REAL STEEL-s/t 7"(1987)

1.Viking Queen
2.Excalibur

I don't know much about these guys, other then they aren't the band with the same name from Clevo., and they sound a lot like earlier Metallica. My friend Paul picked up the 7" for me while he was diggin' for rare punk platters in the wild a while back. No cover art on my copy. "Excalibur" is the winner out of the two songs. Enjoy.


http://www.mediafire.com/?h6ovreh3w7d4s7c

SAVAGE -loose 'n lethal LP(1983)

1.Let it loose
2.cry wolf
3.Berlin
4.dirty money
5.ain't no fit place
6.on the rocks
7.the China run
8.white hot

This is one of my favorite NWOBHM records ever. These guys were of course from England, and put out a demo and few other records before recording this classic for Ebony Records. The guitar tone on this record is awesomely blown out. The production reminds me of Merciful Fates Mellisa(although the music sounds NOTHING at all like it). This is just seriously perfect production for a metal record. The LP reminds me of the first two Def Leppard records or Dark Stars lady of mars. By side b I'm even hearing some Scorps & Riot. Another record I think that I probably bought solely based on the content of the record cover, and maybe the band name. I recall being stoked on the how catchy, yet still heavy and rockin'this sounded to me when I first heard "let it loose".

sorry, Dead link for now  http://www.mediafire.com/?hexi6ypvv6e47vz

Berlin
It’s getting dark, too dark to see
The streets run cold with anarchy
Troopers came and all was lost
Mass slaughter, human holocaust

Fire over Berlin
Nobody’s safe
No escape when metal rain starts falling
Berlin, it’s all too late

Thirty nine, machines of war
Cross frontier lines the eagle roars
Allied forces and Berlin falls
Razed to the ground, now the spoils

Fire over Berlin
Nobody’s safe
No escape when metal rain starts falling
Berlin, it’s all too late

Too too much complacency
Too afraid to face reality
East to west the Berlin Wall
Thin red line from nuclear holocaust

DARK KNIGHT 12" EP(1984)

1.the grass is greener
2.cabin fever
3.when all else fails
4.return of the dark knight

I was in 11th grade when this 12" came out. I remember it came out a year or so after the first Queensryche 12". I recall being really stoked that there was yet another band from NY playing the style of metal these guys were doing. Most metal was coming from the other coast(or England). I was one who appreciated bands like Riot, the Rods, Talas, and Anthrax because of their proximity to where I lived. NY state pride... These guys all had made me realize that being in a band and writing your own songs was possible.
This stuff is pretty cool, but is seriously for those that love metal. Its so hard for me to describe this stuff. Sorta under the radar, cheesy power metal? I love this shit... unfortunately this was all the band ever released.

http://www.mediafire.com/?d28v4e35ker7su6

The Rods!!!

I got lucky last week and saw the Rods play for free at a NJ record store. I haven't been to a live show in a while, so this was a lot of fun for me. I hadn't seen them since their Wild Dogs years(1983 or 84). The band was from Rochester NY, and featured Ronnie James Dio's cousin on guitar. The guitarist also played with Dio in Elf.
At any rate these guys have a new LP coming out, and they are playing shows with all original members. If you get a chance, check them out. I would love to see a full set at a club by these gents.

MEDIEVAL STEEL- Medieval Steel 12"(1984)

1.Medieval Steel
2.Warlords
3.Battle Beyond The Stars
4.Echoes

So I went to see the Rods at a record store last week in NJ. Before they played I started going through the stores used vinyl bins, and within 5 mins I came across this classic. I was stunned when I saw it...Its a 12" that I'd actually been looking for for a really long time. This has everything 80's written all over it. The sound, the production, the riffs, and the Vocals. I'd first heard these guys in the mid 1980's, as they'd been compared to a local metal band called Stonehenge from the area I was living in at the time. I was a huge Stonehenge fan as I'd seen them win a battle of the bands in Colonie NY in maybe 1983. I'd never been able to track this 12" down due to its limited pressing(something like 500 made). Back then we did a lot of tape trading, so thats how I managed to finally hear these Memphis TN metal heads. This isn't for everyone(its pretty traditional heavy metal). This stuff just really takes me back to high school. If you dig the likes of early Queensryche, Fates Warning, and Omen you might get a hard on for this stuff. Enjoy.

