THE BURNSIDE DRAWER

Hi again, an international selection for you this evening of the obscure, the great & the good from rock'n'roll's recycle bin.
For starters we bring you a band with an international line up, shortlived Hard Rockers Rebel. The band was formed by Englishman and former LUCIFER'S FRIEND and URIAH HEEP vocalist John Lawton with talented German guitarist Tommy Clauss. Adding fellow Teutons Peter Weber on bass and keyboard player Albert Stübler, as well as Italian drummer Peter Garratoni, the band set about writing an albums worth of rocking songs which straddled the line between the traditional Blues influenced Hard Rock of the 1970's and the leaner, more commercial sound of the genre in the new decade. The combination works really well, but record buyers in 1982 remained unmoved by this, their sole album, "Stargazer", which was released by Lark Records. So sadly the band went their seperate ways in 1983. Lawton & Clauss reunited again in 1990 in the band ZAR, recording the "Live Your Life Forever", album together before Lawton left to join GUNHILL.

REBEL - Stargazer (1982) UK/Ger/Ita

http://rapidshare.com/files/88199846/REBEL_-_Stargazer__UK-GER-1982_.rar

To the US now, for the lone, rare and extremely expensive "Cry At The Sky" album from 1983, by Kentucky based Heavy Metal quartet Desire. Nine fine tracks of old school Heavy Metal with fantasy themed lyrics, quasi-classical lead guitars, and soaring vocals. They call this kinda stuff Power Metal nowadays, to me it's just Metal, plain & true. Great "so bad it's good", fantasy artwork too. Now do you want to shell out $100 dollars for a copy or d/l here? Don't you just love options?

DESIRE - Cry At The Sky (1983) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/89252241/DESIRE_-_Cry_At_The_Sky__USA-1983_.rar

Back in Blighty now for one of the lesser known albums from the Neat Records roster, this is "Cut It Up", the 1985 album by Newcastle trio Phasslayne. Musically more rocky than most of their Neat label mates, it's a good little record once you get past the typical bargain basement Neat production job. Roadrunner picked the band up after they were dropped by Neat, rereleasing "Cut It Up" with slightly altered artwork, but the band folded before recording a follow up. Drummer Andrew Stiddolph went on to bigger things later, although you may know him better as "Stidi" from his time with THE JELLYS & THE WILDHEARTS.

PHASSLAYNE - Cut It Up (1985) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/88443615/PHASSLAYNE_-_Cut_It_Up__UK-1985_.rar

To Canada next, to the town of Kitchener Ontario, to be specific, where guitarist Phil Xenedis formed Sidinex in 1982. Trivia fans : the bands unusual name is the guitarists surname spelled backwards. The Hard Rock four piece released their only record, the "Forever Young" six song Mini LP on the Voice label in 1985. Despite the quality of the playing & songwriting the record sold poorly at the time, forcing the band to give up the ghost shortly after it's release. Connisseurs of 1980's Hard Rock have reappraised the record since then and it has become a much sought after item, see what you reckon.

SIDINEX - Forever Young Mini LP (1985) Canada

http://rapidshare.com/files/87654713/SIDINEX_-_Forever_Young_Mini_LP__Can-1985_.rar

We head down under now, to Brisbane Australia to become aquainted with traditional Heavy Metal quartet Vice who formed in 1983. The band debuted in 1985 with the four song "Daddy's Little Girl" EP on Sundown Records, which featured a rather tastless "sexy" cover which many shops refused to stock. It also featured their unlikely (and pretty awful), remake of The Supremes "Stop! In The Name Of Love". The rest of the EP however is far better, Vice rocking a sound similar to that of early TOKYO BLADE. The band split in '86, only for vocalist Peter James to put together a whole new line up for the far more commercial 1989 EP "Take Me Home" EP. Original guitarist David Warner returned to the fold for their only full length album, the glam tinged "Bad Girls" in 1990, but the band fractured soon after it's release, calling it a day before the years end. Remember them this way instead, loud & proud, with a slightly out of tune bass far too high in the mix, it's how they'd want it.

VICE - Daddy's Little Girl EP (1985) AUS

http://rapidshare.com/files/89254576/VICE_-_Daddy_s_Little_Girl_EP__AUS-1985_.rar

Staying in the Southern Hemisphere for now, we cross the Tasman Sea for an ultra-rare local private pressing from Wellington, New Zealand quartet TYRANT. Apparently the influence of the NWOBHM had made it to the other side of the globe by 1984, as this, their only release, the "Breaking Out" EP, sounds like it could have been recorded in a glum Nothern British town by mullet sporting denim clad spotty youth. A few of the tracks have a slightly more Hard Rock feel in places, and the sound is derivative, but i like this one and think that you might do too. Who's your favourite Kiwi NWOBHM band? There can't have been many, but i'll bet Tyrant were one of the best.

TYRANT - Breaking Out EP (1984) NZ

http://rapidshare.com/files/88456892/TYRANT_-_Breaking_Out_EP__NZ-1984_.rar

Finally tonight, another excellent contribution from nwobhm00 for your listening pleasure. This is the second and final release by NWOBHM band Energy, the 1983 "Nowhere To Hide" 7" on Aros Records. The flipside "Fight For Freedom" is probably their best & best-known track, as it has appeared on several NWOBHM comps over the years, it's a real knock-out with great energy (no pun intended!), driving rhythm & terrific vocals. The A-Side is a far more commercial slice of Hard Rockery, but damn fine nonetheless! Thanks again nwobhm00!

ENERGY - Nowhere To Hide 7" (1983) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/89679321/Energy_-_Nowhere_to_Hide.rar

So that's all for this time, a world of rock'n'rollin' heaviosity for your discerning pallettes. Enjoy!