SIX of The BEST

We're running the gamut from Southern Rock to NWOBHM with this post, stopping off for some Hard Rock & Some Heavy Metal along the way. Business as usual in other words.
From the Sunshine state of Florida came Blackhorse, a Southern Rock three-piece with a strong BLACKFOOT influence. Their sole self released album is one of the obscure gems in the Southern Rock crown, from the opening stampede of "Fox Huntin'" to the sublime epic balladry of "Cannot Find My Way Home", the quality never dips, this was a great great band. It's taken until recently for this one to garner the plaudits it always deserved, courtesy of a bootleg cd issue on Limited Records. The original (very limited) vinyl pressing seldom making it out of their home state at the time. If you enjoy Southern influenced Hard Rocking with great guitar and DJB-esue vocalising, (and let's face it, who doesn't?), then this should have you whooping it up. And i ain't just whistlin' Dixie.

BLACKHORSE - Blackhorse (1979) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/36598192/BLACKHORSE_-_Blackhorse__USA-1978_.rar

Now, from Cleveland Ohio, we have the 2nd & final LP from Mistreater. Many of you may be familiar with their classic "Hell's Fire" debut from 1981, but this one remains pretty obscure. After the debut album, they lost guitarist Larry Nottingham when he went to prison for a spell, replacing him with Dave Hall. At this time they changed their name to Scarum & released an impossible to find 7", before changing the name back to Mistreater again. They recorded a couple of demos & contributed a few songs to compilation albums between then & 1986, when Hall tragically passed away. Newly free from incarceration, Nottingham was reinstated and "Swami" was released in '87 on their own label to universal apathy. Discouraged, they split the following year. Mistreater have a strong following to this day in underground Metal circles, their NWOBHM influenced US Metal standing the test of time well. This is good stuff, a time capsule of great riffing from simpler times.

MISTREATER - Swami (1987) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/36577069/MISTREATER_-_Swami__USA-1987_.rar

Now to Portland Oregon, home of Glacier. A great US Metal band whose self-titled Mini LP surfaced on the Axe Killer label back in 1985. Having been around in one form or another since 1979, they had great material to pick from for this, their only release, and their experience and quality pays off in spades. One of the odd things about this release is that they utilised the services of three different vocalists in it's recording, yet you'd be hard pressed to tell them apart, all have that upper register wail down pat and could strip paint at ten paces. They were also noted for being one of the first "White Metal" bands, but please don't let that put you off, without a lyric sheet to hand you'd be hard pressed to tell, and Metal this gloriously over the top was hard to find then, never mind now. Apparently they are back together, they'll be hard pressed to match the bombast captured here, but i'll be interested to hear Glacier 2007 nonetheless.

GLACIER - Glacier Mini LP (1985) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/36583447/GLACIER_-_Glacier_Mini_LP__1985__USA.rar

By request, here's some more now from San Francisco's true Metal warriors, Brocas Helm. This is their mega-rare "Helms Deep" demo from 1989, and exceedingly good stuff it is too. Most of the songs have been rerecorded for release on subsequent EPs and the "Defender Of The Crown " album, but the takes here are raw, speedy and entirely essential. Sharpen up your broadswords, dust off your loincloths and get ready to ride the Brocas Helm "juggernaut" to Valhalla.

BROCAS HELM - Helm's Deep Demo (1989) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/36557714/BROCAS_HELM_-_Helms_Deep_Demo__1989-USA_.rar

Some early NWOBHM now, this is the lone EP from Lancaster power trio Anniversary, "Give Me A Smile". This is much more in the 70's sounding Hard Rock bracket than most of what passed for NWOBHM, a sign that the band had been 'round the block a few times before they got to make their mark on vinyl perhaps? Really nicely constructed songs, tasteful guitars and memorable choruses were Anniversary's hallmarks, and there's nary a duff track among the four here. Sadly, they split in 1981, without recording a follow up.
Oh what might have been.

ANNIVERSARY - Give Me A Smile EP (1978) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/36590905/ANNIVERSARY_-_Give_Me_A_Smile_EP__1978-UK_.rar

Finally, we are proud to present Birmingham's Cryer, an act who made their name on the Midlands club circuit . Again, a little longer in the tooth than most of the NWOBHM bands of the day, they have tenuous links with FLYING HAT BAND, JUDAS PRIEST & STARFIGHTERS, but split before their album could be released. Eventually Heavy Metal Records released the album "Set Me Free", but not before they'd decided that they didn't like the name Cryer, and with no band around to object, decided to rechristen them FORCE. In a bizarre twist, Cryer then reformed as Force to promote the album!

CRYER - The Single 7" (1980) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/36587147/Cryer_-_The_Single_7____UK-1980_.rar

More soon folks, 'til then, enjoy!