http://www.mediafire.com/?84k55tii7eddae7

SHELL SHOCK-more gore LP(1988)

1.final glory
2.lost in reality
3.circus of fear
4.spank your monkey
5.rock n roll all night
6.more gore
7.crank it
8.look before you leap
9.get with it
10.my brain is jelly

Its amazing that these dudes started out in 1980, and released a slew of eps, tapes and even another LP. I'd love to get my hands on that first ep. The band was from Louisiana New Orleans and on this tasty slab of wax, they play some cool crossover that keeps my head bobbing, and my legs twitching. I love these 80's records where the production has so much re verb on the drums and vox that it sounds like the band was playing in a cavern. Engineers were seriously clueless when recording bands like this, because it was sorta new, and they just didn't have much to reference it to.
This record was released on the Toxic Shock label(Raw Power, Inbred, and Zero Boys). The band broke up in 1988, and supposedly had a LP recorded for Metal Blade. If this is true, it remains unreleased.

http://www.mediafire.com/?2y1htmjrwid

HELSTAR-burning star LP(1984)

1.burning star
2.towards the unknown
3.witches eye
4.run with the pack
5.leather lust
6.possession
7.the shadows of iga
8.Dracula's castle

When I re listened to Helstar I heard lots of Omen, a touch of Maiden, and even a c hair of Riot. This Texas metal band has forever been overlooked within the metal scene. I think they were another band that was sorta stuck between the power metal and speed metal scene of the mid eighties. We, the kids were sorta looking for stuff that was faster, heavier and sicker in every way shape and form. Things were becoming extreme in the metal scene, and I think bands like Helstar were sorta lost in that. Its funny because I think as a metalhead I appreciated this one so much more 5-10 years after it came out. The record is a true metal album with NO hints of anything else...just pure 1980's heavy metal.
This is high school shit for me. It reminds me Pounding beers in the bushes someplace in Latham NY on a friday night with friends like Dave Stevenson, and Pat J. Not a care in the world... metal and partying. One of my favorite record covers of the time period. Enjoy this one.

http://www.mediafire.com/?gnzmynodz24

VIPER-soldiers of sunrise LP(1987)

1.knights of destruction
2.nightmares
3.the whipper
4.wings of evil
5.h.r.
6.soldiers of sunrise
7.signs of the night
8.killera
9.law of the sword

One of the earlier of the Brazilian metal bands I'd heard back in the day. The band def wasn't as heavy, fast or thrashing as Sepultura or as extreme as the likes of Sarcofago. I was drawn to this by the album cover art, and the fact that a review I'd read of it back then mentioned that it was an amateurish Brazilian sounding Iron Maiden. Anyone who knows me knows I've always been a Maiden freak. When I got this I was sorta bummed on the fact that it wasn't really that Maiden influenced. Only the vox really resemble that type of power metal(Maiden, Fates Warning), the music is more straight forward Speed metal(although some of the double leads might have the MaidenVibe). This one is Definitely not for for everyone who follows my blog. Its very metal, and has very little influence from any other realm.
The only other guys I knew back in the mid 80's that loved the Brazilian stuff the way I did were my Latham NY pals Dave Stevenson and Mark Szwarcberg. This stuff was always hard to find, and we paid ridiculous "import prices". Enjoy

http://www.mediafire.com/?jwgm31t3umw

DAMIEN THORNE-the sign of the Jackal LP)1986)

1.the sign of the jackal
2.fear of the dark
3.the ritual
4.grim reaper
5.hells reign
6.escape of die
7.sirens call
8.Damien's procession

