SMOKING OUT THE MOLE

Ho Ho Ho!
A merry whatever to you, one and all!
I got you all some musical presents, they're right here for you tonight, sitting under the NILOOB Chrimbo tree.
Also, a few of you took me up on my "gift" idea, so there's even more goodies to choose from tonight than usual.
Many thanks to Gifford, Rob Rob and Nightsblood for taking the time to get into the holiday spirit and sharing some quality obscure music with all of us.
Gifford, i don't know how you came to share the ultra-rare MUSIC MACHINE EP with us, but it's really odd that you did as i had literally just watched "The Helter Skelter Murders", the night before i got your link!
You sir, are a spooky, but generous, man.
Enough of the waffle eh?
I can tell you just wanna open your prezzies.
Wire in!
In 1977, 4 teenagers aged between 15 and 16 formed one of the first Heavy Metal bands in Spain in Mislata, Valencia which they called WOLFRAM .
In late 1977 new drummer Javier Hervías joined, and after changing their name to ZARPA (which translates as "Claw"), in early 1978 they recorded their first LP, "Los 4 Jinetes Del Apocalypsis" ("The 4 Horsemen Of The Apocalypse").
By late 1979, the members of the band were obligated to undertake military service, and so released a demo entitled "Adictos Al Crimen" ("Addicted To Crime"), to keep the band's name alive whilst they served.
In 1981 the band returned to action, focussing initially on live work by touring all over Spain.
1982 saw the release of a new LP called "¿Ángeles O Demonios?" ("Angels And Demons"), on Xirivella Records label, a self-funded work recorded in just 24 hours.
In 1984 the band released their next LP, "Herederos De Un Imperio" ("Heirs Of Empire"), on the larger Twins Records label.
The album reached the national top 40 and Zarpa toured extensively and played several major festivals.
In 1985 the group recorded a demo which was never released called "Progress".
Zarpa toured Switzerland and France in 1987, and recorded their next LP in Geneva after recording a further demo, "En Ruta Hacia Europa" ("En Route To Europe").
On completion of the recordings however, the band are so unhappy with the album that the recordings are discarded.
In 1988, with the popularity of Heavy Metal on the wane in Spain, the group disbanded and the members went their separate ways.
In 1992 Zarpa reconvened, recording the 5 song "Like A Locomotive" demo, but this is as far as their tentative reunion gets.
In 2002 a new line up of Zarpa recorded another album called "Luchadores De La Paz" ("Fighters For Peace"), reintroducing the band to old and new fans alike.
To celebrate the band's 25th anniversary, the following year saw the release of three (yes, three!) live albums, "En Vivo En Grilly", "En Vivo Sala Canaan" and "En Vivo Sala Garage".
With the release finally of the previously abandoned 1987 "En Ruta Hacia Europa", album (albeit in remixed and partially re-recorded form), coming in 2004, Zarpa signed with the German Karthago Records label and then released a brand new album called "Infierno" ("Hell").
This was the best time for Zarpa since the golden age of the group, with main man Vicente having finally found the ideal band members to realize his ever evolving musical vision.
Inspired by the resurgence of interest in Zarpa, 2007 brings a great new album called "El Yunque Contra El Martillo" ("The Anvil Against The Hammer").
In 2009 the band released their latest work, the "Iberia" album, which garnered Zarpa some of the best reviews of their career.
Here's hoping that the renewed interest in the band translates into sales and some respect for one of Spain's pioneering Heavy bands, as they're in great form just now, and it's long overdue.

ZARPA - Herederos De Un Imperio (1984) Spain

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=TNPM76NJ

DRAGONNE were an obscure US Heavy Metal quartet formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986.
As well as having that Trad Metal sound down, they were also unusually melodic for the time, Power Metal style, but could hammer it out when they wanted to like the prevalent Thrash bands of the era.
Dragonne was formed by talented guitarist Aaron Lee Appleton, who called in a favour from old friend Jeff Scott Soto when the band entered the studio in 1987.
As well as co-producing the six track demo recording, Soto also contributed backing vocals to the sessions.
Deciding to issue the recordings on vinyl, the band self released their "On Dragon's Wings" Mini LP (with a killer fantasy art sleeve), in 1988.
Just before the Mini Lp's release drummer Danny Einspahr was replaced by Chris Amesquita, and the band went on tour to drum up interest in the record.
However, despite the undoubted quality of the release, and enthusiastic audiences and reviews, no record company interest was forthcoming.
With Amesquita leaving to join former MALICE and AGENT STEEL members in Hardcore/Thrash/Crossover band THE MOFO HOMEBOYS, the band struggled on for a few months before folding in early 1989.
Original vinyl copies of "On Dragon's Wings" now change hands for silly money, thanks to the presence of JSS, the rarity of the release, and it's undoubted quality.
The Mini LP was reissued on CD by Hot Metal Records in 1993, although i believe that was a bootleg as was a later picture disc vinyl pressing.

