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ELIXIR - MINDCREEPER(MAJESTIC ROCK / CD´2006) UNITED KINGDOM
I remember with pleasure their live audience back in 2006 at the KEEP IT TRUE festival.Unbe lievable tight and catchy was there the set of this still alive and active NWOBHM heroes. A foretaste for this new album was the prerelease of the fantastic track KNOCKING ON THE GATES OF HELL on their former label TPL RECORDS ( www.tpl.se ). This famous compostion really sounds like a relic of the good old days of Heavy Metal. So the exicting for the next studiorecording is packed full of hopes.During many other of the surviving NWOBHM legends leave step by step their roots as for example TYGERS OF PAN TANG or JAGUAR this vetera ns didn´t deviate from their
curse...! Straight with the opening DON´T TRUST THE PREACHER over the agile title track to melodic NWOBHM pearls as HOT METAL or the pre single release KNOCKING AT THE GATES OF HELL sprea ds this fifth release the real metal anthem. The dry but transparent production helps to bann the liste ner to this ten tracker. Believe in me, if you still cry for the old days of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal mania you will be absolute statiesfied with this fine album. I am sure if you try out this latest publica tion by
ELIXIR you will be infected. More or less you will have than no other choi ce as to collect the whole back catal ogue which is now completly rereleased by MAJESTIC RECORDS. A good start is maybe the LIVE al bum. Packed with seventeen good produced cutsis this live recording from the Ruskin Arms club in London an essentinal help to con quer the timeless classics of this veterans. Together with the actual MIND CREEPER cd offers the album a bright spectrum to their past and present recordings. Another must buy item too is of course the legendary debut THE SON OF ODIN. Find out lot´s of more interesant and helpful infos and details under www.coldtown.com/elixir and of course inside myspace too. Absolute pity is that their fantastic label MAJESTIC RECORDS is in the meantime disfunct. By the moment the group search for a new record deal. So hopefully a new firm will sign this great band soon. It would be a shame to hear no more new recordings from this fantastic band. article by Gerald Mittinger 
LYADRIVE - ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE(MINORITY ONE RECORDS 08 / CD´1998) UNITED KINGDOM
I know that this release is now exact ten years back and the album is meanwhile hard to get. But to search and run the web for this overlooked masterpiece is a well worth action. But let´s start in the wright sequence let´s go back to the late NWOBHM. Relativ late published the band in 1984 their only single ANYTIME/WHITE DRESS for the little Bridge label. Before the North London based quartett were featuring at the METAL WARRIORS compi lation (EBONY RECORDS) with WE´VE GOT THE ROCK too. I think this contribution to this sampler helped them a lot to become at this time more famous. Of course all three compo sitions are a part for this unique disc. The starter for ANOTHER TIME,ANOTHER PLACE is the melodic but catchy SIGN OF THE HUNTER To take a look back the boys started the group back in 1981 under the name TEMPEST RIDE untill they changed their name in 1983 into the more mystic LYADRIVE. Their roots are clear manifest in the haytime of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. During SIGN OF THE HUNTER sounds in my ears straight in the tradition of the early single pro ductions of this time is the strong single -A- tracker ANOTHER TIME, ANOTHER PLACE for me one of the NWoBHM hymns forever. The next follow DANGERLINE is a hectic and raw uptempo rocker. By the way the cd booklet informs that the 11 tracks are rerecorded at the FFG Studios Bredon, Gloucestershire between autumn 1996 and spring 1997. So this restored material convince us with a great sound quality. A good idea is to cover ONE OF THESE DAYS from the other great NWOBHM heroes TRESPASS.This perfect covertune fits perfect besides their own compositions. One of the most outstanding rockers on the album is then SPINNING THE WHEEL. A typic british metal track followed with MADAM GUILLOTINE (no, this is not a TOKYO BLADE cover).Constant but in a more rockin style acts FOOLS PARADISE during WHITE DRESS is this kind of a