These dirtheads were from Chicago, and played metal that was sort of in between that old traditional heavy metal sound(power metal, or nwobhm), and speed metal. I think there were a fair amount of these bands from the mid 1980's, that found in order for them to survive in what was happening in the metal scene(speed metal/thrash), that they needed to push the envelope a bit more. They needed to play faster, and heavier, changing their sound a little to fit in, or appeal to the youth. In my opinion Damien Thorne were one of those bands. Its awesome because it works well. I think Exciter, and Manowar were guilty of this as well.
I picked this up because of the band name, and the very cool cover art. The name Damien Thorne was that of the son of Satan in the infamous Omen books.
I read these before seeing the movies in around 8th grade. I recall being pretty disappointed by this record because it was to traditional sounding, and didn't have the punk/HC influence that I was now searching for when it came to metal/crossover. Years later I rediscovered it, and realized how much I loved traditional HM.
The Vocals are the stand out for me. They almost have a Rhett Forester sound to them(yup, Riot motherfuckers). The difference would be the high pitched screams that these guys pull off. Enjoy and comment.

http://www.mediafire.com/?znzwonymmgw

WARFARE pure filth LP(1984)

01.warning
02.total armageddon
03.noise, filth and fury
04.let the show go on
05.break out
06.collance/rabid metal
07.dance of the dead
08.limit crescendo
09.rose pedals fall from her face

This post is inspired by my excitement of seeing Motorhead again in Sept. at Roseland in NYC.
Warfare are a crossover fans wet dream for sure. They were able to take the best parts of bands such as Tank, Motorhead, and Venom, throw them in a blender and out came a raw, catchy metal infused Discharged style punk band. It's seriously beautiful man. The song "total Armageddon" is a classic rager for sure, and always has me playing air drums for the entire 6 minutes of the song. I guess the band suffered from non popularity, or rather, obscurity due to the Drummer doing the lead vox. This really was a no no back then, and Seemed to really kill it for any metal band in the 80's who tried this task. The drummer/vocalist's name was Evo, and he was also in such punk bands as the Blood, Major Accident, and the Angelic Upstarts.
This is the bands first full length, and it was produced by Tank's Algy Ward. Most metal heads I knew growing up had a certain disdain for Warfare. I'm not really sure why, perhaps the rawness, and the Discharge styled drumming wasn't always metal enough for certain purists. What ever the case this shit is noisy, loud and raw. Turn It Up, and please Comment!

http://www.mediafire.com/?mzwzjzyykaj

V/A METAL CLOGS compilation LP (1982)

01.Crossfire-crossfire
02.Impact-looking for trouble
03.Frankenstein-I sold my soul
04.Gilgamesj-heavy duty
05.Crossfire-real steel
06.Impact-drop dead
07.Crossfire-motorcycles
08.Gilgamesj-ticket to heaven
09.Frankenstein-lady luck
10.Crossfire-be crazy
11.Impact-misanthrope

Sticking with the spirit of Mixes, and compilations...this compilation was one of my first experiences with Dutch Heavy Metal. Three of the Four bands on this LP are from the Netherlands, the other(Crossfire)were from Belgium. The only band I went on to collect other records by were Crossfire. But thats only because I couldn't find stuff by the other bands. Crossfire records were easily found, I even have one uploaded some place here on this site(use the search function). This record has a very do it yourself look and feel, and had me falling in love with Gilgamesj as they sounded sort of like Dio era Rainbow. My favorite tracks on this comp are the Crossfire songs(especially "Motorcycles"), and Impact's "drop dead".
When a hardcore/punk band I was playing in toured, and recorded in Holland, I spent some time trying to track down the 7"s by Frankenstein, and Gilgamesj. I had no luck. Dutchies help a brother out with those. Please comment if you download.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zejtimz2tja

V/A BORN TO METALIZE Compilation LP(1984)

