heavy halfway through" track "Masque Of The Red Death", "Hell's Still Alive" and the speed metal "Nightstalker". Like Maiden's 80's albums this album also has solid songwriting, everything delivers and whilst it's not jaw dropping like "Piece Of Mind" or "Powerslave" (and is actually derivative of those albums!) It's very good and should definitely be checked out if you're wondering where Helloween got their power metal roots from.

Artist: Stormwitch

Release Title: Tales Of Terror

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1985

Artist Genre: Heavy/Power Metal

Artist Origin: Germany

Track Listing:
1. Point Of No Return 2. Hell's Still Alive 3. Masque Of The Red Death 4. Arabian Nights 5. Sword Of Sagon 6. Trust In The Fire 7. Night Stalker 8. Lost Legions 9. When The Bat Bites
Total playing time 40:08

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Stormtrooper - Armies Of The Night (1985)

2010-10-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

After years of digging for classic metal artefacts, I only discovered this valuble fossil within the past 6 months, which is perfect proof that if you think you've found all the beauties from back in the day...YOU'RE WRONG! Stormtrooper hailed from Phoenix, Arizona and played a thrashy form of power metal and this EP was their only release in 1985. Oddly enough, there's a couple of glaring similarities with the late 80's Seattle thrash band Coven, the maniac vocal style is almost identical and the more epic based thrash style, without there being any relationship between the bands. Playing these songs just makes me think of Coven's "Blessed Are The Black" from 1988 and if you know that album you'll know what to expect but this has a more primitive production with more of an emphasis on US Power Metal.

It starts off with a "spooky" spoken intro with thunder and lightning and warnings about the grim reaper, just a loveable slab of classic metal cheese which sets the dark mood nicely which then leads into the title track and the best number on here with the best riff and best chorus. The other songs all deliver the goods tho, particularly "The Beast Within" which is almost as good as the title track. A vintage EP, one of the best ones you can own from the 80's.

Artist: Stormtrooper

Release Title: Armies Of The Night

Release Type: EP

Release Year: 1985

Artist Genre: Power/Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. The Reaper 2. Armies Of The Night 3. Streamroller 4. Search and Destroy 5. The Beast Within
Total playing time 25:43

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Pantera - Power Metal (1988)

2010-10-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

Artist: Pantera

Release Title: Power Metal

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1988

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Rock The World 2. Power Metal 3. We'll Meet Again 4. Over and Out 5. Proud To Be Loud 6. Down Below 7. Death Trap 8. Hard Ride 9. Burnnn! 10. P-S-T '88
Total playing time 38:15

It's a real tragedy if Vinnie Paul goes to the grave alongside never giving Pantera's 80's material, mainly THIS album, the props it deserves. This album, boys and girls, for me is THEIR finest hour, not "The Great Southern Earkill" or even "Cowboys From Hell". This is the album they were leading up to in the 80's and was their magnum opus and apart from maybe, a couple of songs on "Cowboys From Hell", they never topped this album.

The title is misleading as there's nothing really power metal about this, it's basically them parading the good name of Judas Priest around, loud and proud whilst giving the occasional nod to Metallica, and Anselmo's best performance album of his career is here. Yes, better than Down and any of his embarrasing side projects or later Pantera albums, his range here is superb and the delivery screams "CLASSIC METAL!" like he never, ever did whilst he was squealing like a pig in his later career or doing embarrassing Robert De Niro impressions on "Walk", and whilst the production is more dirty and doesn't have the professionalism of the mix on "Cowboys From Hell" there's nothing that make you stare at a wall, where half the songs on "Cowboys From Hell" DO make you want to do that.

Really good moments include the speed metal title track, the epic "We'll Meet Again" which plays out as a sort of prelude to "Cemetary Gates", the thrashy flavour of "Over and Out", "Burnnn!" and the silly but ultra catchy "P.S.T. '88" (PUSSY TIGHT! TONIGHT!) with dimebag singing about his favourite love besides Judas Priest. *sigh* Rest In Peace. This isn't particularly original or outstanding but it's a SOLID 80's metal album and more enjoyable than anything else they did. Don't listen to the band member's opinion on this or whatever mainstream idiotic fan of the band say, this is seriously their best. It's pretty pricey so if you can't afford it download the MP3s of it.

Sacrifice - Soldiers Of Misfortune (1991)

2010-10-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

As thrash was nearing the twilight years of it's golden era, at the turn of the 90's, the scene was flooded with bands with lobotomies, trying to ride the wave as it was in the limelight of the metal scene, and producing quick to market generic knock offs of the "Anthrax sound" or the "Slayer sound" and helping steer the genre into the grisly demise it would suffer a couple of years down the line. Despite that there were still bands trying to keep the ship steady by maintaining originality, a good array of riffs and some creativity to keep fans from straying from the genre and Sacrifice were definitely one of these bands, who took their initial dark, murky thrash sound and added more technical flair to it on "Soldiers Of Misfortune" along with a more crisp, clear production and they definitely end up with another record which nowadays can see people killing other people in order to own.

The highlights on here include the awesome riffs in "As The World Burns", the epic title track, the mid paced and bouncy "Lost Through Time" and the furious "A Storm In The Silence". All the tracks are definitely worthy and like "Forward To Termination", this album deserves it's own altar to be worshipped on.

