TO GAMBLE & LOSE

No time to dally, there's way too much to get through this time, great stuff too.
Top to bottom.
Class.
Up first, greeeaat Canadian Hard Rock from Helix. This is their second album, "White Lace & Black Leather", from back in 1981, which they released independently on their own H & S Records label. The damn thing ended up selling more than 15,000 copies making them suddenly irresistible to Capitol Records who snapped them up. Fantastic songs, great delivery. This is salt-of-the-earth, rough round the edges, blue collar, hard rock'n'roll from a different age. Grab it now, love it forever.

HELIX - White Lace & Black Leather (1981) Canada

http://rapidshare.com/files/54925419/HELIX_-_White_Lace___Black_Leather__Canada_-_1981_.rar

More top notch kick ass rockin' for yer all next, this one is cut from distinctly different cloth though. This is Cleveland Ohio's Dead Boys, recorded back in 1977, these are the original mixes, in the same order, of the songs which made up their debut album "Young, Loud & Snotty". These versions are even more rough & ready, hence the title, "Younger, Louder, Snottier : The Rough Mixes". Stacked from top to bottom with fantastic songs of alienation & disgust, this one's a keeper. If all you know of them is "Sonic Reducer", prepare for a revelation.

DEAD BOYS - Younger Louder Snottier : The Rough Mixes (1977) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/55535416/DEAD_BOYS_-_Younger_Louder_Snottier_-_The_Rough_Mixes__1977-USA_.rar

Any of you remember Mark Slaughter? He was the singer with VINNIE VINCENT INVASION & later SLAUGHTER, who were pretty big for a short while in the late '80's. And a bit crap too if memory serves. Before that though, Mark was the front man & guitarist for Las Vegas trio X-Cursion for two releases, a later album entitled "Ready To Roll" and a collectible EP, sometimes referred to as "Skull Queen". This is the one we're bringing you here, four vibrant Maiden/Priest influenced cuts of Hard Rock/Heavy Metal, delivered with panache & no little youthful enthusiasm. This one came out back in 1983 on Rampage Records, and rampage they do, excellent! If there's interest i can up the LP too at a later date.

X-CURSION - X-Cursion EP (aka : "Skull Queen" EP) (1983) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/55517036/XCURSION_-_Xcursion_EP__1983-USA_.rar

Won't say too much about this next one, except that you MUST hear it. You'll either love it or hate it, but you'll have to admire the skills of the guys who put it together. It's Maiden Jim, but not as we know them. Irreverent, funny, clever & fascinating. Heresy to some for sure, but some people are waay too precious. I give it two thumbs up & urge you to d/l.

IRON MAIDEN vs WAX AUDIO - The Mash-UP EP (2007) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/57324727/The_IRON_MAIDEN_Mash_Up_EP__2007_.rar

Remember those buffoons Odin in the film "Decline Of Western Civilisation Part 2 : The Metal Years"? So sure they were going to be huge stars, full of self belief & booze, but apparently without any talent to back it all up. That's the way i remember their appearance in the movie, so it came as quite a surprise to hear this, their debut EP "Caution", and have all my preconceptions blown away. Apparently, back in '83, when they recorded this, they actually did live up to their claims of Metal god-hood. A pity their promise was unfulfilled over subsequent releases, but this here is a shining moment of metal mastery. Check it out.

ODIN - The Caution EP (1983) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/55511247/ODIN_-_Caution_EP__1983-USA_.rar

Another discography draws (finally) to a close now as we proudly present the missing piece in the Geddes Axe jigsaw. This is their "Sharpen Your Wits" 7" from 1982 on their own Steel City Records label. A scintillating slice of Heavy but commercial NWOBHM Rockin' Hard, this was their 2nd release, coming between the two EPs. Great stuff from one of the unsung delights of the movement.

GEDDES AXE - Sharpen Your Wits 7" (1982) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/55519889/GEDDES_AXE_-_Sharpen_Your_Wits_7____UK_.rar

Way back to 1978 now for a great rare slab of 7" black wax from Texans Axxe. This was their sole release under the Axxe name, although they did later release a live album, "Live On The Roxx", as "Impeccable", the following year. Musically, this is a great slice of big dumb souped-up Camaro Rawk, with cowbells and insane spacey guitar solos at every opportunity. Axxe rool! The B-Side is even better, "Through The Night", is a lengthy track, with great guitars (from Mars), and superb vocals too, bringing to mind some of the great names of Mid-70's Rawk. Really, this song's a peach, if you d/l nothing else from this blog ever, do yourself a favour & get this !
If anyone would like to lay a copy of the live Impeccable album on us, please feel free to step right up. as it's right at the top of my "wants" list. Don't be shy now!

AXXE - Rock Away The City 7" (1978) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/55495719/AXXE_-_Rock_Away_The_City_7____USA_-_1978_.rar

Finally, courtesy of the mighty Carajo, we bring you the splendour of Mendes Prey. Now we posted their lone 7" on here a while back, but Carajo has dug up their only other official recordings for us. These are the two tracks which they recorded for the "Parkside Steelworks" compilation. Haven't had the chance to hear them yet, but if they're even half as good as the 2 songs on their "...Borderline" 7", then we'll be in NWOBHM heaven. Many thanks Carajo, we salute you.

MENDES PREY - Parkside Steelworks Tracks (1982?) UK

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=878Z9GZH

Okay folks, that's it for tonight, plenty for you to get through.
More requests, comments & trivia please.
You feed my head, i'll feed your ears.
Deal?