The BEAST
01.randal flagg
02.is this life
03.the shape

SNEAK ATTACK
04.ultrasonic metal
05.dirty harry
06.sneak attack

TORTURED DOG
07.can't run from evil
08.witch hunter
09.tortured dog

HADES
10.rogues march
11.gloomy sunday

What can I say, this is where I first heard New Jersey's Hades. Most the bands on here were from Jersey, and one of them from NY. The bands are pretty obscure, and prolly aren't all to relevant to many people(cept for maybe Hades). The bands did however have a impact on me. The Sneak Attack song "ultrasonic metal" is brilliant. I can listen to that song over and over and over. Its epic.
This record came out during the time in metal when strange things were happening. You had Nwobhm style bands trying to jump ship, and start playing faster, and heavier because it was sorta easy to see that that was the future of metal. I think you can sorta hear that in most these bands on this comp, they are semi stuck in a weird metal purgatory.
I'm sorta shocked that I bought this record because the cover art is just so awful. Back then the cover was helpful in selling me a record. Today I think the cover is bad, in a good way. Its funny, and made me laugh when I pulled it out after years of neglect.
The Tortured Dog song "can't run from evil" has a few skips in it. I kept it on anyways, because its a awesome song. Please comment.

http://www.mediafire.com/?z2mytkinnom

HELLHAMMER apocalyptic raids 12"(1984)

01.the third of storms(evoked damnation)
02.massacra
03.triumph of death
04.horus/aggressor

Hellhammer was of course pre Celtic Frost and hailed from Switzerland. I'd never heard of any music coming out of the country at the time. Both bands had a huge impact on both the black metal scene(which really was pretty non existent at the time), and doom metal. The only other bands I can recall being this "evil" at the time would have been Venom, Mercyful Fate, Bathory, and Slayer. It's also pretty amazing to hear what an impact these dudes had on the crust punk scene.

It was probably the same all over America, but In my high school during the early to mid 1980's there weren't all to many kids who were keen on underground music. I'm dating myself for sure, but back then you really only had three to four different cliques. You had your Jocks, Preps, Heads(or burnouts), and then the weirdos who didn't fit in anywhere. The later were usually like super smart nerds, or weird artfags(some of whom were punk rockers). I was a metalhead for sure, and most my friends were burnouts who hung out in the smoking area between classes, and during lunch and free periods. The music most of these kids were listening to was stuff like Zepplin, Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Judas Priest, etc. There was a small group of us at Shaker that were digging on Newer and more underground metal. Stuff like Exodus, Slayer, Metallica, DRI, COC, Destruction, Venom, etc. Not only did the rest of the school think we were freaks, but the heads we were chillin with thought we were sorta fucked up, and couldn't grasp the music. I recall first discovering Hellhammer, and sort of liking it, but then hearing "triumph of death" and being like, this is noise. "I could play this" I thought to myself. There was a kid I recall, I think his name was Mike Kinny. Mike walked around school with a huge Celtic Frost back patch on his denim jacket. Imagine that in 1984-85. Dude was sort of a loner for sure. So cool...



http://www.mediafire.com/?zeqongjcjmj

BITCHES SIN are you ready 7" (1981)

01.always ready
02.sign of the times

This London Based NWOBHM group formed in 1980, and immediately started recording demos, and then released this, the bands first ep on Neat. This is more straight up hard edged rock n roll inspired metal, via the likes of Sledgehammer, etc. Remember that bands back then had different influences then later metal. I'd guess these dudes were heavily influenced by early AC/DC and Kiss. "Always ready" is the title track, but the real ripper for me is the b side tune. It's hard for me to believe that these guys are still together today.
I was exposed to them in around 1982-83 when I saw this ep at a Strawberry's records and tapes. The girl on the cover prolly drew me in, getting my little 15 year old heart racing, and my hormones going crazy. The record set me up to later on purchase the bands "predator" LP.

http://www.mediafire.com/?n4n4id21tun

TOKYO BLADE powergame 7" (1983)

