CLAM JOUSTING

Hi again. More great stuff coming your way tonight rescued from total obscurity, dusted off and uploaded for the benefit of your hearts & ears.
For starters, VAULT were a Heavy Metal quartet formed in Emmen, Drenthe, Holland in 1979. The band was formed by brothers Koos and Anno De Roo, with the line up completed by Norbert Sulman on drums and vocalist Henri Draaijer. The band set about writing their own songs in earnest after jamming on cover versions initially, and were soon playing live regularly with the likes of TRANCE, BODINE and SAD IRON. Their first release would be the 1982 "Hell Of A Block" 7" on Non Records, a classic slice of '80's European Heavy Metal with balls & melody. All 500 copies sold out quickly, making it a collectors item nowadays, spurring the band on to return to the studio to record an album. The album, "No More Escape", was released in early 1983, again by Non Records, to great reviews and positive reactions. Their progress had been noticed by Mausoleum Records who signed Vault and put them to work on a new album to be called "Sword Of Steel". The recordings were better produced and the playing more aggressive, whilst the song writing had also improved. All was looking rosy until Mausoleum suddenly declared bankruptcy, leaving Vault high and dry. Toting the album around the labels as a demo tape, surprisingly there were no takers for the band, and despite sticking around until early 1986 Vault's time had gone. In 2001 the unreleased Vault track "Sword Of Steel" featured on the "Heavy Metal Maniacs Part 2" compilation album, with the entire "Sword Of Steel" album finally seeing a release in a limited vinyl edition of 500 copies on the Hidden Metal Gems label the following year. A bootleg cd is currently doing the rounds, it compiles the "Hell Of A Block" 7", the "No More Escape" album and the "Sword Of Steel" demo/album. It's from this cd that this rip comes. Enjoy!

VAULT - No More Escape/Sword Of Steel (1983) Holland

http://rapidshare.com/files/238694195/VAULT_-_No_More_Escape__HOL-1983_.rar

Secondly, STILLWATER was an American Southern Rock band of the 1970s, which existed from 1973 to 1983 and was based in Warner Robins, Georgia. They released two albums on Capricorn Records, "Stillwater" (1977), which included the single "Mind Bender", (a hit single in 1978). and "I Reserve The Right" (1979). They opened for such bands as BLACKFOOT, ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION and the CHARLIE DANIELS BAND. After Capricorn Records went under in 1978, the band struggled on, recording the album "Running Free" in 1983, but splitting before it was finished. The band reconvened in 1997 to complete the abandoned "Running Free" album, with new drummer David Heck, the album was finally released in late '97, with the band playing shows to commemorate the event. An archive live album "Stillwater Live" comprising recordings from concerts in Utica New York in 1977 and 1978 has since been released on cd. After the band broke up, guitarist Rob Walker enlisted in the Air Force Band of New England, Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire. He is still in service, currently stationed in Active Duty with the Band of the US Air Force Reserve at Robins Air Force Base. Guitarist Mike Causey can still be seen playing with the likes of EDDIE STONE & FRIENDS, WINTERS BROTHERS BAND, BIG MIKE & THE BOOTY PAPAS. Al Scarborough plays bass with a band called THE WALL in Warner Robins and Macon Ga and has played with EDDIE JAMES GANG. Rob Walker occasionally drops in to play with The Wall too and has also recorded with EDDIE STONE & FRIENDS. Drummer David Heck currently lives and performs in Denver, CO. Keyboard player Bob Spearman, who also played with The Wall, has sadly since died of cancer.

STILLWATER - Stillwater Live (1978) USA

http://rapidshare.com/files/237155338/STILLWATER_-_Stillwater_Live__USA-1977_78_.rar

Two goodies from the NWOBHM now to complete tonight's post. Huddersfield five piece NWOBHM band RHABSTALLION were formed in late 1977. They recorded their first 2 song demo in 1980, the same year they contributed a track to the Logo Records 'New Electric Warriors' compilation. A 7" self-financed single, 'Day To Day' was issued on their own Rhab Records the following year. 1982 saw the recording of a further two song demo, the imaginatively titled "Demo II". In 1984 the 4 song "Demo III" tape was circulated, but disheartened, the band folded by the years end. Rhabstallion guitarist David Thompson later held membership of VENTURE, VOYAGER UK and sessioned for NINA HAGEN amongst others. He subsequently formed AOR outfit LOST WEEKEND with another former Rhabstallion colleague, drummer Jack Himsworth. To date Lost Weekend have released 4 albums. In 1994 the specialist Vinyl Tap Records label released the 14 song Rhabstallion compilation album 'Day To Day' which collected all three of the band's demos, both sides of their single and added two live tracks.

RHABSTALLION - Day To Day (1980-1984) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/237835986/RHABSTALLION_-_Day_To_Day__UK-1980-84_.rar

And, lastly, but not least, Merseyside based NWOBHM band GASKIN formed in 1980 and were signed to Rondelet Records the following year. They debuted in 1981 with the "I'm No Fool" 7" single, and followed this with a full length album entitled "End Of The World". Both releases were well received in the music press at the time and sold well. 1982 saw the release of their second album "No Way Out", and a further single "Mony Mony" as well as a British tour in as support to WISHBONE ASH. In 1983 bassist Stefan Prockopczuk was replaced by Mark McKenzie and towards the end the group added vocalist Bren Spencer, previously of KAMARG, to the fold.
The band split in early 1983, but Gaskin and Spencer later issued a statement saying they would record a third album under the GASKIN banner to be titled 'Aftermath'. This album never saw the light of day. GASKIN reformed in 1999 and issued the 2000 album 'Stand Or Fall' on Neat Records, as well as making an appearance at the prestigious German Wacken festival.

GASKIN - End Of The World (1981) UK

http://rapidshare.com/files/237849540/GASKIN_-_End_Of_The_World__UK-1981_.rar

Hope there's something from tonight's selection to light up your night, whether it's an old favourite or a new discovery. Lemmy know your opinions people and as always, thank you for comments on the last post. If you had troubles getting the first QUARTZ disc from last time, try again now as i've fixed the link after the fault was brought to my attention.
I've also put up a selection of BBC sessions over at my other blog recently, so if your thirst for vintage rawk'n'roll has yet to be slaked, take a little trip over to http://guntherspaps.blogspot.com/ to peruse the goodies there. I'll "see" you all back here for more of the same real soon, 'til then keep on keepin' on.