THE CABLE STITCH

Howdy, oh right-thinking peoples of the interweb who like to rawk out to vintage and obscure Heavy tunesmithery!
We're back again to bring you some more of that which you desire, the music.
So then, shall we begin?
LIONHEART was a British Hard Rock band formed in late 1980.
Originally the band featured singer Jess Cox (ex-TYGERS OF PAN TANG), guitarist Dennis Stratton (ex-IRON MAIDEN), guitarist Steve Mann (ex-LIAR), bassist/vocalist Rocky Newton (ex-THE NEXT BAND), and drummer Frank Noon (ex-DEF LEPPARD).
Cox was quickly replaced by former LAUTREC frontman, Reuben Archer. Former JUDAS PRIEST drummer Les Binks replaced the WILD HORSES-bound Noon for the 1981 UK tour with Def Leppard with former Wild Horses drummer Clive Edwards eventually replacing Binks.
Archer too would briefly spend time in Wild Horses before forming STAMPEDE.
The song "Lionheart", recorded by Archer, Stratton, Mann, Newton, and Noon would belatedly surface on the "Heavy Metal Heroes Vol. 2" compilation in 1982.
Said track remains the only representative recording of the band's early sound as they would change their style significantly later on.
A demo recorded by the core of Stratton, Mann, and Newton landed Lionheart a deal with the American branch of CBS Records in 1984.
Enlisting new vocalist Chad Brown and securing the studio services of drummer Bob Jenkins, the band proceeded to record their debut album, "Hot Tonight", with producer Kevin Beamish (REO SPEEDWAGON) in Los Angeles.
This was a slick AOR-styled effort that failed to capture the old fans' interest or that of their target audience in the U.S..
In 1985 the band continued with former GRAND PRIX members, drummer Andy Bierne and keybordist Phil Lanzon, appearing on Channel 4's popular ECT program.
Lanzon eventually left to join reformed 70's glam act, THE SWEET (and later URIAH HEEP), while Brown gave way to new vocalist Keith Murrell (ex-AIRRACE).
Failing to make any headway, Lionheart split up in 1986, with Bierne going into management, Murrell fronting Irish rockers, MAMA'S BOYS, and Newton and Mann joining the McAULEY SCHENKER GROUP.
Dennis Stratton later found fame in Japan as part of an all-star PRAYING MANTIS touring line-up alongside former Iron Maiden band mate Paul DiAnno.
Steve Mann would sign on with The Sweet as the guitarist/keyboardist in late 1989, ironically replacing his former Lionheart band mate Phil Lanzon who had decided to join Uriah Heep as a permanent member.
Mann stayed on into the mid 90's when he was invited by Frank Bornemann, owner of Horus Sound Studio in Hannover, Germany to play guitar and some keyboards for his band ELOY. Mann guested on both "The Tides Return Forever" and "Ocean 2 - The Answer".
"Unearthed - Raiders Of The Lost Archives", a 2-CD 30-song collection of vintage Lionheart demos recorded between 1981 and 1985, was issued in 1999 by Pony Canyon Records in Japan.

LIONHEART - Unearthed - Raiders Of The Lost Archives (2-CD) (1981-1985) UK




























CD 1 : http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CNIO9HE6

CD 2 : http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CRCLBOX0

Next, Welsh UK Prog/Hard Rock act NO QUARTER formed in 1980 and the quartet released their debut cassette, the five song "Songs In Circles" on Neon Records, in 1981.
The band also had the track "Power And The Key" featured on the 1982 Heavy Metal Records compilation album "Heavy Metal Heroes II".
Further exposure came via a well received four song BBC Friday Rock Show session later the same year.
No Quarter released a further cassette, the seven song "Uncertain Future" in 1982, but this was later withdrawn.
No Quarter performed a somewhat unusual gig during 1983 at the Broadmoor Hospital for the Criminally Insane, which they later revisited on the track "Broadmoor Blues".
Another release, the classic 3 song 12" "Survivors" EP on Reel Records came later in 1983.
The band's final release came in 1985, the 3 song "Birds Of Prey" EP was issued by Bonzo Bear Records, before the band went on indefinite hiatus.
Having not been a going concern for some years, No Quarter reformed in 1992 with a 14 song, misleadingly titled, "Best Of" album being released through Vinyl Tap Records in 1994.
The album featured eleven previously unreleased remastered tracks which were recorded by the band at various points throughout their career but never issued, alongside the three songs from the "Survivors" EP.
A new line up of the band, featuring longtime members "Snappi" Lyes and Dave Young, gigged around the time of the album's release, but issued no further product.

