WOLFBAGGING!

Howdy folks, another weekend, another grab bag of the awesome and the overlooked from the "obscure" section of the rock lexicon, all presented here for your titillation and edification.
Up first, the excellent one & only album, "Resurrection", by Tacoma, Washington's Taist Of Iron. Killer old school Heavy Metal, with great vocals by frontwoman Lorraine Gill. This girl could really wail , as could fantastic guitarist Wylum Pearson. The album snuck out on their own Iron label in 1984, and encouraged by the reception it got, the band relocated to make it in Hollywood. As it has done so many bands before, Hollywood ground them down, and despite having most of their projected second album completed, they flung in the towel in 1986. There's some talk of a possible reformation of the band, if i hear more, you'll read about it here, Go get "Resurrection", it's a cracker!

TAIST OF IRON - Resurrection (1984) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/67866251/TAIST_OF_IRON_-_Resurrection__USA_-_1984_.rar

Some more female fronted rawkin' for you now, in the shape of the debut album by Toronto. In Canada it was titled "Lookin' For Trouble", in the U.S., simply "Toronto". This is some fine commercial Hard Rock with tremendous gritty vocals from singer Holly Woods, and was produced by "The Two Brians", (Henderson & McLeod), of CHILIWACK. Subsequent albums became ever more commercial, (although "Head On" kept the gutsy vibe of the debut), and the material more airbrushed and AOR in style, the band eventually folding in 1985, despite huge success in their native land. Fans of HELLION will find much to enjoy in the ANNE BOLEYN-like vocals of the divine Ms. Woods.

TORONTO - Lookin' For Trouble (1980) Canada

http://rapidshare.com/files/67858359/TORONTO_-_Lookin__For_Trouble__Can_-_1980_.rar

Next, courtesy of blog visitor nwobhm00, here's the sole album by English band Mothers Ruin, "Road To Ruin" from 1982 on the Sparta label. This is more polished and glossy than their first couple of 45s, which i posted here recently, the style remains the same essentially, but the production, which sounds pretty expensive for an independent release in 1982, shaves off too many rough edges for my tastes and leaves them sounding a little like an Anglo version of JOURNEY. Great musicianship, and well written songs, i'm sure some of you will love it!
Thanks again for taking the time to contribute nwobhm00!

MOTHERS RUIN - Road To Ruin (1982) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/71319896/Mother_s_Ruin_-_Road_to_Ruin.rar.html

An amalgam of contemporary Rock and old school soulful Southern Rock for you next. This is a little something i found on p2p recently, as the only item in a users folder called "Contemporary Southern Rock", intrigued, i d/led this EP from the guy and gave it a listen the following day. Wow!! I was blown away by what i heard, especially second song "Sanctuary", i can't stop playing the damn thing, so i thought i'd pass it on to you people. The band is called Kennebec, the EP is called "2007", and they're from Raleigh, North Carolina. If there's any justice, they'll be huge!

KENNEBEC - 2007 (2007) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/68356486/KENNEBEC_-_2007.rar

Into the NWOBHM part of our programme now, and we've got a couple of sweet finds for you here.
Up first, Slough trio Sledgehammer, whom most of you should be aware of from their "Metal For Muthas" and "Brute Force" compilation appearances, or perhaps from their their sole album. They were quite fancied in the press at the time to take the step up into the big leagues but it never happened despite some high profile tours and festival appearances. This is their "In The Queue" 45 from 1983, on the Illuminated Record label, and like all their recorded work, it's essential listening for all NWOBHM lovers.

SLEDGEHAMMER - In The Queue 7" (1983) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/68865565/SLEDGEHAMMER_-_In_The_Queue_7____UK-1983_.rar

Another name you should be familiar with next, this is Dublin's Sweet Savage. This is their second 7", "Straight Through The Heart" from 1983, and the last to feature DIO bound guitarist Vivian Campbell, who would later replace Steve Clarke in DEF LEPPARD. Rousing Hard Rock with a catchy chorus, the A-Side seems to have been written with radio in mind, and with the breaks the song could have garnered some chart success. Following Campbells departure things went awry for the band, with members coming and going and numerous splits and reformations throughout the 80s. They finally got it together in the 90s to release two full length albums on the legendary Neat label, but by that time the moment had passed.

SWEET SAVAGE - Straight Through The Heart 7" (1983) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/67867884/SWEET_SAVAGE_-_Straight_Through_the_Heart__UK_-_1984_.rar

Finally, here's the 1981 "Out Of My Head" single by Kent quartet, Raw Deal on the White Witch label. This band has nothing to do with the raw Deal who released a 7" called "Lone Wolf", on Neat Records the same year, just another case of the same name finding favour with more than one NWOBHM band at the same time. This is pretty cool stuff, flip it over metaphorically, for my favourite of the two songs, "In The Mood".

RAW DEAL - Out Of My Head 7" (1981) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/67870524/RAW_DEAL_-_Out_Of_My_Head_7____UK_-_1981_.rar

As per usual, no pw is required for the rars, and if you click on the jpgs here, they blow up to give you the largest artwork i was able to find. Where possible i've included txt files giving as much release info as possible, and album art if i have it. Hope you enjoy the selection tonight, much love to you homiez!