GORDI - PAKLENI TRIO (INFERNAL TRIO)(ROCK EXPRESS REC/CD´2005) SERBIJAThat´s a real good idea to rerelease this hard to get east european classic early Heavy Metal album from 1981. So far, but let´s start in the history of GORDI. Founded in 1977 the band released three albums in the Rock / Hard Rock vein untill the release of PAKLENI TRIO (INFERNAL TRIO). But like so many acts at this time in europe changed similar GORDI with the start of the Heavy Metal mania into a harder direction. ZLATKO MANOJLOVIC the leader of the band (guitar, vocals) moved by the end of the seventies to London and saw there JUDAS PRIEST and some other heroes of this upcoming new scene. Back in Yugoslavia he fits the plan to write and publish also an album in this style. So this is the story behind their famous Heavy Metal debut PAKLENI TRIO. The songs on the album follow the lines of the NWOBHM. If you need names, ANGEL WITCH as well JUDAS PRIEST and maybe sometimes MÖTORHEAD are the main influences, during the vocals are done in their native language. Tracks like IGRAJ, LUDUJ (DANCE, GO CRAZY) or the real NWOBHM inspired tracks ONA JE ZENA (SHE IS A WOMAN) and SAN (DREAM) will be forever early heavy metal classics !!! So this is your change to hear this fine album in good sound. Also you have to pay no longer a horrible price for this original on Jugoton Records published album. If you have problems to find this cd´s try your luck maybe by mr. Alfred Roth who distributes a lot of famous east european discs: alfredrock@gmx.de or find out inside the web more informations under www.rockexpress.org . article by Gerald Mittinger
GORDI - KRALJICA SMRTI(ROCK EXPRESS REC/CD´2007) SERBIJANearly two years after the rerelease of the PAKLENI TRIO album is finally the follow up release KRALJICA SMIRTI (QUEEN OF DEATH) from 1982 out on CD. I am very happy about this rerelease! Today it´s nearly impossible to get this original on yugoton released vinyl in good a condition. And if you get one in acceptable condition you have to pay a very high price. Of course I get both albums as originals in my collection, but this lovely styled & packaged album save the vinyl ... ha,ha. In lack of the orginal mastertapes which were lost during the war time, the recording on this disc were forced from a vinyl LP.So you have the chance to keep listen now without a problem timeless heavy cuts like LOVA (DOUGH) or the thundering absolute NWOBHM influenced BLEFER (BLUFFER). I think every lover of good heavy stuff of this early period will also enjoy tracks tracks as VESTICE, DAVOLI (WITCHES AND DEMONS) or the swaping OSTA TNI DALE KO (STAY AWAY) which runs so smooth in our ears. Always over the top rules the hectic title track KRALIJICA SMIRTI as the heavy runnin UBICA U BEKSTVU (KILLE ON THE RUN too). Another recommendation is then the hard rolling DOK SI MLAD (WHILE YOU´RE YOUNG). I know for most of the collectors is the important record PAKLENI TRIO. Of course I love this album too, but for me is the real masterpiece KRALJICA SMIRTI . The members of this trio lifes today all over the world but since a time they think about a reunion tour...! So let´s cross our fingers for a return of this great group in the near future. www.rockexpress.org . article by Gerald Mittinger
LOUD CROWD - GUARDIANS(POKO RECORDS/CD´2006) FINLANDI remember when I was the first time in Helsinki back in 1990. I was inside a record store and looked for PRESTIGE and STONE records as I saw this vinyl. From this moment on LOUD CROWD was and is one of my alltime faves. Original the album was published in 1988 after two single releases. Two tracks from the single CARRY ON and GOTTA FLY AWAY are added here as bonus. Of course the whole album recording with all his fantastic tracks is included on this rerelease. Further is the recording digitally remastered at the Finnvox studios. Equal if you keep listen the powerful opener LET IT BURN or the following cut NO WAY OUT with his strong remindable lyric refrain. On and on this classic heavy / power metal album efforts high class stuff. Too bad that this new star on the zenith burst in december 1991 after such songs like BEAT THE HELL OUT OF ME (speedy classic Heavy Metal), REVENGE DOESN´T CARE (another timeless metal classic) or the more commercial acting PICK UP THE PIECES. Also RUN´ TILL YOU´E FREE, WORDS and IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR HEART are great midranged heavy tracks. My personal favorite is the ending track of the regular album time OTHER POWER. You see this record contains for every taste the wright material. Inside the little info text is written that the band had start the work for their second never released album before the broke up. In 2003 the band played a reunion show in their hometown Viaala but till today no body came on the idea to publish this second unreleased album. I still wait and hope for this one! Check out the homepageof the record company www.poko.fi. Perhaps you have the cance to order there this fine cd. article by Gerald Mittinger
