DANCING IN THE DRAGONS JAWS
Lots of great stuff to get through today, so no time for dilly-dallying with flowery pre-ambles, on with the music.
First up, the lone album from the obscure Lords Of The Crimson Alliance, an American four piece, who specialized in Epic Heavy Metal with unique & bizarre touches. This one came out in 1986 on Grudge Records, and very little is known about them, the sparse sleevenotes being no help whatsoever. The Corroseum website describes it thus, "really makes you wanna do some nifty warrior-poses in the moonlight, with your little brother's plastic sword in one hand and a mug of hot chocolate in the other". If that ain't a recommendation, then brother, you're on the wrong blog. Cherish it like that disfigured relative that you keep in the attic.
LORDS OF THE CRIMSON ALLIANCE - Lords Of The Crimson Alliance (1986) USA
http://rapidshare.com/files/43064281/LORDS_OF_THE_CRIMSON_ALLIANCE_-_Lords_Of_The_Crimson_Alliance__1986-USA_.rar
Next, courtesy of Dom, here's some more Gotham City for ya. This is their six track Mini LP from 1983, Black Writs. A fine slab of Swedish Metal, you need this for the amazing harmony guitar leads, beautiful stuff. The songs are still of a uniformly high quality, with a little more polish than on their earlier 7", the choruses bigger & more memorable. In short, this is exemplary stuff from a band who deserve to be better recognised, and held in higher esteem. That they languish in obscurity, whilst so much pedestrian pap is elevated to "legendary" status is disgraceful. Rectify.
GOTHAM CITY - Black Writs Mini LP (1983) Sweden
http://rapidshare.com/files/43059322/GOTHAM_CITY_-_Black_Writs_Mini_LP__Swe-1983_.rar
Another Mini from the same year next, this is the sole self-titled from America's Dark Starr. Straddling the fine line between melodious Hard Rock & all out NWOBHM inspired Heavy Metal, this is a little peach of a disc. Think early RIOT, or perhaps a more hooky TT QUICK, this also puts me in mind of CRYSYS in places, but the individual guitar work of Dave Sestito takes them out of the realms of the soundalikey and into their own unique sound. The only drawback is the fact that there are only 5 songs, it leaves you wanting to hear more, and that's gotta be a good thing. Fill yer head with Dark Starr.
DARK STARR - Dark Starr Mini LP (1983) USA
http://rapidshare.com/files/43061253/DARKSTARR_-_Darkstarr_Mini_LP__USA-1983_.rar
As promised, here's some more from Rox now, this is their 2nd EP, also from '83, this is "Krazy Kutz". This one shows the band with a more professional sounding production, tighter songwriting and arrangements and with a heavier guitar sound. The singalonga choruses are still present & correct, but boy, do they sound like they mean business this time out. I'll be bringing you their full length "Violent Breed" next time 'round to round out the Rox discography.
ROX - Krazy Kutz EP (1983) UK
http://rapidshare.com/files/44418297/ROX_-_Krazy_Kutz_EP__UK-1983_.rar
Some more now from Jameson Raid, this is their 1982 "Electric Sun" Demo, and very fine it is too. The Brummie band were at a bit of a crossroads at the time when they recorded this, after two legendary EP's, they were taking strides towards a more melodic sound, which they would attempt to fully realize via a name change to THE RAID a little later. This one makes for interesting listening as they try to balance their old sound with their new direction, with mostly positive results. A nice rip too of a 25 year old tape, mucho kudos to whoever originally performed the transfer, good job!
JAMESON RAID - 1982 "Electric Sun" Demo (1982) UK
http://rapidshare.com/files/43050333/JAMESON_RAID_-_Electric_Sun_1982_Demo__UK-1982_.rar
A request now, this is After Dark's "Evil Woman" EP, a tour de force of melodic Hard Rawkin' from the glory daze of the NWOBHM. This one commands a high price tag nowadays, and it deserves it for the quality of the tuneage on offer. Apparently they reconvened in 1995, releasing a full length album called, "Masked By Midnight", whether they remain together is anyone's guess, but they certainly were at the time this EP was recorded, it's great!