DRAGONNE - On Dragon's Wings Mini LP (1988) USA

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WV2OZ4NT

THE HELLACOPTERS were a Swedish Hard Rock/Garage band that was formed in 1994 by Nicke Andersson, Dregen, Kenny Håkansson and Robert Eriksson.
Andersson had been the drummer for Death Metal band ENTOMBED and Dregen was taking a break from his full-time band BACKYARD BABIES.
Dregen and Eriksson had been roadies for Entombed, while Håkansson was a childhood friend of Andersson's.
The Hellacopters were initially conceived as a side project for Andersson and Dregen, but it eventually became the main songwriting and performance vehicle for Andersson.
The band released their Swedish Grammy-winning debut album "Supershitty To The Max!" in 1996.
Just before a tour opening for KISS, the band recruited keyboardist and percussionist Anders Lindström on a part-time basis; he would become a full-time member in 1999.
After 2nd album, "Payin' The Dues", in 1998, Dregen left the band to return to Backyard Babies full-time, and Mattias Hellberg and Danne Andersson were recruited to complete the band's touring responsibilities.
After the release of "Grande Rock", which featured additional guitar playing from both Lindström and Hellberg, Robert "Strings" Dahlqvist was hired as a full-time lead guitarist in 1999.
With the lineup now solidified, the band released three more studio albums, a "best of" album and an album of cover versions, with many EP's, singles, split albums and limited edition vinyl releases issued as well.
The best of the band's non-album works were collected on two compilation albums, "Cream Of The Crap" Volumes 1 & 2.
During these years the band were recognized as one of the most influential and prolific groups from Scandinavia, and toured all over the world, usually as headliners, but also with the likes of ZZ TOP, THE HIVES and THE ROLLING STONES.
The Hellacopters disbanded amicably in 2008 so the members could move on to other projects.

THE HELLACOPTERS - BBC : The John Peel Session (1999) Sweden

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=36OJGOGO

American Heavy Metal/Hard Rock quintet FURY were formed in Hamilton, Ohio way back in 1978.
After numerous line up reshuffles, the band stabilized around 1981, building up a strong live following in the Ohio area.
Debuting in 1983 with the six song "Fury" Mini LP on their own Furious Records label, the band took a step up locally, supporting national touring acts passing through Ohio.
1984 saw the departure of singer Don Delph and bassist Pat Bishop, who were quickly replaced by Ronnie Roch (Vocals) and Dave Marcum (Bass).
Keen to keep up their momentum, Fury were soon back in the studio to record a brand new EP.
Issued in 1984, the four song "Sharp Knives, Heavy Chains" EP, appeared on the now re-christened Furyous Records.
However, the band were to fall apart soon after the EP's release, leaving Fury as a footnote in the Metal history books.
In the intervening years, both of the band's scarce releases have become top dollar collectibles, and remain a damn fine listen.

FURY - Sharp Knives, Heavy Chains EP (1984) USA

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WQGL9QX5

Here's a contribution from blog visitor Rob Rob, thanks very much mate, it's greatly appreciated!
Over to Rob Rob:
Hi there,
here's a tape transfer of a band called CEZAR from Kendal, Cumbria.
Some great Keys on this from Gavin Bull (who went on to play with BIG AMONGST SHEEP).
Don't have all the songtitles - "Manhattan Skyline" has an awesome riff to it - but the last track is a bit of a funky workout!
Shame this didn't make it to vinyl, it would have been a NWOBHM classic!
Sorry, don't know Bassist!
Cheers and a merry xmas!!
Rob--Rob

