THE GLUE FLOWER

Hi folks! It's that time again.

More dusty old Rawk & Metal, exhumed from the tomb for the benefit of your ears, hearts & souls.

Before we get started i'd like to give a quick shout out to Weaselkin1.

I just got your message and will be in touch soon mate. Thanks again for all you've done.

Shall we proceed?

DOWN are a Heavy Metal quartet formed in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1991, initially just intended as a part time jam session between longstanding friends.
The material and vibe were so strong that they spawned demo recordings, which caused a widespread buzz in tape-trading circles.
Encouraged by the response, the band decided to record an album.
DOWN's 1995 debut album, "N.O.L.A.", a collision of dense groove, Southern harmony and huge riff distortion, inadvertently gained the status of a timeless Metal masterpiece.
Down was initially intended as a side project of PANTERA's vocalist Phil Anselmo and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY guitarist Pepper Keenan.
Guitarist Kirk Windstein is a member of CROWBAR and played the bass parts on the debut album too.
Drummer Jimmy Bower also plays with EYEHATEGOD and is a founder member of Crowbar.
Crowbar guitarist Todd Strange was the bass player for the band's earliest live shows.
Down, now with Anselmo's former Pantera colleague Rex Brown on bass, would return in March of 2002 with a new album, "Down II: A Bustle In Your Hedgerow".
The album debuted on the Billboard charts at No. 44, selling over 30,000 copies in it's first week of sale.
DOWN would also be a late addition to the 2002 Ozzfest touring festival, putting in their own headline performances along the way.
Phil Anselmo virtually retired from public view in the wake of the onstage murder of his erstwhile PANTERA comrade Darrell 'Dimebag' Abbott on 8th December 2004.
Speculation as to Anselmo's well-being raged throughout the year, the singer eventually revealing he had been suffering from extreme back problems that required surgery and a lengthy recuperation.
Anselmo marked his return to public performance with a March 10th 2006 concert for VH1 Classic's 'Decades Rock Live!' tribute to HEART.
A reunited ALICE IN CHAINS, would be joined by the vocalist and GUNS N' ROSES and VELVET REVOLVER bassist DUFF McKAGAN, on second guitar.
Down went back out on another high profile US tour in 2007, packaged with headliners HEAVEN & HELL and MOTORHEAD in March.
Down issued album No. 3, "Over The Under" in Spring 2007, and, as well as playing at many European Festivals, also toured Australasia with Heaven & Hell & MEGADETH.
The band then landed the coveted support slot on the 2008 METALLICA North American tour.
Anselmo underwent further surgery in April 2009, this time to repair damage to his knee.
European festival performances took the band through the summer, including a show stealing performance at the UK's Download Festival at Castle Donington.
Down parted company with Rex Brown last year, and he is now in a new band called KILL DEVIL HILL, alongside former BLACK SABBATH/Heaven & Hell/AXIS drummer Vinnie Appice.
His replacement in Down is Pat Bruders from Crowbar.
A new Down EP (likely to feature 6 or 7 songs), has been recorded and is due to be released in the Summer of 2012.
This is the first release in a projected series of four EPs which the band plan to release over the next two years.
What we have here is a great-sounding 12 song collection of pre-production demo tracks recorded before the "Over The Under", album in 2006.
10 of the twelve tracks here were re-recorded for the album proper, and a further one appeared as a bonus track on the Japanese issue.
The remaining song, "This Work Is Timeless", has apparently been reworked and re-recorded for that upcoming new EP.
These recordings are great, showing the band at their best, stripped of some of the production frills, with a raw energy and fire in their bellies.
You might even end up preferring this to the finished album, i know i do.

DOWN - Over The Under Demos (2006) USA

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, focusing 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 "Iberia" album, which garnered Zarpa some of the best reviews of their career.
A new album "Las Puertas Del Tiempo" was released on Pure Steel Records in February of this year.
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 - Luchadores De La Paz (2002) Spain