NO QUARTER - The Best Of No Quarter (1981-1993) UK

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Z6YWVEY8

SARACEN were an Australian Heavy Metal act with strong Prog-Rock influences.
The band were formed in Perth, Western Australia, in 1980 by former FATTY LUMPKIN and EVEREST Vocalist/Guitarist John Meyer, Bassist Jon Ryder and Drummer Tony Cooper.
Around this time the band released a cassette only live album, called "Live In The City".
After a short time Tony Cooper left and Peter Thompson took over drums in 1981.
SARACEN was put on hold in 1983 when guitarist John Meyer opted out in an unlikely move to hook up with Austalian Hard Rock institution ROSE TATTOO.
The two remaining members, frontman Jon Ryder and drummer Peter Thompson united with ex-BLACK ALICE guitarist Jamie Page to found TRILOGY.
After two years of rehearsing, gigging and refining the band's sound, Trilogy released their ten song debut album, "Life On Earth" in 1985 as a private pressing.
The album belied it's modest recording budget, with a sympathetic production giving the bands Heavy yet Progressive and accesible songs lots of light and shade.
After the album's release, and despite favourable reviews, Jamie Page left the band, later reappearing with ANGUS McDETH and then BLACK STEEL.
Peter Jenkins was brought in to replace Page, but it wasn't long before he was ousted in favour of the returning John Meyer.
The French Axe Killer Record label released Trilogy's second and final album, "Next In Line" in 1986 in Europe only.
By the time of the album's independent release in Australia later in the year, Trilogy had reverted to the SARACEN name, releasing the record as a self-titled Saracen album.
This incarnation of the band would also, sadly, prove to be short lived, with the members going their separate ways in 1987.
Bassist John Ryder reappeared in the early 1990's as a member of PROJECT X, who released an album entitled "The Mirror" in 1995.
Guitarist John Meyer went on to join CHAIN, recording three albums with them, before going solo in 1992.
Since then he's released four solo albums in a Blues Rock style, as well as playing on various sessions and doing production work.

TRILOGY - Life On Earth (1985) Australia

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=TEW1958L

Finally, 100% PROOF were a four piece Stockport based Christian NWOBHM act formed by brothers Steven and Phillip Wright in 1978.
They debuted with the 1980 EP "New Way Of Livin'" on the Smile Records label.
Myrrh Records then published their eponymous debut album in 1981, which went on to sell very well.
During their time 100% PROOF were probably the leading "White" Hard Rock band in the country.
Amongst their notable achievements was a headlining appearance at the Christian Greenbelt festival at Knebworth in 1983, where they were promoting their second and final album, "Power And The Glory", released by SB Records.
Ending the "Power And The Glory" tour with a sold out televised concert in Dusseldorf, Germany, Guitarist Charlie Wilson shocked the rest of the band by announcing he was leaving to start a brand new outfit called FORCE 3.
The rest of the band eventually decided to carry on by replacing him with a keyboard player.
Unfortunately, this didn't work out and 100% Proof then decided to call it a day.
FORCE 3 released their lone album on the Pure Metal label in 1988, entitled "Warrior Of Light".
They split up soon after, only to reform in 1994, releasing a demo called "On The Right Track", which saw them moving in a sickly AOR direction, before they disappeared again.
Christian Rock?
I know it sounds like an oxymoron, and however you feel about religion mixing with rock music, somehow, this works.
To me, there's only good, bad or indifferent music, and this is the former.
Hallelujah!
Maybe the devil doesn't have all the best tunes.

100% PROOF - Power And The Glory (1983) UK



















http://www.megaupload.com/?d=T8TH73LI

So that's it for tonight, i hope there's something to your taste amongst this evening's sonic smorgasbord.
Let's have some comments on tonight's selection please, i'm afraid that the response to the last post was not particularly gratifying in volume.
Let's get typing eh?
Be lucky folks!
Over & out!