remindable NWOBHM smasher. STEAL THE NIGHT AWAY starts with a lovely acoustic intro duction before the song wins on dynamic and turns into a fast metal track. ANYTIME was original published together with WE´VE GOT THE ROCK as a vinyl single. Both tracks are highly recomended stuff. Not really my cup of tea is the closing punky cut of the regular set LAZERWIND. But it doesn´t matter because this fine recording contains as bonus the never published tracks from the in 1984 planed EP. So we have the pleasure to listen the amazing metal runner WE´VE GOT THE ROCK. I am glad the group include this all time classic together with the energetic YOUNG LOVER on this disc. The majestic growing HERE COMES THE NIGHT ends then with class this final chapter. Of course I don´t have a constant wesite were you can order this disc. But maybe the success could be great if you check the NWOBHM sec tion by VINYL TAP. www.vinyltap.co.uk . I think there will be out also a release under the title THE SANDS OF TIME on HR RECORDS. www.high-roller-records.de . article by Gerald Mittinger
SNOWBLIND - DEMOCRACY(MAJESTIC ROCK MAJCD065 / CD´2005) UNITED KINGDOM
I remember exact when in 1985 the debut album from this Surrey based quartett comes in the shops. At this time there was a big rumour because some of the bandmembers like GEOFF GILLESPIE (bass) and TONY MASON (vocals) where former in the well known SABRE. As I finally catched then a copy of this vinyl which was published through the famous MAUSOLEUM RECORDS company my surprise was big. Instead to listen the awaited NWOBHM sound,offered us this vinyl a more polish pomped styled AOR-ish character. Close to minor british lightacts like BABY TUKOO or the allstar project by DENNIS STRATTON which firmed under the monkicker LIONHEART. Of course It wasn´t really a disappoint but it took years since I became familar with this recording. By the way some of the better tracks like CHASING THE DRAGON or the good tune POSSESSION earned at this time my interest. But more or
less didn´t attract me the whole album not to much. Actual through the release of the DEMOCRACY cd I gave the album again a spin. Ok, my opinion about this offi cial release didn´t changed in a view points, but I become an absolute believer for the now restored demo recordings on this MAJESTIC RECORDS rerelease. If we keep listen the before mentioned POSSESSION in the original version fast we come to the imagination how could sound this album really. During the opening track ON OUR OWN is an american sounding AOR-tune changed with the harder arranged more in the typic british style running LOOK ON UP the mood. From now on guitars dominate the material. Catchy with the trademarks of an acceptable NWOBHM song convince our attention now PRIDE BEFORE A FALL. Even more melancoly starts the great POSSESSION before this majestic compo sition turns into a timeless melodic pearl.Suberb reigns then my favorite
track CITY DREAMS. On and on british styled absolute compatible sounding in the great tradition of the NWOBHM groups in the era around 1982/1983 sounds also the big MOUNTAIN HIGH. Basic in the powerballad section is the home of the cut SNOWBLIND. Maybe the describition could be here a hybrid somewhere bet ween MAGNUM and SHOGUN. Again a tick more energetic is the stumpin LOOK ON UP. All the time I´m very impressed by the stunnin guitarwork of the axemans ANDY SIMMONS and ROSS BINGHAM . The disc contains further remixes of the first demo recordings as bonustracks. So it´s interesant how raw sounds PRIDE BEFORE A FALL and POSSESSION with the original singer TONY MASON. Last but not least earns the group so finally the wright consideration.I know meanwhile is the label MAJESTIC RECORDS disfunct, but with a bit of luck it should be no problem to reach a copy of this recomendable album. I am also not sure if there exists a CD rerelease of the official SNOWBLIND album via the reborn MAUSOLEUM RECORDS company but if you still own a recordplayer grab this vinyl from your forgotten collection and give em a spin. I am sure you will be surprise after all this years about this recording too...!!! article by Gerald Mittinger
CHATEAUX - FIGHT TO THE LAST! THE ANTHOLOGY(CASTLE MUSIC/SANCTUARY RECORDS DCD´2003) UNITED KINGDOM