NWOBHM quartet RICOCHET were formed in Birmingham in the late '70s.The band's sole release during their life-time was the excellent "Midas Light" 7" single, released in 1980.
The single was recorded at Ginger Studios, Aldridge (where WITCHFINDER GENERAL recorded "Burning A Sinner"), and released as a "double B-side" with the nowhere-near-as-good flip-side, "Off The Rails".
Just 500 copies of the single were pressed, most of which were sold at their gigs.
Later that year Ricochet toured Germany.
At the end of the tour bassist "The Finn" opted to stay on in Germany.
The other three members returned to England and formed a brand new band called THE CANERS.
"The Finn" went on to form a new band called DAMIEN, who got a German record deal.
Over the years "Midas Light" became a highly regarded classic NWOBHM single, much sought after by collectors.
Ricochet got back together for 2 weeks in 2000 and re-recorded "Midas Light" in a Coventry studio, together with some other tracks.
These tracks along with vintage version were made available on CD through the band's website, as the six song "Midas Light" mini-album.
However the band members then went their separate ways again.
In 2005 "The Finn" was managing a music festival in Northampton, where he arranged for Ricochet to make a guest appearance.
They played "Midas Light", "Dreadnought" and "Off The Rails", and went down a storm.
In 2010 the band members converged to live on the outskirts of Birmingham, for the first time in 30 years.
After meeting up for a beer it transpired that they all missed the Ricochet times and decided to give it one more throw of the dice.
The revived band have recorded a new single, "The Blue Eyed Beggar & The Teenage Captain", and are reportedly working on a full length album.

RICOCHET - Midas Light Mini LP (1980/2000) UK

DUMPY'S RUSTY NUTS were an infamous London based band formed in 1981 by ardent biker "Dumpy" Dunnell, a character who had previously been a member of THE RIVVITS.Renowned over the years for their many appearances at biker festivals, the group was originally titled DUMPY'S DIRT BAND and the transition to DUMPY'S RUSTY NUTS came in 1981 when the frontman was joined by Mac McKenzie on bass and drummer Chris Hussey, both previously members of NUTHIN' FANCY.
Debuting on vinyl with the well received "Boxhill Or Bust" 7", the band took to the road and stayed there, playing up and down the UK constantly.
Unbelievably the band had to change its name to DUMPY'S RUSTY BOLTS to secure airplay for the 1982 "Just For Kicks" single when DJ's deemed the original band name too lewd.
Sometime afterwards, Mac McKenzie left to rejoin NUTHIN' FANCY (much later ending up as manager of THUNDER) and was replaced by Jeff Brown, although he lasted for only a short period of time before making way in 1983 for Kerry Langford.
The band suffered a severe setback in 1984 when their record label suddenly folded.
The advertised "Rock The Nation" EP never surfaced commercially although mysteriously copies came to light much later.
By 1985 the band included former TANK drummer Mark Brabbs, and this is the line-up featured on the double live "Somewhere In England", album.
This release kept the band in the public eye and is a great representation of their high energy (and very funny) live act.
This was then followed by the six-song studio "Hot Lover" Mini LP, released by Gas Music Limited Records in early 1986.
However, Brabbs then quit after just over a year's membership and left the fold with Langford in early 1986.
The pair were promptly replaced by bassist Alan Fish and drummer Mick Kirton, both ex-GROUNDHOGS.
Fish was also a veteran of NWoBHM band ZORRO, a founder member of TREDEGAR and was involved with AUTOLAND COMMAND.
The band's line-up remained ever fluid, even at one point seeing bassist Alan Davey and drummer Danny Thompson on temporary leave from HAWKWIND, Fish having departed to form EGYPT.
Ex CLOVEN HOOF guitarist Mick Grafton was also enlisted for a short stint, whilst yet another bassist, Graham Le Mon, joined in 1987 , the same year that the "Get Out On The Road" album was issued.
This record also featured HAWKWIND mainman DAVE BROCK as a guest artist, who later tapped Kirkton to join him in that band.
In 1991 the band released a cover version of JO JO GUNNE's "Run, Run' Run" as a single, but while DUMPYS RUSTY NUTS are still a going concern, no further product has surfaced.
Dumpy himself is also now a sometime member of the venerable psychedelic institution we know as HAWKWIND.