Artist: Sacrifice

Release Title: Soldiers Of Misfortune

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1991

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Canada

Track Listing:
1. As The World Burns 2. Soldiers Of Misfortune 3. In Defiance 4. Existence Within Eternity 5. Pawn Of Prophecy 6. Lost Through Time 7. A Storm In The Silence 8. Truth (After The Rain)
Total playing time 40:26

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Malice - License To Kill (1987)

2010-10-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

Malice were a heavy but fun outfit who emerged from LA in the 80's and first appeared on the first metal massacre compilation released on Metal Blade alongside Metallica in 1982, with a cut called "Kick You Down". It was a rather standard number and the band never realised their full potential until the mid 80's first with their debut "In The Beginning" which was a brilliant slab of Judas Priest worship and later with this follow up. This is another nifty release which bows at the altars of "Screaming For Vengeance" and "Defenders Of The Faith" and is just so loveably simple, catchy and riffy 80's metal that it can even raise a smile from the most devout, low brow black metal fanatic.

The production is the main difference between this release and their debut, much more clear and punchy, and whilst the songs don't scale the dizzy heights of EPIC that "Godz Of Thunder" and "Hellrider" do on their debut, all of them tend to be of the same lofty quality and there's no filler like there is on the debut. The real highlights include "Chain Gang Woman", "Sinister Double", the title track and the more laid back "Vigiliante". Ear candy for fans of early 80's Priest and simple and catchy 80's metal.

Artist: Malice

Release Title: License To Kill

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1987

Artist Genre: Heavy/Power/Speed Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Sinister Double 2. License To Kill 3. Against The Empire 4. Vigilante 5. Chain Gang Woman 6. Christine 7. Murder 8. Breathin' Down Your Neck 9. Circle Of Fire
Total playing time 39:14

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Iron Angel - Hellish Crossfire (1985)

2010-10-25T15:59:00.000-07:00

Iron Angel were a nifty little outfit who emerged from the mid 80's speed metal and thrash groundswell in Germany which was wrestling with the American scene to be the king of these styles of metal. This debut from the band was loosely in the vein of Venom, murky satanic speed metal but with a good dollop of influence from teutonic thrash like Destruction in the guitar tone, overt drumming and some "help!! mommy!!" thrash riff breaks. Couple that with some competent vocals which range from a deep voiced bark to a crazy shriek and also some solid catchy songwriting and you have a model release to give someone who doesn't know what underground 80's German metal had to offer.

The breathtaking moments on here include the main riff and thrash break in "Hunter In Chains", "The Metallian", the zippy "Sinner 666" and "Legions Of Evil". All the tracks are enjoyable enough and the album is mandatory if you're a fan of Venom, Destruction, Slayer or any dark thrash and speed metal in general.

Artist: Iron Angel

Release Title: Hellish Crossfire

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1985

Artist Genre: Speed/Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Germany

Track Listing:
1. The Metallian 2. Sinner 666 3. Black Mass 4. The Church Of Lost Souls 5. Hunter In Chains 6. Rush Of Power 7. Legions Of Evil 8. Wife Of The Devil 9. Nightmare 10. Heavy Metal Soldiers
Total playing time 41:19

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Mysto Dysto - The Rules Have Been Disturbed (1986)

2010-10-24T15:16:00.000-07:00

Mysto Dysto were a band who cropped up in the mid 80's from the much overlooked, healthy Dutch metal scene and produced a minor classic with this debut record. Many bands in the mid 80's went gaga over the new thrash sound from American giants Metallica and Slayer and jumped into the deep end of this pool yet others branched out into it but held onto the sensibilities of Traditional Metal. Mysto Dysto were one of the latter, who mixed the breakneck fury and crunch of thrash with a more melodic speed metal slant and the production, vocals and the melancholy melodies definitely have the NWOBHM written all over it. When listening to this at points you'll be forgiven for thinking it came from the UK in 1980/81 until some hardcore inspired thrashing and some vicious riff takes that feeling, tears it up and urinates all over it. The band definitely got their kicks from Cloven Hoof and Angel Witch as much as "Ride The Lightning".

Major highlights include the absolutely epic "Confused" which has a bit of everything and goes through different moods nicely, "Atilla The Destructor", the frantic and ultra catchy "Indenter" and the other epic on here "Full Speed To Hell" which has a spine tingling epic 2 minute solo which seems to go on forever and never becomes dull. None of the songs really fall above average, including the last 2 which come from their "No AIDS in hell" demo from 1987 and those songs are more pure thrash than the rest. It's clear to see they had one eye on forming a pure thrash band from listening to them, which is what they did in 1988 with the band members breaking Mysto Dysto up and forming the teutonic thrash inspired Mandator. Although I like Mandator's second release, it's not as unique sounding and has as many amazing moments as on here. Definitely one to jump for if you have the coin for it.

Artist: Mysto Dysto

Release Title: The Rules Have Been Disturbed

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1986

Artist Genre: Speed/Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Holland

Track Listing:

1. Power Of The Law 2. Confused 3. Tarantula 4. Atilla The Destructor 5. Full Speed To Hell 6. Indenter 7. One Night Stand 8. Visit Of The Vikings

Total playing time 41:18

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Artillery - Fear Of Tomorrow (1985)

2010-10-23T18:49:00.000-07:00

Although Thrash had been making baby steps in the early 80's, the genre was officially announced in 1985 as a worldwide force with full lengths from Kreator, Destruction, Anthrax, Overkill, Exodus, Slayer and Megadeth hitting store shelves and everybody trying to be faster and crunchier than everybody else. That same year also saw the debut from one of the first bands who helped the thrash sound to evolve in the early 80's. Artillery's "We Are The Dead" demo from 1982 was an awesome seminal piece mixing traditional metal, Sabbath doom and gloom and a frightfully vicious THRASH guitar sound. They definitely influenced people in the underground around them in Europe and elsewhere into branching out into this sound and when they eventually got round to releasing this full length in 1985, they managed to step up the aggression fully into an out and out thrash sound.