Old habits die hard...!!! I remember I was 15 years old when the first CHEATEAUX album cames into the shops. Fast turned this raw edged british piece of metal to one of my favorites.By the way from the beginning untill to day I have a favour for this typic sounding Ebony Records bands like SAVAGE, PREYER, RANKELSON and even CHATEAUX!!! But back to this fantastic styled compilation which is a real gift for every lover of the NWOBHM area.So this double disc starts with the first lifesign the 1982 released single YOUNG BLOOD/FIGHT TO THE LAST (EBONY REC.9) of the Gloucestershire trio. During the A-side track YOUNG BLOOD was a mid running early NWOBHM tune packed me the B-side hymn FIGHT TO THE LAST. No wonder that this compilation firms under this headline.It seems that CHATEAUX
shared together with GRIM REAPER and SAVAGE at this haytime in the metal histo ry a big success.It wasn´t a hidden secret so EBONY RECORDS invest in the mid lands based act and published in the following year their first fullength effort under the promising title CHAINDED AND DESPERATE. Wright from the start was this gui tar dominate driven album a bolt. Steve Grimmet of the incredible GRIM REAPER helped out the boys in the studio with some vocallines. In fact the album was and be is still a runner.The catchy titletrack with his memindable chorusline followed by the overhelming madness catching smasher SPIRIT OF CHATEAUX(orginal the band firmed under the name STEALER and changed into the french origin CHATEAUX.Inside the liner notes to this dics we can read that it is something of a my stery why they did change into this name). But to continue with the third inmortal cut BURN OUT AT DAWN was the battle for new believers fast won. The mean driven force behind CHATEAUX was the guitarist TIM BROUGHTON. His fantastic
guitar playing contains for me untill today (...and if you read the liner notes of the album booklet by MALCOLM DOME too...) some of the best combinations of fast and brutal heavy riffs and epic styled parts. A short ripping masterpiece as the before mentioned BURN OUT AT DAWN or the acoustic introduced epic masterpiece THE DAWN SURRENDERED offer so much more as the most present releases.Close to the fast running tracks of the debut album by SAVAGE (LOOSE `N LETHAL) acts then STRAIGHT TO THE HEART. Don´t ask me why the next number firms under the title BATON ROUGE but fact is that this stumpin´ tune is with his raw arrangement an absolute NWOBHM compatible track too. Also the next number is a kind of hamage to an american city. Weird guitarlicks opens SON OF SEATTLE and with a slight late 70ies undertone is this doomy creepin monster one of my absolute faves on this recording. Of course the closing track on CHAINED AND DESPERATE is also into this epic and waltzing creepy heavy style. For me yet anothher masterpiece and acts unnder the promising title SHINE ON FOREVER. Till today I wonnder why didn´t reach this fantastic band reach a bigger audience. It´s crab to rethink after so many years about the reason´s but it´s a shame that CHATEAUX hadn´t the chance to break out from their underground status. In 1984 at a time as the second prephase of the New Wave Of Bristish Heavy Metal slowly came to an end saw the second effort FIRE POWER the light of the world. Mainman TIM BROUGHTON presented a new line-up with CHRIS DADSON 
(previously with SAM THUNDER) and the new bassist/vocalist KRYS MASON. MALCOLM DOME wrote in his coments that a lot of people was after this release the opinion that CHATEAUX lost their sense of individuality. Now briefly five teen years after the publishing of HIGHLY STRUNG I am still amazing of this timeless heavy classic.Maybe the opener ROCK´N ROLL THUNDER is with his commercial touch not the awaited metalbash after the strong former album. But the following ROLLER COASTER offers then a first fine blend of high class british Heavy Metal. Sure Steve Grimmet enoble with his markant voice CHAINED AND DESPERATE. But without a doubt does Mr. KRYS MASON also a great job. I prefer it also a lot how he pitch the authentic fast runninng metal tracks with his traditional metal compatible voice to a higher level. It´s an absolute pleasure for me to listen a fast running cut as HERO and at the other hand an rollin and mysty arranged heavy tune like EYES OF THE STONE. The legions of SAXON and PRIEST fans which hadn´t heard untill now of this uncut diamonnd should listen only one time