CEZAR - Demo (1980) UK

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7JGVLQPD

Next, another visitor contribution, this time from Gifford, who's gone further back in time to dig up something rare for you all.
If you like dark, fuzzy Psychedelic Garage Rock you folks are in for a treat.
Awesome pick Gifford!
THE MUSIC MACHINE was an American Garage Rock and Psychedelic band from the late 1960's, headed by singer-songwriter Sean Bonniwell and based in Los Angeles.
The band's sound was defined by their fuzzy Guitars and Farfisa Organ, which complimented their often dark and brooding music.
The group came together as THE RAGAMUFFINS in 1965, but became The Music Machine in 1966.
In addition to Bonniwell, the original line-up consisted of Ron Edgar (drums), Mark Landon (guitar), Keith Olsen (bass), and Doug Rhodes (organ).
Their original look consisted of all-black clothing and a single black glove.
Their debut album, "(Turn On) The Music Machine", was released in 1966 on the Original Sound label.
The single, "Talk Talk", became a Top 20 hit in the U.S.
After a promotional tour of the U.S., the rest of the original line-up (Edgar, Landon, Olsen, and Rhodes), left Bonniwell, due to internal conflicts.
Rhodes and Edgar subsequently teamed with Curt Boettcher and others to record as part of THE MILLENIUM.
In 1967, The Music Machine were signed to Warner Bros. and re-named THE BONNIWELL MUSIC MACHINE.
A self-titled LP was released that year, made up mostly of previously recorded singles with the original line-up.
The recording spawned no big hits, despite the inclusion of a few more pop-oriented songs.
A third Music Machine album was recorded but never released.
In 1969, Bonniwell released a solo album called "Close", on the Capitol Records label under the name T.S. BONNIWELL.
The recording received minimal label support and displeased Bonniwell enough that he left the music business altogether.
He entered a period of spiritual quest and internal soul-searching, grew a beard, sold everything he owned, and drove around the U.S.
Whilst Bonniwell was off on his travels, his former manager allowed the use of 4 Music Machine songs in the soundtrack to the film "The Helter Skelter Murders".
Also known as "The Other Side Of Madness", the movie was released in 1970 and was a low budget flick about the murders commited by followers of Charles Manson.
Bonniwell was extremely upset that his music had been used in the film, where it appeared alongside 2 songs performed by Manson himself.
A soundtrack EP for the movie was briefly made available in 1970, before being hastily withdrawn at Bonniwell's insistence.
This in turn led to the EP being bootlegged, adding to the notoriety of the record, with originals and even early bootlegs on the Cream Records label now fetching high prices.
In 2000, a Bonniwell Music Machine album called "Ignition" was released on Sundazed Records.
This is a collection of songs from the unreleased 1969 album, as well as demo tracks from the band's Raggamuffin days in 1965.
In 2000, Bonniwell wrote about his life and The Music Machine in his autobiography, "Beyond The Garage".

THE MUSIC MACHINE - The Helter Skelter Murders OST EP (1970) USA

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

The final visitor contribution comes from the redoubtable Nightsblood, a long time friend of the blog.
He contributed an excellent piece of NWOBHM history for your enjoyment, which he'll now elucidate himself.
Here we have my all-time favorite heavy metal single.
North Yorkshire’s CHARGER were latecomers to the NWOBHM scene.
Front man and bassist Colin Bell had previously made the rounds with the excellent DARK HEART before also doing time with ROULETTE and HOLOSADE, though according to Kerrang Bell had moved on to his next project- CHARGER- by mid 1987.
In fact, CHARGER had already made their vinyl debut in 1986 on Ebony’s ‘The Metal Collection Volume 1’ compilation with a song not-so-inventively titled ‘Rock’.
CHARGER’s only other release was the 1987* ‘Desperadoes’ single, housed in an excellent monochrome sleeve depicting a chimera.
The songs on display are much more advanced than their compilation debut.
‘Desperadoes’ is a bona-fide barn-burner, with a powered-out, relentless drive akin to JAGUAR’s ‘Axe Crazy’.
Bell is in fine form, and his tough, energetic delivery fits the proto-power metal style perfectly.
Flipside ‘Are You Out There?’ is another energetic affair, though this tune has a more anthemic structure with a chorus meant to be sang along to be legions of fist-pumping, adoring fans.
Except that the legions never materialized, and the band eventually faded into obscurity, a series of support slots for TYGERS OF PAN TANG likely being the highlight of their all too brief existence.
Legend has it copies of the single were given away through a local fish and chips shop, proving yet again that yesterday’s dinner tray is today’s rare, high-dollar NWOBHM gem.
* Note that some debate remains concerning the single’s release date.
However, given the timeline of Bell’s departure from HOLOSADE, the band’s appearance on the 1986 compilation, and a Kerrang review of the single in late 1987, the available evidence makes the 1987 date pretty concrete in my opinion.
Nevertheless, certain people and archival websites continue to insist on a release date as early as 1984 without providing any supporting proof.
Boo.
Information for this entry was taken from Malc Macmillian’s ‘The NWOBHM Encyclopedia’.
Credit for the rip goes to Terry Hanchin (BOULDER)- thanks Terry!
And sincere thanks to you too Nightsblood, from all at NILOOB.