The production is a bit scratchy but doesn't spoil the listening experience to any real degree. It merely lends itself to the dark and raw charm of the music. Give me that over the dime a dozen, sterile, wall of noise production that's used on all modern albums nowadays which makes so many bands sound EXACTLY the same....but that's a sob story for another day, I digress...

Standouts on here would definitely be "The Almighty", "The Eternal War" "Time Has Come" and the frantic riffing and tempo changes of "Out Of The Sky" and "Into The Universe". Just wholesome, little doses of classic thrash vitality to turn you into a crippled, dehydrated mess on the floor. The rest is no slouch either and it's all enjoyable. For 1985 this is one of the daddies of the genre and is indespensible. Pick it up if you can.

Artist: Artillery

Release Title: Fear Of Tomorrow

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1985

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Denmark

Track Listing:
1. Time Has Come 2. The Almighty 3. Show Your Hate 4. King Their Name Is Slayer 5. Out Of The Sky 6. Into The Universe 7. The Eternal War 8. Deeds Of Darkness 9. Fear of Tomorrow
Total playing time 41:29

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Nightmare - Waiting For The Twilight (1984)

2010-10-22T16:21:00.000-07:00

France is never a country that tends to spring to people's minds today when you say great heavy metal but there was a time in the mid 80's where it was trying to elbow Germany out the way as the 3rd best country for traditional metal acts after the UK and America. There was stellar releases coming out at that time from there with bands latching onto the popularity of the raw NWOBHM sound but putting a different spin on it with their own gallic charm. Problem was the quality that was coming out was very underground compared to the bigger success of German acts at the time like Accept, Running Wild and of course, Scorpions. Part of that was probably due to Germans loving metal more than the French but also because the real giants of the French Scene like Sortilege and ADX preferred to deliver their material singing in French which made their appeal more limited. A band that did sing in English from the French scene was Nightmare and their debut is certainly a bloody classic which took leaves out of the Diamond Head book with a more power metal slant of the NWOBHM sound.

The production is a little more distorted than any of Diamond Head's work tho and the vocals more of a moody croon which sounds like a more sedate, laid back version of Steve Grimmett's of Grim Reaper. Really enchanting stuff as it goes and he really shines through on songs like "Lord Of The Sky" and "Fool On The Scene". Other highlights include the title track and the anthemic opener "Trust A Crowd". All of the songs flow really well tho with solid songwriting. Definitely one of the must have records from 1984. After this record frontman Christophe Houpert was given the boot for a more conventional high register singer in Jean-Marie Boix who wasn't quite as interesting as his predecessor. The material was a lot more average with him as well and the band faded away into obscurity until their reformation in the late 90's.

Definitely check this debut out if you like NWOBHM and american power metal. Easily one of the top 3 French metal albums.

Artist: Nightmare

Release Title: Waiting For The Twilight

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1984

Artist Genre: Heavy/Power Metal

Artist Origin: France

Track Listing:
1. Trust A Crowd 2. Waiting For The Twilight 3. Too Late 4. Royal Death 5. Drive Down To Hell 6. Lord Of The Sky 7. The Legend 8. Fool On The Scene
Total playing time 32:46

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Manilla Road - Mystification (1987)

2010-10-21T17:32:00.000-07:00

Similar to Iron Maiden in that Manila Road were almost like an immortal machine in the 80's, releasing a slew of classics and almost one every year. Difference is whilst Iron Maiden tended to make stellar slabs of recognisable, trademark NWOBHM and post nwobhm traditional metal, Manilla Road were a quirky, mystical creature whose melding of influences from prog rock, thrash and even acid rock made them a more acquired taste but when you acquire it, it's as addictive as crystal meth. Here they progress with the more faster and thrashy path they took to after the doomy "Crystal Logic" and sees them getting more thrashy with more tempo changes and raw drumming but not sacrificing the starry eyed epic passages and melodies one ounce.

Clear winners here are "Children Of The Night", "Masque Of The Red Death", "Haunted Palace" and the awesome mystical melodies of the title track. I find the album tends to go stale with the last 2 tracks "Dragon Star" and "The Asylum" which are pretty forgettable but the album is able to hold your attention for the first 8 tracks which is why it's so drooled over by classic metal fans.

The greatest Manilla Road album? Well it must be between this and "The Deluge". They definitely sound like them at the peak of their creativity. They made good albums after "Mystification" but this or "The Deluge" is where anyone should start with the band along with the more doomy "Crystal Logic".

Artist: Manilla Road

Release Title: Mystification

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1987

Artist Genre: Heavy/Power/Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Up From The Crypt 2. Children Of The Night 3. Haunted Palace 4. Spirits Of The Dead 5. Valley Of Unrest 6. Mystification 7. Masque Of The Red Death 8. Death By The Hammer 9. Dragon Star 10. The Asylum (Bonus track)
Total playing time 47:55

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Aspid - Extravasation (1992)

2010-10-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

The Thrash scene was crawling and fumbling along in 1992 like a sparrow which had been savaged by 3 cats resembled by the Death Metal uprising in the underground, thrash's heavyweights streamlining for more $$$ and Pantera's new TUFF GUY! groove metal sound taking off. This record is perhaps the last truly GREAT album from the golden era which possesses a great array of riffs and memorable songs and energy to see the thrash scene go out with a bang. Problem was the bang of this album wasn't heard by that many people because it was so poorly distributed back in the day in Russia, released in very limited numbers on vinyl, then on cassette.

As for the sound on show here, it definitely has a very clear early Destruction influence in the buzzsaw guitar sound but with vocals a bit more gruff than Schmier's that descend into a death croak style now and then, Tom Angelripper of Sodom style, and then there's the progressive and technical waves it's all delivered in. So basically picture Watchtower's "Energetic Disassembly" processed through the early Destruction sound with Tom Angelripper topping it off and that's the nearest comparison. Some of the real highlights include "Towards One Goal", "Hey, You" with it's uber technical thrash riff break and the title track with it's juggernaut main riff. All of the songs are enjoyable tho even the ultra cheesy dramatic intro which sounds like it was from some cringeworthy Sci Fi "B" movie from the 80's. You have to smile.