such a pearl as RUN IN THE NIGHT. For me cele brates the trio there incredible good timeless NWOBHM stuff. Also the speedy and ownstanding WHITE STEEL acts high above over the standart. On and on typic early 80ies british steel delivers than the riffhammer STREET ANGEL. Smashing up tempo speed laden hectic metal a bit in the style of RAVEN is the label of the closing track V8 CRASH. Perhaps some of my readers will follow now my opinion that the band didn´t imitate there anything. Meanly the trio follows their own musically character and didn´t disappoint with FIRE POWER. The last chapter in the history of CHATEAUX started in 1985 when their third album HIGHLY STRUNG cames into the shops.Full of hopes to reach a bigger audience and the acceptance 
in and outside of the empire returned they back to the basic of the debut album. Very strong starts the album with the amazing titletrack in the best NWOBHM manier.Oh my god what a great opener. I am sure thousands of bands would be very proud if they had such a timeless smashing composition in their repotoire. Metal, metal and more british un bentable original NWOBHM on high level delivers also TURN IT ON. Ouch A HOT TOUCH AT MIDNIGHT is a recomend able street running dangertune. Rammin and batterin tons of steel can we listen inside PHALANX during CHASE THE SUN convince the metal maniac with filigrane guitarparts. I know I repeat my own opinion but KRYS MASON is an own class who set´s the tracks on fire. Unbelieveable strong Heavy Metal tracks down then THROUGH THE FIRE. Fast edged with the wright skill runs FIRST STRIKE.Moderate but still on high level with a slight commmercial touch reigns ONE TOO MUCH. Bach to the early days of CHATEAUX leads us then the fantastic marchin MIDNIGHT STAR. Thank´s god and the team of CASTLE MUSIC that they find the courage and engagement to restore this highly recom ended pearls on this lovely styled compilation. Maybe one of the reasons that the band run successless behind their fame was the missing of touring outside their home country. As MALCOLM DOME wrote in his liner notes was the band outside great britain in whole europe a bigger name. CHATEAUX split up a couple of years after the release of the famous HIGHLY STRUNG album but their timeless metal will life forever in our metal hearts. If you don´t know untill now their recordings check out this exclusive compilation. www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.co.uk . article by Gerald Mittinger
DEALER - BOOTLEGGED(NO REMORSE RECORDS / CD´2008) UNITED KINGDOM
DEALER was another Gloucestershire based Heavy Metal band and one of the many recording artist which publis hed for the etablished EBONY RECORDS label an album (FIRST STRIKE) in 1986. Before the group released a rare single with the tracks BETTER THINGS TO DO/SUSPECTED FOUL PLAY in 1983 on the little local label WINDRUSH RECORDS. I think the single release awaked the interest of EBONY RECORDS and offered them the record deal.So far so good. Most of you which knows me better knowing also that I am since the beginning a die hard NWOBHM fan. But never was the FIRST STRIKE album by DEALER one of my favorite releases at this time.Musically was the group close orientated to such acts as GEDDES AXE, DEF LEPPARD and even also with one eye deep influenced from the north american hair affair club too. The recordings on this briefly published old material is from the pre-phase of their album contract. So the best to featured tracks are the mentioned single tracks. The polished remas tered material was in 1999 at the ROCK FACTORY studios rebuild. Unspecticular starts this compilation with the commercial orientated STRIP JACK NAKED. Followed from CAN U DO IT in the same style. Uh, it was the time for spandex and muscle shirts and the look for commercial success with airplay com patible compositions. Perhaps a good comparsion is also the publishing of the later TOKYO BLADE albums like BLACKHEARTS AND JADED SPADES too. But with the third track LOOK