AFTER DARK - Evil Woman EP (1981) UK
http://rapidshare.com/files/43044442/AFTER_DARK_-_Evil_Woman_EP__1981-UK_.rar
Finally, the rare 7" by Requiem, a Sabbath inspired NWOBHM quartet from Wolverhampton, with links to ARC, DIAMOND HEAD, TRESPASS and JAMESON RAID. This is what they call proto-doom nowadays, and can be comfortably filed beside PAGAN ALTAR, WITCHFINDER GENERAL, St. VITUS & the like. As of 2003, a new configuration of the band began doing the rounds, under the unwieldy moniker of "REKUIEM", releasing a 5 song demo EP, and following this in '05 with a full length album "Time Will Tell", on Majestic Rock Records.
REQUIEM - Angel Of Sin 7" (1980) UK
http://rapidshare.com/files/43047432/REQUIEM_-_Angel_Of_Sin_7____UK-1980_.rar
That's yer lot for now, see you soon!
First up, the lone album from the obscure Lords Of The Crimson Alliance, an American four piece, who specialized in Epic Heavy Metal with unique & bizarre touches. This one came out in 1986 on Grudge Records, and very little is known about them, the sparse sleevenotes being no help whatsoever. The Corroseum website describes it thus, "really makes you wanna do some nifty warrior-poses in the moonlight, with your little brother's plastic sword in one hand and a mug of hot chocolate in the other". If that ain't a recommendation, then brother, you're on the wrong blog. Cherish it like that disfigured relative that you keep in the attic.
LORDS OF THE CRIMSON ALLIANCE - Lords Of The Crimson Alliance (1986) USA
http://rapidshare.com/files/43064281/LORDS_OF_THE_CRIMSON_ALLIANCE_-_Lords_Of_The_Crimson_Alliance__1986-USA_.rarNext, courtesy of Dom, here's some more Gotham City for ya. This is their six track Mini LP from 1983, Black Writs. A fine slab of Swedish Metal, you need this for the amazing harmony guitar leads, beautiful stuff. The songs are still of a uniformly high quality, with a little more polish than on their earlier 7", the choruses bigger & more memorable. In short, this is exemplary stuff from a band who deserve to be better recognised, and held in higher esteem. That they languish in obscurity, whilst so much pedestrian pap is elevated to "legendary" status is disgraceful. Rectify.
GOTHAM CITY - Black Writs Mini LP (1983) Sweden
http://rapidshare.com/files/43059322/GOTHAM_CITY_-_Black_Writs_Mini_LP__Swe-1983_.rarAnother Mini from the same year next, this is the sole self-titled from America's Dark Starr. Straddling the fine line between melodious Hard Rock & all out NWOBHM inspired Heavy Metal, this is a little peach of a disc. Think early RIOT, or perhaps a more hooky TT QUICK, this also puts me in mind of CRYSYS in places, but the individual guitar work of Dave Sestito takes them out of the realms of the soundalikey and into their own unique sound. The only drawback is the fact that there are only 5 songs, it leaves you wanting to hear more, and that's gotta be a good thing. Fill yer head with Dark Starr.
DARK STARR - Dark Starr Mini LP (1983) USA
http://rapidshare.com/files/43061253/DARKSTARR_-_Darkstarr_Mini_LP__USA-1983_.rarAs promised, here's some more from Rox now, this is their 2nd EP, also from '83, this is "Krazy Kutz". This one shows the band with a more professional sounding production, tighter songwriting and arrangements and with a heavier guitar sound. The singalonga choruses are still present & correct, but boy, do they sound like they mean business this time out. I'll be bringing you their full length "Violent Breed" next time 'round to round out the Rox discography.