Unfortunately the record is as rare as a good Lamb of God song but if you search the net you're sure to find it somewhere. You just may have to dig deep in your pocket to buy it! It'd be worth it tho. This is probably one of the top 30 thrash releases there is.

Artist: Aspid

Release Title: Extravasation

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1992

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Russia

Track Listing:
1. Intro 2. It Came (Aspid) 3. Towards One Goal 4. Give Me (Play For A Ballet) 5. Hey, You! 6. Where The Night 7. Comatose State 8. Extravasation
Total playing time 46:59

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Destruction - Cracked Brain (1990)

2010-10-19T17:24:00.000-07:00

Ok so I thought I'd cover this album because why this album gets swept under the carpet and forgotten as much as it does must be one of life's great mysteries cos this is definitely Destruction's BEST release...yeah, that's right I went there. Better than the early Schmier albums ("ZOMG LOLZ I Can'T BuLeeV he seD thaT!11") and better than any of their comeback albums. This is the album that has their best riffs, most technical songwriting and as a whole is more enjoyable and rewarding than their other albums and you won't want to skip any of the tracks, which isn't the case with their other records.

So as Schmier parted ways with them, they recruited Andre Grieder from Poltergiest, a mediocre swiss thrash band and he puts in a rip roaring display. The riffs are also some of their best, "Die a Day Before You're Born" and "When Your Mind Was Free" are just packed with ones that make you want to go into a seizure....and the songs are just as catchy like the choruses of S.E.D. (Socialists Eternal DEATH! Socialists Eternal DEATH!) and "Frustrated" (I'm so f**king bored...FRUSTRATED!). Just a big barrel of fun. Even the cover of The Knack's "My Sharona" works really well and of course outdoes the original.

The production and guitar tone here may not be as raw and heavy as on previous releases and the vocals are more conventional but they make up for it with better songwriting and technicality and the songs have more to offer. Don't get me wrong I bang my head like a woodpecker to their classics like "Mad Butcher" and "Confused Mind" but I tend to listen to individual songs more from their early albums rather than listen to an album all the way through like I do with "Cracked Brain". It's the band at their zenith and maturity and is one of the best examples of technical thrash. The only way you won't like this is if you hate thrash.

Artist: Destruction

Release Title: Cracked Brain

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1990

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Germany

Track Listing:
1. Cracked Brain 2. Frustrated 3. S.E.D. 4. Time Must End 5. My Sharona (The Knack cover) 6. Rippin' You Off Blind 7. Die A Day Before You're Born 8. No Need To Justify 9. When Your Mind Was Free
Total playing time 39:01

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Heir Apparent - Graceful Inheritance (1986)

2010-10-18T18:21:00.000-07:00

In the wake of more melodic and progressive American Power Metal bands like Queensryche and Fates Warning making big waves in the underground in the mid 80's, saw other bands wanting to ply their trade down this road. Crimson Glory were one that popped up in 1986, another that same year were this band Heir Apparent. This is a majestic sounding record with quite, dare I say, a "sweet" melodic quality but don't worry not sweet in a Sonata Arctica/ Rhapsody "let's play ring a ring a rosey with some dragons, drink honey tea then crash out and have gay sex all night" type fashion. This has class.

Plenty of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest influence in the lead guitars just like all good power metal should have, and lots of nice hooks and vocals in the choruses. Real winners on here are "Keeper Of The Reign", "The Servant" and 'Dragon's Lair" and there's hardly any filler. The albums gets more angry towards the end with the speedy and snarling "Nightmare" and "Dragon's Lair" so hold on and listen to it all the way through if you're starting to wish you were listening to "Hell Awaits" instead. This is one of the staples of American Power Metal. Give it a whirl, especially if you like early Queensryche, Fates Warning, late 80's Iron Maiden and just melodic metal in general.

Artist: Heir Apparent

Release Title: Graceful Inheritance

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1986

Artist Genre: Power Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Entrance 2. Another Candle 3. The Servant 4. Tear Down The Walls 5. Running From The Thunder 6. The Cloak 7. R.I.P. (Live) 8. Hands Of Destiny 9. Keeper Of The Reign 10. Dragon's Lair 11. Masters Of Invasion 12. Nightmare 13. A.N.D....Drogro Lived On
Total playing time 46:16

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Necronomicon - Escalation (1988)

2010-10-17T17:48:00.000-07:00

People could be forgiven for not showing interest in Necronomicon's 3rd full length "Escalation" on the back of their first 2 records, which at best were a poor man's Destruction, on here they almost sound like a different band with killer riffs, catchy hooks and energy by the truckload. The production is more rough and muggy compared to records by Kreator and Destruction around this period but still clear enough to feel the effects of the fierce teutonic thrash on show.