DUMPY'S RUSTY NUTS - Hot Lover Mini LP (1986) UK

Formed in the wake of RIOT's initial folding in 1984, NARITA (originally named MARK REALE PROJECT), featured Riot`s main man Mark Reale, and three former S.A. SLAYER members, bassist Don Van Stavern, Steve Cooper on vocals and drummer Dave McLain.Recording a three song demo tape, Narita got strong radio exposure in the middle part of the USA and from their hometown (San Antonio, Texas) station 99.5 KISS-FM, that led to a very successful string of live shows.
This demo and project serves as a bridge between the more traditional Hard Rockin' Metal of Riot's early years (1975-1984) and the speedier Power Metal of the "Thundersteel" album.
What makes this demo especially noteworthy is that two of the songs, "The Feeling Is Gone" and "Liar," were never re-recorded to appear on a Riot album.
This is especially important, because these should definitely have made it onto a record.
Both are more commercial tunes, with melodic choruses, driving verses, and synthesizers.
They are both strong songs, but the highlight of the demo is a rendition of a song familiar to every Riot fan, the title track of their 1988 album, "Thundersteel."
The version here is absolutely crushing.
The tempo is blazing, and McLain's drums push to the floor and dominates the song.
A fantastic track, and a thrilling performance.
Overall, this is essential listening for Riot fans, as well as anyone who enjoys quality Heavy Metal.
Mark Reale was convinced to resurrect Riot in early 1986, with only bassist Don Van Stavern joining him in the new line up from Narita.
Narita vocalist Steve Cooper later fronted Juggernaut on their 1987 "Trouble Within" album.
Cooper sadly passed away from kidney failure in 2006. He was just 47 years old.
Drummer Dave McLain also briefly passed through Juggernaut's ranks, before joining CATALEPSY in late 1986.
After Catalepsy's 1988 dissolution, McLain passed through the ranks of MINISTERS OF ANGER, before joining MURDERCAR.
From 1991-1997 McLain was a member of SACRED REICH, appearing on the "Independent" and "Heal" albums.
Since 1997, McLain has been a member of San Francisco's MACHINE HEAD.
I dug this demo out to upload after hearing the sad news that Mark Reale sadly passed away on January 25th, 2012 in San Antonio, Texas due to complications arising from Crohns Disease.
R.I.P. Mark.
Shine On.

NARITA - Narita Demo (1985) USA

To be honest, i have been able to find out almost nothing about the obscure NWOBHM act, THE STEVE CROWTHER BAND.The Internet has very little available information, so just about everything i have discovered about them has come from the record's label itself.
For starters, they were a trio made up of (surprise, surprise), Steve Crowther (Vocals, Bass & Keyboards), Kev Prockter (aka "Kevin Gibb"), on Guitar & Keyboards and Drummer M. Saggers.
They appear to have hailed from either London, or from nearby Essex.
They released just this one uber-scarce 7" single, a 1982 release featuring two songs, "Red Herring" and "My Machine", on SMK Records.
It's one of those odd releases which sounds quite unlike any other band under the NWOBHM umbrella, but is definitely heavy enough to warrant the tag.
"Samantha's picking flowers in the minefields again", they sing, and it's not too long before you find yourself singing along.
Trust me, this isn't a Powerpop or Prog release tagged as "NWOBHM" by unscrupulous record dealers, it's the real, but very odd, deal.
However, i can't think of any other band with a sound quite like the refined and unique audio-thuggery peddled by The Steve Crowther Band.
After the demise of the band, guitarist Kev Prockter changed his surname to "Gibb", and passed through the ranks of THE RAVE, RITUAL, NO SWEAT, MAYHEM DERANGED and FIXATER over the years.
He appears to be the only member of the band who carried on making music, and is still playing to this day.