THE BOWLER'S GRIP

Hi people, we're back in retro rawkin' action for the benefit of yer ears and souls yet again!
Everything tonight comes from either the UK circa the NWOBHM or Sweden from the same era.
Some great stuff for you to enjoy, starting right now:
Swedish Heavy Metal sextet UNIVERSE were formed in 1983 in Upplands Väsby.
Fronted by Kjell Wallén, the band came to the attention of Sonet Records when they supported NAZARETH on their 1984 Swedish tour.
Signing to Sonet, the band recorded their lone eponymous album in 1985.
"Universe" is something of an overlooked gem, a classy and hook-filled Euro-metal masterpiece which was pretty much unknown outside of Sweden at the time.
Terrific Vocals, classy riffing & soloing, and some clever use of Keyboards for additional colour, gave Universe a very distinctive sound, one that really deserved a wider audience.
At the time of recording the group featured Keyboard player Mic Michaeli, later of BRAZEN ABBOT renown.
Soon after the record's release however, Michaeli was poached by EUROPE and was replaced by Freddie Kriström.
Unfortunately, despite the record's undoubted quality, there was to be no follow up, as Universe broke up in 1986.
Sadly, none of the band's members, bar Michaeli, went on to achieve anything of note musically after the group's disbanding.

UNIVERSE - Universe (1985) Sweden

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0GT08L1O

Welsh NWOBHM act NO QUARTER formed in 1980 and the quartet released their debut cassette, the five song "Songs In Circles" on Neon Records, in 1981.
The band also had the track "Power And The Key" featured on the 1982 Heavy Metal Records compilation album "Heavy Metal Heroes II".
Further exposure came via a well received four song BBC Friday Rock Show session later the same year.
No Quarter released a further cassette, the seven song "Uncertain Future" in 1982, but this was later withdrawn.
No Quarter performed a somewhat unusual gig during 1983 at the Broadmoor Hospital for the Criminally Insane, which they later revisited on the track "Broadmoor Blues".
Another release, the classic 3 song 12" "Survivors" EP on Reel Records came later in 1983.
The band's final release came in 1985, the 3 song "Birds Of Prey" EP was issued by Bonzo Bear Records, before the band went on indefinite hiatus.
Having not been a going concern for some years, No Quarter reformed in 1992 with a 14 song "Best Of" album being released through Vinyl Tap Records in 1994.

NO QUARTER - BBC Friday Rock Show Session (1982) UK

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=U38EU962

For some reason unknown to me, Blogger is being a bugger to work with tonight, pictures keep on springing into areas of the page that i didn't mean to put them in, without rhyme or reason and text keeps on moving around the grid without my best efforts to keep it contained.
If the finished page looks a bit of a mess as a result of this, i apologise, but honestly, it's not my fault or my doing.
Just Blogger being a glitchy bitch this evening!
If i was starting out music blogging now i feel pretty sure i'd use another service over Blogger, but i'm kind of used to the idiosyncracies of the programme now.
It's like getting used to your partners annoying little habits after you move in together, and trying desperately to remember the endearing little quirks that drew you to them in the first darn place.
Here's that first No Quarter cassette as well, before i forget!

NO QUARTER - Songs In Circles Cassette (1981) UK
















http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WJOJ9F2O

SAVAGERS were a three piece Swedish traditional Heavy Metal band formed in Halmstad in 1982.
Their lone official release was 1984's six song privately pressed "Preacher Of Steel" Mini LP.
DaN from www.thecorroseum.com has written an exemplary review of it which i hope he won't mind me reproducing here in part.
"This rare-beyond-rare mini-album is an intriguing release which has eluded collectors until only just recently.
A few copies have surfaced the last couple of years and I would guess that this record, although most likely pressed and manufactured in '84, was never officially released. The obvious reason being that it sucks. Yep, "Preacher of Steel" could have been the coolest and most collectable FWOSHM-private ever (and twice as expensive!) if the band had bothered to rehearse before entering the studio, or tuned their instruments, or sacked their awful singer, or shot their good-for-nothing "producer".
And they're not even crummy in a cool and charming way (being a total Brat/Basement-Metal freak, I should know!)
What makes it even more irritating is that the actual songwriting is rather OK, even if no particular song stands out.
Musically it pretty much resembles the other Swedish Classics like AXEWITCH, TORCH, 22O VOLT etc, ie heavy JUDAS PRIEST-like Metal w/ the emphasis on vocal harmonies. You kind of wish they'd been a bit more coherrent in their lameness. That way they'd be easier to ignore. Now they're a total enigma.
I've looked for X'eros, Thunderhawks, and Double-Hammers in the phonebooks, hoping to find out more about the band, but to no avail.
In conclusion: this is for completist Scanda-metal collectors only, although the band score some extra points for at least being "True Metal" and not just another AOR/Blues/New Wave-crossover case like so many other "unknown" old privates."
Now, me, i think DaN's been a little harsh on SAVAGERS, yes, much of this underproduced fumbling is amateurish in the extreme, but i find a charm and naievety in their cack handed thumping. Several of these songs are genuinely memorable, and will remain imbedded in your cerebral cortex for weeks to come.
Following the release of the Mini LP, Savagers issued two further demo tapes, before apparently folding.
There's some unconfirmed speculation that former members of Savagers were involved with X-ERYUS, who released the "Expose" album in 1990.