The sound is more closer to speed/traditional metal than those aforementioned German heavyweights, with more emphasis on lead guitar and more prevalent traditional metal riffs in places, with vocals pretty similar to Schmier's from Destruction but not quite as dementedly high pitched. Definite standouts would be "Death Toll", "...And The Night Will Be Silent" which nicely uses the riff from Overkill's "Overkill" to great effect and "Skeletal Remains" which you'll be reciting the chorus of, for hours after! This record is one of thrash's best kept secrets. You definitely need to hear it if raw 80's thrash makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Artist: Necronomicon

Release Title: Escalation

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year:1988

Artist Genre: Speed/Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Germany

Track Listing:
1. Death Toll 2. Black Frost 3. Dirty Minds 4. Skeletal Remains 5. Murder Of Profit 6. ...And The Night Will Be Silent 7. Mosh The ABC 8. Cold Ages (Darkland III)
Total playing time 32:55

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Lords Of The Crimson Alliance - Lords Of The Crimson Alliance (1986)

2010-10-16T16:55:00.000-07:00

This band were definitely a strange beast. Aside from the odd sound of this record, there's the rumours that the label that released this album, "Grudge Records", was simply the band members under different names. That aside, this record is as wonderful as it is weird. A USPM record with great songwriting craft, vocals and hooks which promote it to the top league of US power metal records from the golden era like Jag Panzer's "Ample Destruction" and Manilla Road's "Mystification".

The bizarro nature of the sound comes from the layered, high pitched mixed with mid range vocals, the digital sounding drums, along with each of the songs having a spoken intro done with a voice that has been altered to sound very low toned, reading the theme of the song, but also it being too quiet in the mix. Just altogether something very strange but still beats the shit out of Nevermore. Particular highlights on here would be the frantic opener "Firedancer", the melancholy "The Sorceror", the catchy "Clone Of The Wolf" and "Swords Of Zeus" but all of the tracks are solid and worthwhile. Definitely check this out if you like USPM but are looking for something a bit quirky and different. This is definitely a one in a million record.

Artist: Lords Of The Crimson Alliance

Release Title: Lords Of The Crimson Alliance

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year:1986

Artist Genre: Power Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Firedancer 2. Dragonslayer 3. Swords of Zeus 4. Death Crusade 5. The Sorceror 6. The Dungeon 7. In The Arms Of Morpheus 8. Clone Of The Wolf
Total playing time 35:17

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Laaz Rockit - Annihilation Principle (1989)

2010-10-15T19:05:00.000-07:00

On their last release Laaz had a fusion sound mixing power & traditional metal with thrash, but here they jump feet first into a very definite 100% bay area sound which was all the rage in 1989, although thrash was getting poor knock offs whenever you looked left and right in 1989 (*coughforcedentrycough* or most of the acts from the UK), this release whilst not original, is definitely inspired and filled with enough personality for somebody to not think they're listening to a 3rd rate version of Metallica or Slayer and enough riffs to keep you bobbing your head.

Particular highlights for me would be the anthemic speedy opener "Fire In The Hole", the mid paced crusher "Mob Justice", "Mirror To Madness" and the Dead Kennedys cover is also well done, I know I'd rather hear it than the original...If you're a thrash fan you'll definitely want to blast this and piss off your neighbours off with it...

Artist: Laaz Rockit

Release Title: Annihilation Principle

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year:1989

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Fire In The Hole 2. Mob Justice 3. Chain Of Fools 4. Shadow Company 5. Holiday In Cambodia (Dead Kennedys cover) 6. Bad Blood 7. Chasin' Charlie 8. Mirror To Madness 9. The Omen
Total playing time 44:15

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Agent Steel - Unstoppable Force (1987)

2010-10-14T18:32:00.000-07:00

On Agent Steel's second full length they definitely come on leaps and bounds after the respectable but one dimensional debut "Skeptics Apocalypse". The songs have more epic power metal and also branch out into thrashier territory with heavier riffs, and John Cyriis is just as maniacal here as on their debut record coming off sounding like Rob Halford on crack and he's the factor that tends to get polarised opinions on the band's 80's era, where people love or hate them for his voice.

None of the songs here fall below the "above average" mark and it's pretty much a blast from start to finish and ranges from mid paced belters like "Rager" and "Never Surrender" to the epic passages of "Chosen To Stay" and "Still Searching" to the warp speed trailblazers of "Indestructive" and "Nothin' Left". There's everything a growing metal boy needs on this album. Wondering what Priest mixed with classic Metallica sounds like? It's right here...just so long as you dig a more insane version of Halford...

Artist: Agent Steel

Release Title: Unstoppable Force

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year:1987

Artist Genre: Speed Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Unstoppable Force 2. Never Surrender 3. Indestructive 4. Chosen To Stay 5. Still Searchin' 6. Rager 7. The Day At Guyana 8. Nothin' Left 9. Traveler
Total playing time 39:10

Shok Paris - Go For The Throat (1984)

2010-10-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

Shok Paris was one of the new wave of American heavy/power metal bands who arose in the wake of the NWOBHM and built on the epic vibes and moods of bands such as Diamond Head and Satan and utilized a far more pricey production to progress the genre forward. This is a nice selection of straight ahead rockers and epic moody tracks and ends up being one of the best metal releases you can pick up in 1984.

The vocals fall somewhere between U.D.O and Dio, in that they have the ballsy growl of Mr Dirkschneider but also an awesome epic range similar to that of the late, great metal god Dio, and it's a real treat that drives the music on. Numbers like "Burn It Down" bring to mind Accept at their best, "Battle Cry" is a real anthem and songs like "On A Wing And A Prayer" and "Caged Tiger" will make you bang your head as well as go watery eyed at the epic power. This is a must hear for fans of early 80's Sabbath and Dio, epic NWOBHM and just US power metal in general.

Artist: Shok Paris

Release Title: Go For The Throat

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year:1984

Artist Genre: Heavy/Power Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Marsielles De Sade 2. Battle Cry 3. Burn It Down 4. On A Wing And A Prayer 5. Chosen Ones 6. Caged Tiger 7. Never Say Why 8. Go For The Throat 9. Can't Fight The Evil 10. Run But Don't Hide
Total playing time 38:03

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Wolf - Edge Of The World (1984)

2010-10-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

Wolf were a band that formed from the ashes of a prior band called Black Axe (who were from my home city of Carlisle, England!), a really cool outfit with a nice mix of melody and smoking riffs which for me makes this one of the standout albums from the NWOBHM movement and lo and behold, the record can't be found anywhere! No record companies will re-release it, not even the original label who put it out, Mausoleum Records. Definitely one of life's great mysteries as this is well above average material.

