ENEMY AT THE GATE

So, here we are again, a new year, a renewed sense of purpose, and a heap of overlooked quality rock music to put a spring in your step and a crick in your neck.
Thanks very much for the kind comments, it's nice to know that the work that myself and Time Traveller put in bringing you this stuff is appreciated. Please, any comments, positive or negative, requests, info, ideas, din't hesitate, use that comment button. We're always looking for input and ideas, feedback & trivia, it's part of why we do this. Your blog needs you!
Without further wittering, here's the music.
What do we have here then? We have the sole self-titled album from 1982 by Messendger on Jab Records in the US, and Bernett in Europe. Messendger were a tunefully Hard Rawkin' power trio from Atlanta Georgia, however there wasn't too much of the Southern sound in Messendger's make up. They straddle a strange line between "Rock'n'Roll Machine" era TRIUMPH and add incredible guitar work in the vein of "G-Force" era GARY MOORE. They play it hard for '82, but keep it tuneful and cover a lot of ground musically. There are a couple of strange cover song choices here too, but i won't spoil the surprise. Sadly, despite the interest the album received, especially in the European Metal press, this was all she wrote regarding Messendger. I think you're gonna dig this!

MESSENDGER - Messendger (1982) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/73668653/MESSENDGER_-_Messendger__USA-1982_.rar

Next, another one kindly provided by nwobhm00, this is the "Rockstorm" album by Northumbrian band Splitcrow. Unlike most of their NWOBHM contemporaries, Splitcrow had a unique sound which drew heavily on the Blues and Southern Rock as well as the usual influences. On first listen you'd be hard pressed to guess that the band were English, sounding as if they'd misspent their youth in Louisiana honky tonks trying to talk Sally Mae into the back of their beat up pick up.
Released on the independent Guardian label, also home to MYTHRA, the album received rave reviews, with Kerrang! magazine calling it "the best album from a Brit band in 10 years", and singling out slide guitarist Johnny Dickinson for special praise. Rightly so, the fantastic slide playing all over this album is what gives it it's energy and signature sound, setting them apart from the pack. By 1986 however, Splitcrow were over, Dickinson moving on to play with the likes of THE MOONSHINE BOYS, PAUL LAMB & THE KINGSNAKES, before reinventing himself as an acoustic solo act, releasing his debut solo album “Castles & Old Kings” in 2001. His sound a mixture of Bluesy acoustic moods and ethereal Celtic folk. His fifth solo set is due any day now, and a live dvd is in shops now.

SPLITCROW - Rockstorm (1984) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/74321545/Splitcrow_-_Rockstorm.rar.htm

A slice of classy female fronted Hard Rock/AOR next, this is "Head On", the second album by Canadian quintet Toronto, which came out on the Solid Gold label in 1981. The band which cut this album and it's predecessor, were a far tougher proposition than their subsequent releases might lead you to believe, catchy certainly, but gutsy, and singer Holly Woods had an incredible voice and range. Sugar sweet and melodic one moment, roaring like a V8 engine the next, all over these impeccably tailored songs. I think you'll like this one, but wouldn't recommend their later output, as they really decided to chase airplay after this, with patchy results.

TORONTO - Head On (1981) Canada

http://rapidshare.com/files/73601357/TORONTO_-_Head_On__Can_-_1981_.rar

To Australia now, for the second release by Perth's The Victims, the bizarrely titled "No Thanks To The Human Turd" EP from 1978. With that name, that title, and the cheapo xeroxed sleeve art you're likely expecting a balls out Antipodean SEX PISTOLS rip off, and to be fair, there is a whiff of the UK/NY early punk sound in places, but these guys were cannier writers and more capable players than most lumped in with the Punk movement. A more accurate comparison would probably be "Back In The USA" era MC5, this is stripped down hard rock'n'roll, punk in spirit perhaps, but a different sounding beast to their UK/US cousins altogether. The choruses are big and catchy, the lyrics wry and often funny and most importantly, the energy resolutely positive. If you enjoy this 5 tracker lemmy know and i'll post their debut "Television Addict" 7" too. You may be familiar with THE HELLACOPTERS cover of the A-Side, which is great in it's own right, but the original totally slays!

THE VICTIMS - No Thanks To The Human Turd EP (1978) Australia

http://rapidshare.com/files/72295498/THE_VICTIMS_-_No_Thanks_To_The_Human_Turd_EP__AUS_-_1978_.rar

To Ireland next for the self-explanatory 1983 "Heavy Metal" 45 by Severed Head. Formed in '81, the four piece were fortunate enough to record a three song session for the BBC Friday Rock Show the following year. The session proved so popular that the BBC were forced to repeat it due to public demand. Impressed, the shows producer, Tony Wilson, agreed to produce the 2 songs which make up this 7". Unfortunately, despite all the buzz surrounding them at the time, and many positive reviews in the press, the labels distribution was so poor that no-one could find the record in the shops. With their profile dwindling, the dejected band went their separate ways in 1984. This is a little gem of a disc, both songs are as catchy as bird flu, but remain as heavy as hell, one of the finest examples of NWOBHM from the Emerald Isle.

SEVERED HEAD - Heavy Metal 7" (1983) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/73678589/SEVERED_HEAD_-_Heavy_Metal_7____UK_-_1983_.rar

Next, here's the "Red Sun Setting" 7" by Manchester based five piece Tora Tora. This was the first of three singles the band released between 1980 and 1987, but it's the only one to feature future DIO/AC-DC/TYTAN/AIIZ/RHINO BUCKET & UFO drummer Simon Wright, which may explain why it's become the most collectible of the three releases. Released on their own Mancunian Metal label, the 2 tracks here are typically cool vintage Brit Metal with Hard Rock hooks and great playing throughout. They really sound like contenders here. Nice stuff. Enjoy.

TORA TORA - Red Sun Setting 7" (1980) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/73689517/TORA_TORA_-_Red_Sun_Setting_7____UK_-_1980_.rar

Finally tonight, another rare one for ya, this is the 1978 "Angry Young Women" 45 by VERMILION, a London based band with a female American singer, the eponymous Vermilion Sands. Apparently Ms Sands was quite a colourful character, writing about the Punk scene for Search & Destroy whilst enjoying the biker lifestyle and also working in promotions at Illegal Records, which appears to have involved posing semi-naked for the camera on a regular basis. Initially fronting a Punk band called DICK ENVY, she got a deal as Vermilion with (yup!), Illegal Records and put together a band which bore her name. This Punk/Metal/Biker Rock mess was waaay too far ahead of it's time, i kinda like it, i bet LEMMY did too, but i'm thinking i should probably tag it as being for NWOBHM completists only. Hell, give it a try and see what you think. It's free!

VERMILION - Angry Young Women 7" (1978) UK/USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/73611497/VERMILLION_-_Angry_Young_Woman_7____UK_-_1978_.rar

There you go, a dazzling return to blogging action i would say, hope you enjoy it.
There's still loads more good stuff to come people, check back regular!
AND COMMENT!!!