CHARGER - Desperadoes Single + 1 (1987) UK




















http://www.divshare.com/download/13462154-2b4

And finally, here's my last contribution for the evening.
Cleveland Ohio quintet THE DEAD BOYS evolved out of the band ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS, and were originally called FRANKENSTEIN.
When the band members relocated to New York City in July 1976, they adopted the Dead Boys moniker which came from the RFTT song "Down In Flames".
Moving to New York City at the encouragement of Joey Ramone, the RAMONES' lead singer, the Dead Boys quickly gained notoriety for their outrageous live performances.
They frequently played at the legendary Punk Rock club CBGB, and in 1977 they released their classic debut album, "Young, Loud and Snotty", on Sire Records.
Their single, "Sonic Reducer" is often regarded as one of the classics of the punk genre.
Sire Records pressured the group to change their look and sound to appeal more to the U.S. mainstream, and this contributed to Dead Boys breaking up in 1979 following the release of the "We Have Come For Your Children" LP.
Several 1979 performances were featured in the 1980 Punk Rock film, D.O.A..
A few months after the breakup the band had to reunite to record a live album and thus fulfill their contractual obligations, however, to exact revenge on the label, Bators purposely sang off mic and the resulting recording was unusable.
When the material eventually surfaced as the "Night Of The Living Dead Boys" LP on Bomp! Records, Bators had re-recorded his missing vocals in the studio.
Cheetah Chrome went on to record solo records, as well as playing on albums by RONNIE SPECTOR and JEFF DAHL.
Post-Dead Boys, Bators recorded the solo LP, "Disconnected", before forming THE WANDERERS, who released a lone LP, "Only Lovers Left Alive", in 1981.
The same year Bators co-starred in the satirical John Waters film, Polyester.
Bators then formed LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH with Brian James from THE DAMNED and Dave Tregunna from SHAM 69.
They released three studio albums on IRS Records, and had a few minor hit singles.
The Dead Boys reformed for several gigs in 1987, and recorded a new single, the 2 song 12" "All The Way Down", on Relativity Records.
A live album from the reunion shows was released in 1988, called "The Return of the Living Dead Boys", in mainland Europe, it was retitled "Liver Than You'll Ever Be", everywhere else.
Bators made a memorable cameo appearance in 1988 as "Dick Slammer", lead singer of "The Blender Children", in the offbeat comedy movie, Tapeheads.
In 1990, due to injuries sustained after having been hit by a taxi, Stiv Bators sadly died in Paris, France, aged just 40.
Dave Tregunna said that Bators, a fan of THE DOORS' Jim Morrison, had earlier requested that his ashes be spread over Morrison's Paris grave and that his girlfriend complied.
However, director John Waters denies this, saying that Bator's girlfriend snorted his ashes!
The Dead Boys re-released their first album in 1997 as "Younger, Louder & Snottier", mastered from a tape of the original rough mixes.
In 1999, the original rough mixes for the second album were also released as the "3rd Generation Nation" album.
In 2003, after the release of archive "The Day The Earth Met The Rocket From The Tombs", Cheetah Chrome reformed ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS.
The reincarnation of the group toured, and in 2004 entered the studio to record some of the band's old material for the first time.
These recordings were released as "Rocket Redux".
In September 2004, the remaining members of the DEAD BOYS re-formed for a one-off gig in Cleveland.
In 2005, they played a benefit show for CBGBs and then played a final reunion show on Halloween.
Chrome now plays with NEW YORK DOLLS guitarist and long time friend, Sylvain Sylvain in a band called BATUSIS, who are due to release a debut album in 2011.
Dead Boys are now rightly recognized as one of the Punk era's most influential bands, and their songs have been covered by bands as diverse as GUNS'n'ROSES, PEARL JAM and THE HELLACOPTERS.

DEAD BOYS - All The Way Down 12" (1987) USA

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=V4LZ46VX

As usual, no password is necessary to open any of the rar files.
Where possible i've included full cover art and (hopefully) informative txt files in the rars too.
Hope you're all having a great festive season, and that Santa brought you whatever your heart desired.
Also, that you find something to make yer bells jingle amongst tonight's festive postings.
As per usual, i'd love to read what the hell you all make of the stuff we bring you on the blog, so feel free to make full use of the "comments" function below to do just that, okay?
Same goes for requests, criticisms, lavish praise and obscure recollections, i wanna read them okay?
So, that's it for now, enjoy the rest of the holidays folks, and have a great new year.