There's the standard NWOBHM raw production and melodic vocal styling that's on show here and as it turns out the 2 songs they released as previous band Black Axe, "Red Lights" and "Highway Rider" are 2 of the strongest songs here but the title track is nice and epic and "Too Close For Comfort" is a really catchy number as is "Shock Treatment". The rest is all above average rockers that will leave a grin from ear to ear on the face of any NWOBHM fan. Let's hope some record company sees sense soon and re-releases the bloody thing.

Artist: Wolf

Release Title: Edge Of The World

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year:1984

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal / NWOBHM

Artist Origin: U.K.

Track Listing:
1. Edge Of The World 2. Highway Rider 3. Heaven Will Rock 'N' Roll 4. Shock Treatment 5. A Soul For The Devil 6. Head Contact (Rock 'N" Roll) 7. Rest In Peace 8. Too Close For Comfort 9. Red Lights 10. Medicine Man
Total playing time 37:55

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Nocturnus - The Key (1990)

2010-10-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

My interest in Death Metal has dwindled over the years and I barely have much use for the subgenre anymore but I do make an exception with a couple of bands. One being Nocturnus. This debut from the band has real lasting value as it doesn't stray from the thrash ideals like so many Death Metal bands did at the turn of the 90's as most of them went into highlighting the zombie vomiting vocals and the tickticktick grindcore drumming and detracting from what makes extreme metal so bloody nifty in the first place. Riffs! and shoving as many of them down your throat until you pass out or die from a heart attack i.e Darkness Descends, Pleasure To Kill, Hell Awaits etc.

Not only is this following on in the footsteps of the first death metal releases, Possessed's "Seven Churches" and Death's "Scream Bloody Gore" in keeping the thrash ideals, it also has an awesome knack for technical prowess. There's always some new thing happening during the songs and you don't have to grin and bear a passage for too long if it's not your cupajoe. Most of the songs are really memorable especially the chorus and riffs of "Lake Of Fire" and "Before Christ/After Death" and the thrash breaks in "Andromeda Strain" and the bonus track "Undead Journey". Also the vocals whilst gutteral aren't too loud in the mix and detracting from the guitars like so many other death metal bands do. This is just a model exhibit of greatness from the subgenre. Pity more death metal bands didn't take a leaf out of their book...

Artist: Nocturnus

Release Title: The Key

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year:1990

Artist Genre: Death Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Lake Of Fire 2. Standing In Blood 3. Visions From Beyond The Grave 4. Neolithic 5. Undead Journey (Bonus Track) 6. Before Christ/After Death 7. Andromeda Strain 8. Droid Sector 9. Destroying The Manger 10. Empire Of The Sands
Total playing time 44:00

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Sacred Oath - A Crystal Vision (1987)

2010-10-10T18:02:00.000-07:00

Sacred Oath were part of the crop of American Power metal bands that arose in the mid 80's along with Liege Lord, Omen and Jag Panzer. This is certainly one of the model releases of the style with stunning vocals which could be described as somewhere between King Diamond and John Arch, great lead guitar that totally brings to mind Judas Priest and there's definitely evidence of these guys taking notes from Metallica and Exodus with some thrash shades here and there. This release pretty much has enough influence from different quarters to pique anyone's interest who is in general a big fan of 80's metal.

Artist: Sacred Oath

Release Title: A Crystal Vision

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year:1987

Artist Genre: Power Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Two Powers 2. The Omen 3. Message To The Children 4. Magick Son 5. A Crystal Vision 6. The Beginning 7. Shadow Out Of Time 8. The Ferryman's Lair 9. Rising From The Grave
Total playing time 43:05

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Sabbat - History Of A Time To Come (1988)

2010-10-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

When Thrash Metal started making shockwaves in the underground scene in 1984 and 1985 the main ports for the movement were the U.S. and Germany, and England after creating the metal genre was lagging behind with this new extreme subgenre and only really had one respectable name with the band, Onslaught. Come 1988 the Thrash scene started seeing copycats and bands simply taking the Metallica and Slayer blueprint and regurgitating it.

The UK band Sabbat appeared in the same year and were a real breath of fresh air utilizing pagan themes and an innovative lyrical approach from frontman Martin Walkyier. Influence can be heard from Venom and also the NWOBHM band Hell who were a big influence on the band. This album has an impressive dark and mysterious vibe with the odd guitar tone and elaborate medieval style poetry spat out by frontman Walkyier in an upper class English voice making it sound like "Shakespeare does Thrash!" It might sound ridiculous at first but it really works and gives an atmosphere of the album being churned out by Druids sometime in the Dark Ages in England and without a trace of Spinal Tap's "Stonehenge" cheese with it!

Themes, Vocals and Atmosphere aside, this album has RIFFS and a fuckload of killer ones. This functions brilliantly as a brutal thrash album as well as it does an atmospheric druid inspired one and definitely ends up being one of the stellar, standout albums of the genre that has to be heard if you enjoy thrash at all.