01.powergame
02.death on mainstreet

Tokyo Blade were a second tier nwobhm band that were formed in 1982 in the UK. The band was wicked melodic, sort of power metalish, yet with a tinge of rawness(on the first 3 7"s at least). This is the bands third release, and third single. You definitely get a sense that these guys were influenced by the likes of Maiden. I'd say they heard them, and decided to form Tokyo Blade. I don't know to many friends that dif or dug these guys cept myself, Jeff Jellen, and maybe "dirty" Ron Gramaldi.
Another record I purchased at the Strawberry's records and tapes in Guilderland NY. I'm guessing the band photo on the back cover persuaded me to buy this ep. I think I liked these guys so much, that I bought both the LPs that followed this ripping single. This is the kind of stuff I'd blast on my shit little stereo after getting out of school. Blast a few songs of nwobhm, go out and burn one in the woods, come back in blast a bit more metal and then eat a box Coco Puffs, Captain Crunch, or Quisp.

http://www.mediafire.com/?m2wwvjwyl2i

RAVEN hard ride 7" (1981)

01.hard ride
02.crazy world

Raven were the shit to me in the early 80's. They were a three piece with two brothers playing bass and guitar(the Gallagher Bros.). They formed in New Castle I think in around 1976. They started off as part of the NWOBHM scene in the late 70's into the early 80s, and then moved more into the speed metal vein, even touring with Metallica(when they were still gods). I Definitely think these guys were underrated and helped to create speed metal. I mean come on man, the Rock until you drop LP was released in '81, and was crucial for the time period. I don't think Bands like Kreator would have even formed if it weren't for shit like this. Its hard to fathom why people don't give these guys the credit they deserve. I mean I get it...Unfortunately they put out a bunch of really bad records after the almighty "all for one" LP.
When I hear the screams during "crazy world", it makes me fucking happy, and I wanna lose it. Early on though, when they were on Neat Records and putting out singles, they really had a punk type attitude, and look to them. The logo was so awesome looking. This is about as as These dudes were one of those UK bands that made me discover, and kept me buying the Neat Records eps. I could usually find them at Strawberry's Records and Tapes in Colonie NY. I'd have posted the 1st single instead of this one, but its already on another blog I follow. These songs both later came out on Rock until you drop. Enjoy.

http://www.mediafire.com/?14ykyy5oejz

HOLOCAUST live from raw & live tour 7" (1981)

1.lovin feelin danger
2.no nonsense
3.death or glory
4.forcedown breakdown

Holocaust and Mythra would be my two favorite "under the radar" New Wave Of British Heavy Metal bands(meaning I'm not including the obvious Iron Maiden, etc). These kids really thought they were part of a movement, though this movement didn't have much of a social or political agenda(like punk). Dudes just wanted to bring metal to the masses, and have fun playing great music and partying hard.
This ep includes four songs recorded live in 1980. The sound is amazing, and one can see how people had become excited about these guys. You can also hear the influence these young gents had on the likes of Metallica. The guitar solos at the end of the ep on breakdown were ripped by Metallica for sure. People always mention Diamond Head when talking about Metallica, I hear Holocaust. I spin this one often as you can tell by the rip. There is also video from this show that is pretty amazing. Its available on Dvd, I've seen it on Netflix oddly enough. The lyrics to death and glory are simply amazing....Enjoy.

Death Or Glory

I get so bored
Going nowhere...pissed off with life
Don't need no girl to hold me...
I only love my knife
When it's night
And I'm out on my own on the street
There's murder on my mind

I don't hate authority...
They know I'm not all bad
I know that nobody loves me...
It don't make me sad
I'm gonna stand up
To the ones who bring me down...
Murder on my mind

I can feel it now
It grows stronger every day
And my hatred grows
More and more in every way

Sing a song of death and glory
Sing a song of spite
Sing a song of good and evil
I'm gonna win my fight
I just wanna flush the shit from the street...
Murder on my mind

http://www.mediafire.com/?jc2mtzbycto

SLEDGEHAMMER living in dreams 7"(1980)

