A DEAD HEAT IN A BLIMP RACE

Either it's my computer or imageshack or blogger or rapidshare. Or, it's a fucked up combination of one or more of the above, but i'm having a shitty time getting this post up. So it's gonna be a no frills affair regarding tonight's selection, quite apt as most of the music i'm serving up tonight is pretty no-frills too. But tasty nonetheless.
Firstly, The Black Riders were a five piece NWOBHM band who hailed from the unlikely locale of the Isle Of Man in the early 1980's. The band specialized in melodic and accessible Heavy Metal, and unlike many of their peers were blessed with a great vocalist, Darryl Fayle. They debuted with a full length album called "Chosen Few", on the GI record label in 1985. The records production and the quality of the songs were a cut above most '80's independent Metal releases and should have led the group to bigger things. Following the album's release the line up fragmented, but Fayle & guitarist Mike Byrne recruited three new members and kept the band going. In 1987, the new line up contributed the re-recorded song "Chosen Few" to the four way split EP "Battleaxe", on Other Records. The other featured bands on the EP were HOLOSADE, KES & TEACHER'S PET. Sadly this was to be the band's last hurrah, and The Black Riders split soon after.

THE BLACK RIDERS - Chosen Few (1985) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/146120087/THE_BLACK_RIDERS_-_Chosen_Few__UK-1985_.rar

Second item tonight is from SIX FEET UNDER who were a noted act mainly due to the bluesey vocals of ex-RAINFALL vocalist Björn Lodin. Formed in Borlinge, Sweden in 1981, the band debuted the following year with the "I'm Gonna Win" 7". 1983 brought the release of their self-titled debut album on the Europafilm label. 1984 saw the release of a further 7", "Candle In The Dark", and album number two, "Eruption". For the second album SIX FEET UNDER added new drummer Marcus Källström. Following the second album the band persevered for a while under the shortened title of SIX FEET with ex JAMMER vocalist Erik Hjalmarsson, bassist Johan Larsson, keyboard player Joel Lidgren and ex-VANTAGE drummer Jonas Lööfbefore disintigrating after a freshly recorded album was denied a release. Johan Larsson turned up later as part of TREAT. SIX FEET UNDER vocalist Bjorn Lodin joined BALTIMOORE before a brief stint with Swiss rockers KROKUS. Guitarist Tomas Larsson was to lend his skills to BALTIMOORE, JAMMER and YEAH BOP STATION. Larsson has also been a member of ex-DEEP PURPLE singer GLENN HUGHES solo project as well as recording his own solo album 'Freeride'. Jansson united with KEEN HUE. Källström joined JAMMER, SKY HIGH and STONECAKE. Björn Lodin contributed guest lead vocal tracks to cover versions of BUDGIE's 'In For The Kill' and NEON ROSE's 'Love Rock' for inclusion on OVERDRIVE and LOCOMOTIVE BREATH guitarist Janne Stark's November 2006 MOUNTAIN OF POWER tribute collection. Thomas Larsson also donated his guitar skills to this project.

SIX FEET UNDER - Six Feet Under (1983) Sweden

http://rapidshare.com/files/146130648/SIX_FEET_UNDER_-_Six_Feet_Under__SWE-1983_.rar

Brooklyn Brats were a Hard Rock quartet confusingly founded in Los Angeles in 1982 by guitarist Paul Hanson & drummer Dane Rage. Rage had previously been a member of LA Glam rockers LONDON alongside future MOTLEY CRUE man Nikki Sixx and W.A.S.P. mainman Blackie Lawless, and also played with the LED ZEPPELIN-esque THE WHITE. The band would become regular fixtures on the LA club circuit of the early '80's, building up a large local following. In 1984 the band released this five song Mini LP in picture disc form, entitled "We Live To Rock" it surfaced on Iron Works Records. This would prove to be their only release however, with the band splitting in 1985. Hanson went on to become an instructor at the Guitar Institute Of Technology, and produced several instructional video tapes and books. He was also called upon to be guitar coach to Michael J. Fox for the films "Back To The Future" and "Light Of Day".
He now plays with the band CHAINDRIVEN after stints with VANILLA FUDGE & ANDY TAYLOR. Dane Rage would later become Dane Scarborough, leaving drumming to become an inventor, eventually establishing the toy company Überstix LLC in 2005.

BROOKLYN BRATS - We Live To Rock Mini LP (1984) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/146136674/BROOKLYN_BRATS_-_We_Live_To_Rock_Mini_LP__USA-1984_.rar

Badger were a five piece NWOBHM band formed in 1980. Their first release was the three song "Over The Wall" EP on Noize Gate Records in 1981. The EP was produced by Gordon Rowley of STRIFE/NIGHTWING "fame". Following this they contributed the song "The Traveller" to the compilation album "Metal Plated" on Ebony Records in 1983. The band changed it's name in 1984, becoming the BADGER BELL BAND, and released a further single under this name in 1985. "Nothing Left", proved to be a prophetic title for the 7", as the band folded before the years end.