Artist: Sabbat

Release Title: History Of A Time To Come

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year:1988

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: U.K

Track Listing:
1. Intro 2. A Cautionary Tale 3. Hosanna In Excelsis 4. Behind The Crooked Cross 5. Horned Is The Hunter 6. I For An Eye 7. For Those Who Died 8. A Dead Man's Robe 9. The Church Bizarre
Total playing time 46:27

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Manilla Road - The Deluge (1986)

2010-10-08T18:47:00.000-07:00

Manilla Road carried on from strength to strength after the cult classic "Crystal Logic" and released a slew of undeniably magic releases which all contain the trademark avant garde guitar sound and vocals and above all else songwriting and riffs that can only be described as WIN!! This is possibly a good place to start off with Mark the Shark and company with some awesome epic and moody tracks such as "Shadows In The Black", "Hammer Of The Witches" and the title track which will all leave you yo-yoing between gawping like a Cod at the epic charm and banging your head like a psycho. Completely mandatory heavy/power metal. Check it out NOW if you haven't.

Artist: Manilla Road

Release Title: The Deluge

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year:1986

Artist Genre: Heavy/Power/Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Dementia 2. Shadows In The Black 3. Divine Victim 4. Hammer Of The Witches 5. Morbid Tabernacle 6. Isle Of The Dead 7. Taken By Storm 8. The Deluge 9. Friction In Mass 10. Rest In Pieces
Total playing time 38:57

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Deaf Dealer - Journey Into Fear (1987)

2010-10-07T18:17:00.000-07:00

Deaf Dealer were a Canadian traditional metal band who released "Keepers Of The Flame" in 1986 to some moderate underground fanfare but when they came round to trying to release this follow up didn't get the backing of the record company and ever since the album has never been officially released and has only found it getting into the hands of fans by bootleg releases and rips because of legal issues of not being able to release it. A real damn shame as this is a more than worthy follow up and step up from the rather standard first album. On here they exercise their Iron Maiden influences to the max and emphasize a more epic tone with the vocals and moods alongside mostly fast paced songs making this a Power/Speed Metal affair. Some real humdingers on here with Maiden styled Noodling guitars and vocals with a less flamboyant and more moderate ranged take on Bruce Dickinson's. If you're looking for some good ol' USPM with Iron Maiden being the main influence. This album is your best friend.

Artist: Deaf Dealer

Release Title: Journey Into Fear

Release Type: Unreleased Full Length

Release Year:1987

Artist Genre: Power/Speed Metal

Artist Origin: Canada

Track Listing:
1. Back To Gods Country 2. Mind Games 3. Blood Cut Sound 4. Tribute To A Madman 5. East End Terror 6. To Hell and Back 7. Escape From A Mountain 8. Journey Into Fear
Total playing time 36:14

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Sacrifice - Forward To Termination (1987)

2010-10-06T18:40:00.000-07:00

A lot of people say Canada's answer to Slayer, Sacrifice were certainly an awesome band and in my opinion the best thrash from land of the maple leaf. This is the band's masterpiece work and for me possibly one of the top ten thrash albums of all time. A treasure chest full of neck crippling riffs and great hooks and maniacal vocals from vocalist Rob Urinati. Also with a nice murky, raw atmosphere created which totally lends itself to the deadly vibe of the music. ESSENTIAL thrash.

Artist: Sacrifice

Release Title: Forward To Termination

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year:1987

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Canada

Track Listing:
1. Forward To Termination/Terror Strikes 2. Re-Animation 3. Afterlife 4. Flames Of Armageddon 5. The Entity 6. Forever Enslaved 7. Cyanide 8. Light Of The End 9. Pyrokinesis
Total playing time 29:33

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Solar Eagle - Charter To Nowhere [Demo] (1988)

2010-10-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

Here's another buried beauty from the 80's from a Canadian power metal band who released this and a full length LP before it. The LP I found rather average but here on the following demo they touch some real greatness. Some nice similarities with Crimson Glory and Liege Lord and the like and great energy. Definitely check this out if you love good ol' american power metal.

Artist: Solar Eagle

Release Title: Charter To Nowhere

Release Type: Demo

Release Year:1988

Artist Genre: Power/Speed Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. The Initial Landing 2. Escape From Spirits Prison 3. Charter No Nowhere 4. The Unicorn 5. OP85 no5 6. Chains Of Gold
Total playing time 29:33

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Exumer - Possessed By Fire (1986)

2010-10-04T17:35:00.000-07:00

Exumer were one of the early German pace setters in the 80's world of thrash and this debut release is A 101 in thrash with jaw dropping riffs and killer hook choruses aplenty. You can definitely hear shades of Slayer's "Show No Mercy" with a bit of Exodus and Metallica thrown in for good measure. You have to hear this if you're a thrasher.

Artist: Exumer

Release Title: Possessed By Fire

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year:1986

Artist Genre: Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Germany

Track Listing:

1. Possessed By Fire 2. Destructive Solution 3. Fallen Saint 4. A Mortal In Black 5. Sorrows Of The Judgement 6. Xiron Darkstar 7. Reign Of Sadness 8. Journey To Oblivion 9. Silent Death

Total playing time 36:09

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Damien Steele - Damien Steele (2005)

2010-10-03T18:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a real interesting disc from a progressive power metal band very much in the vein of Warning era-Queensryche and Crimson Glory. This is a combination of the songs from a 1991 demo cassette they released plus 4 unreleased songs. They should have made real waves based on their talent here, really amazing epic and emotional vocals but plenty of headbang worthy riffs and lead guitar. Just another gem that got washed away by the grunge movement in the early 90's...You have to hear it if you like melodic metal at all really...

Artist: Damien Steele

Release Title: Damien Steele

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 2005

Artist Genre: Prog/Power Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. I Am Doorway 2. On The Crest Of A Dune 3. Wasteland 4. Life After Life 5. Shadow Of Our Time 6. Dawn 7. The Last Time (I Sleep With You) 8. The Whisper 9. Midnight Rendezvous
Total playing time 39:23

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Norden Light - Shadows From The Wilderness (1987)

2010-10-02T18:25:00.000-07:00

This is probably my favourite Swedish metal album after the early Bathory albums. A great mix of epic roaring vocals, tasteful keyboards (Rhapsody take notes!) and solid riffs. This will be right up your street if you like the early Yngwie and Dio albums. Just a really enjoyable melodic 80's heavy metal album.