ING FOR THE REASON the page turned. A listenable guitarwork and unpolished authentic vocallines let me awake from my disappointment. The following VICTIMS OF THE NIGHT strikes in the same great real NWOBHM manier all my doubts away. BRING THE WALLS DOWN is a suberb and recomendable heavy rocker which was also featured at THE METAL COLLECTION VOL. 2 (EBONY RECORDS vinyl compilation only). One of the most impressive tracks on this disc is in my eyes then MONEY IS yOUR PASSPORT. More simple arranged classic Heavy Metal offers us ME´N´THE BOYS. A good cross between commercial orientated heavy rock and slight NWOBHM influences is the catchy THIEF IN THE NIGHT which reminds me a bit on the old HEAVY PETTIN too.About the following single tracks SUSPECTED FOUL PLAY and BETTER THINGS TO DO is nothing more to write as that they sounding great. BOOGIE BOOZE & BIRDS is a simple sing a long heavy rocker but in badly demo/soundboard quality recorded. This interes sant compiltion ends with the epic surprise FINAL CONFLICT. So far.. my first doubt´s about this all in all with good sound quality remastered demotracks turns to dust. I think it was a good idea to publish this tracks a bigger audi ence. By the way some of the band members founded in 1987 VANDAME (which released two more A.O.R. orientated albums).Check out this com pilation and take a look at www.myspace.com/dealeruk or visit the homepage of www.onr-record.com too. article by Gerald Mittinger 
SAVAGE - LOOSE´N LETHAL(NEAT METAL RECORDS NM017 / CD´1997) UNITED KINGDOM
The SAVAGE classic album on CD for the first time, repackaged and remastered with bonus tracks! A better defi nition could be not written as from the republishing label itself !!! Original released 1983 on the legendary EBONY RECORDS label went this album fast together with the GRIM REAPER albums to one of the best selling products. But this isn´t a wonder!!!! Till today is (and will be forever...) LOOSE´N LETHAL one of the most impressive metal releases in the rich history of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Based in Nothinghamshire awaked the quar tett around CHRIS BRADLEY (vocals/bass) after the success with their single release AIN´T NO FIT PLACE/THE CHINA RUN (EBONY RECORDS) the interest of their young label. With a blistering bolt cames then 1983 this first pheno menal album in the shops. The speed ladden LET IT LOOSE opens then the album with an icredible high level. I remember when I heard the first time this tracks that I was total blown away from the intensity of the guitarwork by ANDY DAWSON and WAYNE RENSHAW. You should imagine that we wrote at this time 1983 and till this moment didn´t exist official the new corner speed metal...!!! SAVAGE start´s with the LOOSE´N LETHAL album a new chapter in the metal circuit. The second round features then the midtempo rumbler CRY WOLF. In line follows the alltime classic heavy edged NWOBHM culttune BERLIN. At the same high level rumbles down DIRTY MONEY. The well known single track AIN´T NO FIT PLACE starts misty with a stunnin guitar introduction untill the catchy hooklines runs down the line. Together with the intense vocals by CHRIS BRADLEY is this tune an absolute unforgetable metal hymn from this glorious days. ON THE ROCKS cames along with this typic NWOBHM feeling which catch your soul forever after one listen. Followed by the B side single monger THE CHINA RUN robbs me this cut my nervs and brings me to the border to the insanity. The regular playing time or this typic raw sounding EBONY RECORDS release ends finally with WHITE HOT. Natural that this one is nothing else as another molten metal classic too. Further contains this rerelase in listenable sound quality with NO CAUSE TO KILL another midtempo metal tune from the 1980 released demptape. From the same recording is also THE DEVIL TAKE YOU which convine me with this typic galloping type of metal how can celebrate it only a british band at this time. BACK ON THE ROAD is maybe the oldest recording (1979) but works acceptable too. On the backside cover of the CD is printed from their company that this classic album is for the first time repackaged and remastered, If listen specially again to my original vinyl and could not hear any difference to this CD release. But I think this isn´t really of interest. Today is it dificile and expensive to buy this release as an original intact vinyl. The three bonus tracks helps too to collect this disc. By the way the more comercial follow up HYPERACTIVE to this alltime classic is now digitally published too. For what did you wait to grab this one into your collection. Read the whole story about SAVAGE and their previous releases at their www.myspace.com/savageuk website. I know it´s not easy to find this rerelease inside regular recordshops. Perhaps you can try your luck under www.stormspell.com . It seems that this online store has an exclusive distribution deal for the LOOSE´N LETAL disc. article by Gerald Mittinger