SAVAGERS - Preacher Of Steel Mini LP (1984) Sweden

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JUPQTU6Q

SUNSET BLAZE were a five piece NWOBHM band formed in Hayes, Middlesex in 1983 by three former members of the recently defunct L.A. HOOKER.
Guitarist Mick Lenny was recruited by the trio from HUNTER, and after a series of short term drummers, the line up was completed by drummer Alan "Ollie" Olive.
The band were quickly picked up by manager Max Burnard, and entered the studio in 1983 to record a four song self-titled Demo cassette.
Cassettes were sent out to disinterested record labels, but the majority of copies were actually snapped up by impressed gig goers.
A planned independent single never materialised, and despite a busy gigging schedule, the band went their separate ways in 1984.

SUNSET BLAZE - Sunset Blaze Demo (1983) UK

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Q9U1IEA3

TELLURIAN, were an obscure NWOBHM quartet from Buckinghamshire who left us just this one record, but it's a real corker!
The "Reborn" 7" single, a limited edition release of just 500 hand numbered copies, was originally recorded in 1982, but was not released until November 2006.
The "Reborn" 45 was issued by Zerlinda Records, the label founded by Malc MacMillan, the author of The NWOBHM Encyclopedia.
The label's aim was to issue unreleased vintage NWoBHM recordings in limited heavyweight vinyl editions with authentic looking period style picture sleeves. Zerlinda Records has also been responsible for releases by BURNER & DIAMOND LIL.
Apparently Tellurian only recorded about a dozen songs in their short career between 1980 and 1983, and the two songs which comprise the 7" are the only tapes that survived through the years in a cold damp English basement.
A real shame there is no more to be heard from Tellurian as they had a really heavy sound for 1982, equal parts WITCHFINDER GENERAL/BLACK SABBATH style Doom and NWOBHM, and they could also really play and knew how to write a killer song.
Apparently, the same two songs also appeared on a very obscure Various Artists compilation album called "The Whinging Album : Clutching At Straws" released by Whinging Records in 1982.
Beware the other act also called Tellurian, as they are purveyors of awful Hardcore Dance music.

TELLURIAN - Reborn 7" (1982) UK

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NZRTIIA0

Finally, PREDATOR were a very obscure NWOBHM quartet who released one rare record in 1985.
The record in question, a 7" single entitled "Don't Stop", was limited to 1000 copies and was released by C.T.M. Records.
A small quantity of the single came with a picture sleeve, but most copies did not.
Beyond this, i cannot find anything much out about this band, their history, or even where they hailed from.
Over to you, the combined Metallic brain trust who visit this site for further info. If you know 'owt, lerrus know.
Not to be confused with the REQUIEM related band of the same name who recorded a demo in 1989, or the other UK band from Reading named PREDATUR who released the 1982 "Take A Walk" single, and latterly, the "Mean" and "In Your Garden" albums.

PREDATOR - Don't Stop 7" (1985) UK

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YSGLXAFS

Many thanks to whoever it was who passed on the Sunset Blaze Demo to me, i'm embarrassed and very sorry to have to admit that i've forgotten who it was! The ole' memory ain't what it used to be and it's been a busy old week or three, these are my only excuses.
Also huge thanks to Hobgoblin who ripped the No Quarter BBC Session, this was possibly the best studio recording that NQ ever made, and it's great to get to hear it in pristine audio finally.
Many thanks to everyone who took the time to comment on the last post, it's much appreciated.
Responses ranged from the informative to the hysterically funny, and we even found time to dissect England's poor performance in the World Cup!
Hope y'all didn't find it too much of a chore to type a few words, because as far as i'm concerned the more interactive things get, the better. So i'm looking for more of the same from you this time around.
I think you'll find that i've given you plenty of musical discussion fodder this evening, so i'll be looking forward to reading what you thought of it all.
Until next time, be good to yourselves and we'll meet here again in about a fortnight.