BADGER - Over The Wall EP (1981) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/146123909/BADGER_-_Over_The_Wall_EP__UK-1981_.rar

18th 1980, DeMaio struck up a strong alliance with their American guitarist Ross 'The Boss' Friedman, and they decided to piece together the ideal Metal band, an idea that had originally been formulated backstage at the BLACK SABBATH show at Newcastle City Hall. Adding ex-THE KIDS and HARLEQUIN vocalist Eric Adams and finally drummer Karl Kennedy, MANOWAR was born. After recording a crude demo tape at Vision Studios in Auburn for a mere $250, EMI America signed the group. Whilst recording their debut album 'Battle Hymns' with new drummer Donnie Hamzik, MANOWAR also gained backing from Bill Aucoin at Aucoin Management. Crafted in Florida, 'Battle Hymns' featured none other than the legendary Orson Welles appearing in a narrator's role on the track 'Dark Avenger'. Ambitiously, and successfully it must be added, De Maio re-sculpted Rossini's 'William Tell Overture' into a bass solo piece 'William's Tale'. Poor sales meant the band were unceremoniously dropped from EMI America's roster and also parted company with Aucoin when a new deal wasn't immediately forthcoming. The loss of the EMI America deal prevented MANOWAR from making a planned appearance at the Reading Festival in Britain during August 1982. Drummer Hamzik left in early 1983 and MANOWAR unveiled the new man behind the skins, Scott Columbus, at two gigs in New York opened by VIRGIN STEELE. MANOWAR then retreated upstate and recorded a brand new album 'Into Glory Ride', their first with Scott Columbus. By the Summer of 1983 MANOWAR had inked a new deal (in blood!) with Jonny Zazula's Megaforce label for the US & Music For Nations in Europe. The 'Into Glory Ride' album appeared around the same time as a second recording with Orson Welles,In most right thinking circles MANOWAR are regarded as being the pinnacle of true Heavy Metal. Over a lengthy career MANOWAR have steadfastly refused to compromise and as such have built up a staunch global fanbase. Bassist and band leader Joey DeMaio had first had a stab at creating a Metal band when he formed a power trio with ex-ELF vocalist / guitarist David Feinstein and drummer Carl Canedy dubbed DAVID FEINSTEIN'S THUNDER. This formative band contributed a track, 'Slippin' And Slidin'', to a BUDDY HOLLY tribute EP and issued a 1978 7" under the DAVID FEINSTEIN name, but in spite of achieving a heavy sound the triumvirate could not gel and Feinstein and Canedy quickly assembled THE RODS. MANOWAR was founded when De Maio was working as a stagehand to BLACK SABBATH. French act SHAKIN' STREET was the support band for the UK tour and, at the Newcastle upon Tyne City Hall concert on May 'Defender', materialized as this 12" single release backed with 'Gloves Of Metal'. Welles had recorded this piece at the same time as 'Dark Avenger', but the song had not made the 'Battle Hymns' album. The song was later re-recorded for their 1987 "Fighting The World" album, and has subsequently become a firm fan favourite.

MANOWAR - Defender 12" (1984) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/146139573/MANOWAR_-_Defender_12_____USA-1984_.rar

Sabre were a traditional Heavy Metal band created in 1982 by four guys serving in the U.S. Army whilst stationed in Karlsruhe West Germany. From 1983-1986 they played in and around the Karlsruhe area drawing big crowds whenever they played. They recorded this 2 song 45, "City Of Flames" and released it themselves in 1983. In 1985 they recorded the full length album, "Keepers Of The Sword", at Katapulton Studios and 500 copies were pressed by Palace Records. It has been highly sought after by collectors of 80's metal in more recent years and now commands a hefty price tag. The band were to go their separate ways soon after the album's release without issuing anything further.

SABRE - City Of Flames 7" (1983) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/146142106/SABRE_-_City_Of_Flames_7____USA-1983_.rar

Finally tonight, Tutch was a NWOBHM band that was only active in the late 1970's and early '80's. They only managed to produce a solitary 7" single, "The Battle", which was released by Gargoyle Records in 1980. Tutch folded soon after the record emerged.

TUTCH - The Battle 7" (1980) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/146144769/TUTCH_-_The_Battle_7____UK-1980_.rar

So there you have it, plenty of variety, plenty of quality, plenty of comments should be forthcoming. He hinted, oh so subtly... : )