CHARIOT - BEHIND THE WIRE(RIPPA ROCK / CD´2006) UNITED KINGDOM
Oh my dear god I´m going inzane !!! This is the return of one of my unforgotten heroes. Back in the glorious mideighties when this brits released their two classics the band was absolute underrated. First with the rerelease of their classics THE WARRIOR (1984) and the follow up BURNING AMBITIONS (1986) through MAJESTIC RECORDS as well the constant neverending interest on the band from the immense choir of NWOBHM fans came it to this great comeback. Yeäh after the split off somewhere at the end of the eighties where then involved some of the musicans inside the UK based metal act DIRTY DEEDS. Think a lot of you know `em from their contribution with STEVE HARRIS. In first line was DIRTY DEEDS the baby of PETE FRANKLIN the driven force on the guitar.But after three more or less successful albums and tours with MAIDEN and UFO was this band history too. With the disfunct start´s again the chapter CHARIOT. With a new company and lot´s of power in their back played the quartett in a new impressive work in the style of the good old NWOBHM. The titletrack opens the reign with a lot of energy. Driven british metal in the midtempo could be a good discribtion for this outstanding cut. Sometimes remindes me there their style a bit on the old SAXON too. Pure NWOBHM feeling is the anthem of the great composition COLD, HARD, CASH. It´s the guitar duo PETE FRANKLIN and PAUL LANE which returns the spirit of the good old british metal. Just listen the walzing HEART OF STONE. What a bank of a song. During the first part of SHUT OUT starts with fast guitars breaks this hectic feeling after second and the song turns in a moody heavy rocker. But this driven guitar power returns again and again for parts and give this composition a very own dynamic. With lots of feelings and heartblood agitates as next NO EMOTION. Oh yeäh, I like the vibes and the feeling which transports this midtempo rocker a lot. An absolute hymn is BELIEVE. I´m not so amuzed about the balladesc HOUR OF NEED. But it doesn´t matter cause with FEEL THE RUSH follows at hand another great typic midtempo hymn. Close to the real NWOBHM style reigns YOUR TIME HAS COME. With a good rush acts the walzing THE HUNGER during SLAVE TO THE MEMORY is a quite ballad with an emotional guitarsolo. A bit in the mood of BLACK SABBATH rules the heavy weight LOOKS DECEIVE. Of course not every track on this track really match. But the cross is of high class. I´m sure the band wins a lot of new fans with BEHIND THE WIRE. Check out their good website www.chariot-rocks.com or start a prelistening inside www.myspace.com/chariotrocks . article by Gerald Mittinger
DRAGONSLAYER - DRAGONSLAYER(STEEL KINGDOM RECORDS SKR 009 / CD´2009) UNITED KINGDOM
This recordings are a real treasure for every lover of the good old metal. Founded 1978 performed the band at their first gigs under the name HEAVY DUTY. In 1980 they changed their name in SLAYER. During this period recorded these guys two demos but nobody seems to have copies of those one. A further professional eight track demotape followed then in 1982. Even exact those tracks is the featured first part on this great compilation. With THE SLAYER opens this disc in an ultra imrresive way the reign. Classic british heavy metal high over the top so unbelieveable tight and powerful. Believe me one listen and you can´t stop to listen again and again this phenome nal stuff.
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| ruler13 | CHATEAUX - FIGHT TO THE LAST! | 0 | Feb 8 2009, 11:20 AM EST by ruler13 | ||
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Incredible fine compilation of the three albums and the single release of this premier NWOBHM heroes through CASTLE/SANCTUARY MUSIC. Check out this timeless metal masterpiece and read the story so far inside RULER13.....
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| ruler13 | ELIXIR ~ veterans of the NWOBHM | 0 | May 9 2008, 1:57 PM EDT by ruler13 | ||
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