ROX - Krazy Kutz EP (1983) UK
http://rapidshare.com/files/44418297/ROX_-_Krazy_Kutz_EP__UK-1983_.rarSome more now from Jameson Raid, this is their 1982 "Electric Sun" Demo, and very fine it is too. The Brummie band were at a bit of a crossroads at the time when they recorded this, after two legendary EP's, they were taking strides towards a more melodic sound, which they would attempt to fully realize via a name change to THE RAID a little later. This one makes for interesting listening as they try to balance their old sound with their new direction, with mostly positive results. A nice rip too of a 25 year old tape, mucho kudos to whoever originally performed the transfer, good job!
JAMESON RAID - 1982 "Electric Sun" Demo (1982) UK
http://rapidshare.com/files/43050333/JAMESON_RAID_-_Electric_Sun_1982_Demo__UK-1982_.rarA request now, this is After Dark's "Evil Woman" EP, a tour de force of melodic Hard Rawkin' from the glory daze of the NWOBHM. This one commands a high price tag nowadays, and it deserves it for the quality of the tuneage on offer. Apparently they reconvened in 1995, releasing a full length album called, "Masked By Midnight", whether they remain together is anyone's guess, but they certainly were at the time this EP was recorded, it's great!
AFTER DARK - Evil Woman EP (1981) UK
http://rapidshare.com/files/43044442/AFTER_DARK_-_Evil_Woman_EP__1981-UK_.rarFinally, the rare 7" by Requiem, a Sabbath inspired NWOBHM quartet from Wolverhampton, with links to ARC, DIAMOND HEAD, TRESPASS and JAMESON RAID. This is what they call proto-doom nowadays, and can be comfortably filed beside PAGAN ALTAR, WITCHFINDER GENERAL, St. VITUS & the like. As of 2003, a new configuration of the band began doing the rounds, under the unwieldy moniker of "REKUIEM", releasing a 5 song demo EP, and following this in '05 with a full length album "Time Will Tell", on Majestic Rock Records.
REQUIEM - Angel Of Sin 7" (1980) UK
http://rapidshare.com/files/43047432/REQUIEM_-_Angel_Of_Sin_7____UK-1980_.rarThat's yer lot for now, see you soon!
posted by bigfootkit at 5:38 AM
7 Comments:
Thanks for the NWOBHM posts. I've been on a kick lately and you guys make it possible for me to play these obscure releases. \m/
\m/ - Right back at you Ogmonster.
Glad you're enjoying these obscurios, once you start digging in the ole NWOBHM patch it's amazing the variety that you find. Right now Jameson Raid are rawkin' the foundations at Bigfoot Towers & i have to admit, i had little time for them when they were around. Perspective is a wonderful thing.
I'll be upping their "Hypnotist" EP next time round, look for it at the weekend.
Thanks for the kind words.
Thanks so much for all of the kick ass music! I appreciate your time and effort in making these rare ones available.
That sounds great, bigfootkit. It's going to be sweet as hell listening to more Jameson Raid. It must have been coooool to see those NWOBHM bands back then. One of the greatest periods in Rock history. You lucky dog!!!
Hell Og, i was too young to see most of these bands back then, i've been playing catch up with the records since about '81.
I did see some of the more local bands, Chasar, Big George & The Business, Pallas, Glasgow & Trident, caught Maiden & a few others eventually too, but most of these bands were short-lived & played locally, if at all.
I'm constantly surprised & very pleased that this era is held in such high regard nowadays by those in the know.
Requiem: very, very good. Maybe not as doomy as I thought it would be - only heard it once -, but glad I've got to know it!
Darkstarr! Excellent! Good singer and excellent guitars. Sounds more like US 80-81 ...
Thx again,
Danny
Glad you enjoyed Dark Starr danny, i agree it sounds earlier than it actually is. All the better for it too if you ask me.
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