Artist: Norden Light

Release Title: Shadows From The Wilderness

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1987

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock

Artist Origin: Sweden

Track Listing:
1. It Hurts 2. Shadows 3. Nightlife 4. Aspen 5. Dancer 6. Save Me 7. Crossfire 8. No Escape 9. Legends 10. Daytime Loser
Total playing time 41:56

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Matthias Steele - Haunting Tales Of A Warrior's Past (1991)

2010-10-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

How this is so overlooked I'll never know...Perhaps because it's self released and only been available as a cassette since it's release in '91. This is possibly one of the greatest metal albums EVER. Yeah you read write...Awesome thrash riffs and epic vocals from Anthony Lionetti whose range goes from falsetto to an almost death metal bark in areas and always slays. AMAZING thrashy american power metal. The production is a bit suspect but who cares when the metal's this good. MANDATORY LISTENING.

Artist: Matthias Steele

Release Title: Haunting Tales Of A Warrior's Past

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1991

Artist Genre: Power/Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:

1. Magick Wand 2. Warrior's Anthem 3. Father Has Risen 4. Shadow of Illusion 5. Chosen One 6. Return... With A Vengeance 7. Tribunal 8. When My Dreams Cry Out 9. To the Guillotine 10. Beyond the Stygian Creek

Total playing time 57:48

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Mephisto - Mephisto (1989)

2010-09-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

Mephisto were a Power/Speed Metal unit coming up in the wake of the other Power/Speed bands at that time from Germany Like Helloween, Blind Guardian and Scanner, all taking the happy choruses and guitar leads of Accept and fusing them with more epic vocal styles and atmospheres. Mephisto carry on in the vein although with a definitely more raw and muggier NWOBHM style production. You can also hear traces of early Fates Warning here and there too. Definitely check this out if you're a fan of those aforementioned bands.

Artist: Mephisto

Release Title: Mephisto

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1989

Artist Genre: Power/Speed Metal

Artist Origin: Germany

Track Listing:
1. Prologue 2. Mephisto 3. X-Rays 4. In Dubio Contra Reum 5. Save Your Rights 6. Battle Of Kerovnia 7. Holy Child
Total playing time 36:25

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The Unjust - Hammerhead (1987)

2010-09-29T17:40:00.000-07:00

The Unjust were a New York band who started off in the early 80's as a punk / hardcore band. This is totally evident from this release and it gets more and more hardcore punk as it goes along. It's more of a cross between speed metal and hardcore with a diverse singer who has a nice range but can also bark like a hardcore singer. You like Motorhead? Early Iron Maiden? Bad Brains? You'll be all over this like a bad rash! Great disc.

Artist: The Unjust

Release Title: Hammerhead

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1987

Artist Genre: Speed Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing:
1. Burn in Hell 2. Innocent Victims 3. Hammerhead 4. Where have I been 5. Violence 6. Spys 7. Ivan’s Revenge 8. Frauds 9. Worthless
Total playing time 25:40

Thruster - M.I.A. (1986)

2010-09-28T17:40:00.000-07:00

Yet another buried, forgotten traditional metal band from the 80's which laughs in the face of Lamb Of God...Thruster only released one full length, this from 1986 and features a killer vocalist by the name of Dell McFarland who has a melodic style similar to American power metal singers at that time like Carl Albert (Vicious Rumors) and Mike Howe (Metal Church) and this release has a nice display of songwriting and riffs.

Artist: Thruster

Release Title: M.I.A.

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1986

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal

Artist Origin: U.S.A.

Track Listing: 1. The Conflict 2. Only Fools 3. Illusions 4. Screams of Pain 5. Enemy Below 6. Can't Take It No More 7. Heroes Finish Last 8. M.I.A. 9. Thruster
Total playing time 33:52

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Torture Squad - Pandemonium (2003)

2010-09-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

This was the 4th full length by the Brazilian band and was a large leap up in quality over those previous albums. There's influence shown from Dark Angel, Sodom, Kreator and Suffocation and the album is somewhat of a masterpiece of death / thrash metal.

Artist: Torture Squad

Release Title: Pandemonium

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 2003

Artist Genre: Death / Thrash Metal

Artist Origin: Brazil

Track Listing:
1. Intro 2. Horror and Torture 3. Towers on Fire 4. World of Misery 5. Leather Apron 6. Out of Control 7. Pandemonium 8. Requiem for the Headless Rider 9. The Curse of the Sleepy Hollow
Total playing time: 38:45

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Demon Eyes - Rites Of Chaos (1984)

2010-09-27T06:21:00.000-07:00

Demon Eyes were a French traditional metal band who released 3 albums in the 80's. This is the debut and IMO their best. Released in 1984 it clearly show influence from the NWOBHM and one can draw parallels with this album and the heavier proto thrash NWOBHM bands such as Hollow Ground, Blitzkrieg, Savage and Holocaust so if you like those bands you're sure to want to turn this up to 11.

Artist: Demon Eyes

Release Title: Rites Of Chaos

Release Type: Full Length

Release Year: 1984

Artist Genre: Heavy Metal

Artist Origin: France

Track Listing: 1. La revanche des Dieux - Gods Revenge 2. L'orgie des damnés - Orgy of Perdition 3. L'invincible force de la mort - Unyielding Strength of Death 4. Les deux maudites - Curse of the Two Cities 5. Ombre du malheur - Rites of Chaos 6. Demon Eyes 7. Resurrection 8. Hymne au seigneur de l'orage - Hymn to the God of Storms Total playing time 34:15

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