THE STEVE CROWTHER BAND - Red Herring/My Machine 7" (1982) UK 

Finally, i'm pleased to bring you something a little different, from a little further back in time and even rarer than usual.As the previous posts of stuff like PROUD FLESH and THE UP went down so well with you all, (terrible pun intended), i'm gonna try to make it a regular feature to delve back into the mists of time to bring you some uber-rare early Heavyosity.
We'll be lifting the lid on all things Proto-Metal to bring you some real obscurities and oddities from the late '60's & early '70's.
Every genre of music has it's unsung pioneers and trailblazers who never get their due, and the world of Rock & Metal is no different in that respect.
I think it's about time that someone sings the praises of some of those acts who planted the seeds from which the genre blossomed.
As no-one else is volunteering their services, it looks like that "someone" is gonna have to be me.
To begin this new feature properly i thought i'd introduce you all to J.C. HEAVY.
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
J.C. HEAVY were a UK Hard Rock quintet formed in Manchester in 1969 with the specific intent to relocate to, and work in West Germany.
Initially forming under the name HEMLOCK, the band featured Josephine Massaphia on Vocals, Neil Levine on Guitar, Bassist Kenny Anders, Keyboard player Darryl Ogden and Drummer Paul Murray.
Before leaving the UK for Germany in late 1969, Ogden & Murray opted to leave the band, being replaced by ex-MONEY members John Hajok and John Needham.
Once in Germany, the band went to work with a vengeance, touring extensively in their converted ambulance tour bus.
As well as playing dates with contemporaries like JERONIMO, PROUD FLESH, ORANGE PEEL and LITTLE FREE ROCK, they also supported larger touring acts such as Noel Redding's post-JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE group, FAT MATTRESS.
Following an appearance at the Progressive Pop Festival '70 in Koln, where they played on a bill which featured DEEP PURPLE, THE KINKS & PROCUL HARUM, J.C. Heavy were offered a recording deal by Admiral Records.
The first fruits of this liason was a quickly issued 7" single which paired the songs "Mr. Deal" & "That Woman's Mind".
This single was also licensed for release in other European territories such as Holland and Spain, but the Spanish Explosion Records issue switched the track order, with "That Woman's Mind", becoming the A-Side.
Somehow or other, amidst all this activity, Josephine Massaphia and Neil Levine also found the time to get married.
The new Mr & Mrs Levine (and band), also made time to appear at the huge Open Air Rock Circus festival, sharing a bill with heavyweights Deep Purple, STEAMHAMMER, EDGAR BROUGHTON BAND and BLACK SABBATH, and with rock'n'roll pioneers BO DIDDLEY & CHUCK BERRY.
Despite healthy sales of the single release in Germany, the 45 had sunk without a trace in it's other European releases, and thus their follow-up 7" only received a German release.
That second 7", which coupled "Do What You Like", with "Is This Really Me?", was issued in 1971, and found the band playing Heavier & fuzzier than the prior release, and forging a more individual sound.
Sadly, it was to prove to be the band's swan song, as poor distribution scuppered sales, the gigs began to dry up, and exhausted and frustrated, J.C. Heavy called it a day in early 1972.
After JC Heavy's split, guitarist Neil Levine went on to spend many years working as road manager for 10CC. He was 10CC mainman Lol Creme's cousin, and they'd played together in a '60's band called SABRES.
Bassist Kenny Anders later reappeared in 1974 as a member of Manchester's PEACE OF MIND, before later joining WAYNE FONTANA & THE MINDBENDERS. He now runs Legends 60's bar in the Canary Islands
Keyboard player John Hajok now lives in Bolton and runs his own accountancy business.
Over the years the band's two singles have become sought after collectors items, amongst those seeking obscure Proto-Metal thrills, with the 2nd single in particular starting to command a hefty price tag, due to it's scarcity.
In 1996, "Is This Really Me?", was compiled on the album "200 Feet Deep In A Purple Idea : Incredible Sound Show Stories Vol. 3", issued by Dig The Fuzz Records on vinyl LP only.
In 2009, the two songs from J.C. Heavy's debut single were collected on the "Electric Asylum 2 : British Psychedelic Freakrock Rarities", compilation CD issued by Past & Present Records.

J.C. HEAVY - Mr. Deal 7" (1970) UK

And i think that's more than enough goodies for you to be getting on with!If things look a little different on the page, it's because Blogger has just had an extensive update and overhaul, and i now have no idea what i'm doing as a result.
It was always tricky glitchy software to work with, so in time the overhaul may prove to have significant benefits, but at the moment i have to admit that i'm more or less just groping in the dark, utterly clueless.

I think the new "ultra-vintage" section needs a catchy title, but the ole grey matter just ain't sparking at the moment. Any suggestions gratefully received. I'd turn it into a competition if i had anything to give away as a prize, but i don't.
Just for your information, and to save me getting whined at, the links on this post at Mirrorcreator do not have a Mediafire option.
It's not my doing (or Mirrorcreator's for that matter), rather Mediafire have withdrawn from their arrangement because their site is currently inundated with huge amounts of traffic in the wake of what happened to Megaupload, Filesonic etc.
I know that Mediafire had rapidly become the host of choice lately, but many other hosting sites are every bit as good.
I've spread the uploads around the remaining options available through Mirrorcreator, so in the interest of getting the best service here, could you try one or two of the more obscure hosts and let me know which ones work best and worst, so i can tailor my mirror options to the most user-friendly options?
Many thanks.
Thanks as always to everyone who takes the time to comment on the posts here.
I very much enjoy reading what you have to say, both positive and negative, about the work we do here, please keep the feedback coming.
Phew, i'm done for now, see you back here in 3-4 for more more more.