1. Living In Dreams
2. Fantasia

Sledgehammer were of the originators playing that important first wave of the NWOBHM. They formed in 1978, and played their very first gig with almighty Motorhead. This record is this three piece bands second release, and isn't all that "heavy", but still through its roughness fits into that scene. The self financed ep was released after the hype the band got from their appearance on the Compilation "Metal for Muthas".
Through that compilation is how I'd heard of the band, and picked up this single. I don't think I went any further in uncovering any of the bands later LPs or anything because by this time I as looking to move forward into heavier/faster stuff. Maiden was already on my radar, and had developed speed, gallops, and heaviness(while still rockin). In "Livin in dreams" the vox sorta remind me of Roger Daltrey singing to some faster/heavier hardrock. The riffs in both songs on this ep are pretty memorable for sure. Enjoy.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mqm9ggmpt0y

MYTHRA- The Death & Destiny EP (1979)

1. Death And Destiny
2. Killer
3. Overload
4. U.F.O.

To some This is really the holy grail of NWOBHM 7"s. It is definitely one of my favorite metal eps for sure. I only wish the copy I had was the picture sleeve edition. I live in Brooklyn NY now and have given up on ever finding the pic sleeve, because NYC sucks for record stores. Supposedly there were like 15,000 copies of these pressed on the Guardian label(not with the cover of course). Hard to believe that, but the band was pretty popular in the underground pub scene of their hometown in Newcastle(and in the UK in general). The second song "killer" is my favorite off of this slab. You can tell that Holocaust, Maiden, and even Metallica had been influenced by these 16 and 17 year old kids. Many reviews compared them to Judas Priest early on. I don't really see it, I hear more Diamond Head in this stuff. Rumors were that the band lost the master tapes of all their early recordings to a members asshole uncle that recorded them.
I got my copy of this for free at a local Ithaca NY record store that no longer exists. I recall I hit the store one day with some friends at 14 years old after scouring the commons(a Ithaca walkway) for trouble to get into. I remember buying a copy of Judas Priests Rock o rola at the store, and the punk rocker working behind the counter threw a copy of this single in the bag with the Priest LP. I think this was one of the first metal eps I'd gotten, and it sorta put me on the road to collecting Neat Records eps. I think this got more rtation on my turntable then that peticular Priest album that I'd bought. Weeks later I went back to the store to thank the punk for the tunes, and was "shocked" to find out he'd been fired. I never got to thank him, or tell him how rad I thought the ep was.

http://www.mediafire.com/?qhyjwoqjemz

WARNING s/t LP (1982)

1.rock city
2.commando
3.serie noire
4.fire fire
5.speed moi
6.bahamas memorial
7.strange way of love(69)
8.sexy lube
9.planete reverse

The french definitely were never really known for good metal nor punk,Its a sad fact. The french unfortunately are known as pussies, and everyone knows it. Every once in a while, a very rare once in a while they could surprise you with something that you might dig though. Warning and Trust were two of those early French metal bands that I can stomach, and it prolly has more to do with nostalgia then anything else. I discovered these frogs as a teenage high school burnout who liked the killer "bird" artwork...ha ha. I think I was looking for obscure International type metal, and maybe discovered these guys and Accept at around the same time. Strangely enough these guys sound a lot like early Accept, cept this guy can really carry a scream. The Vox always sounded harsh to me with a lot of these bands that sang in their native tongue, making the stuff a bit harsher then it actually was. Warning were melodic and a mid paced sounding traditional heavy metal band that still gets me singing along to the chorus's, while laughing at the singers killer accent. I love hearing the singer scream "COMMANDO", or "FIRE, FIRE"!!! It still gets me laughing 25 years later. Speed or thrash metal elitists will hate this record as it has elements closer to hardrock. Fire Fire actually has a skip in it. My apologies. I left off Speed-moi as I had some issues with the rip.

http://www.mediafire.com/?jjmbnndxlvy