ZARPA - LOS QUATRO JINETES DEL APOCALIPSIS(IBERIAN ROCKS CD´2006) ESPANABack in the summer of 1978 this legendary spanish hard and heavy band from Mislata a part of Valencia started the recording for this album. By the way at this time also other latin metal legends like BARON ROJO, LENO or COZ started their career. Another upcoming problem for the group around the FEIJOO brothers was that they were no located in Madrid or Barcelona at this time. Of course VALENCIA is the 3rd biggest town in this country but the happening in the local rockscene was in the two mentioned cities. Original this album with the translated title THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE was a low budget release by the little local promoting company ZEUS ROCK. No matter this vinyl with the brutal cover artwork was pub lished in limited edition and besides insignifant distributed. Short after the release the little recordfirm was bankrupt. No matter today is it a high priced rarity. So this rerelease is a gift for all the lovers of latin hard and heavy rock. Of course the quali ty of the songs represant the anthem of the late seventies. Of course the hooks and riffs acting from time to time hard.You can feel the vibe of Heavy sound on the hor izon. If you feel confirm with acts like the early JUDAS PRIEST or STARCHILD and NEON ROSE you also will be happy with this rerelease too.Most is the playing time of he compositions on this disc overlong.The background of some tracks is clear bluesy hardrock. A good comparsion is also too the mid seventies classic DEEP PURPLE album STORMBRINGER. My favorite track on the album is LLEGA LA DES TRUCCION which combinates all the labels about I wrote before. Check out the distribution under www.guerssen.com or take a look on the offical site under: http.//.zarpa-rock webcindario.com or use for questiones Vicente Feijoo´s mail: vfaparisizjoo@ono.com . article by Gerald Mittinger
BLACK DEAL - ESCAPE(ANDROMEDA RELIX / NEW LM RECORDS CD´2009) ITALY
BLACK DEAL hails original from Turin in Italy and were founded back in 1984 as a trio with CHRISTIAN ZANIRATO (guitar and vocals), MICHELE NALLINO (bass) and MASSIMO CAVAGLIATO (drums). Circa one year later joined finally their lead vocalist MARCO BRAGADIN the group.At this time was also for a while DANILO GHIGLIERI which some of you knows perhaps from FIL DI FERRO the second guitarist. Similar at this time published the rising group with the selftitled instrumental BLACK DEAL a first track on the legendary HEAVY METAL MADE IN ITALY compilation. This classy speedy instrumental opens also this rerelease. In June 1986 recorded the quartett finally two more songs live in the studio. The first one forms under the title LIFE and is a without a doubt a fantastic relict for the agile and impres sive italian Heavy Metal scene in those days. The remastered 2009 version guides this running classic metal tune stunnin back in my mind. Especially the outstanding guitarwork by CHRISTIAN ZANIRATO works at an incredible high level. With a technical blend and fantastic riffing convince the second tune NIGHTMARE too. By the way we only can hear on this tune as guest MAURO CAVAGLIATO on the keyboards. To manifest their status started the band at this period also a little tour across Italy with excellent results. In the follow recorded the band another fantastic seven track demo live in the studio. The ultratight with an unforgetable working riff DESERVE A LAUGHTER opens this recomendable recording. Beside this smoking stalks in the next round the slight NWOBHM influenced banger and titletrack of this rerelease ESCAPE in the ring. Very close to the style of the NWOBHM agitates then STRANGE WAY TO LOVE (PRAYING MANTIS). Behind this personal fave contains this rerelease an additional great studio recording from 1986. From the same session is also the classic metal tune KNIGHTS ON FIGHT and the raw and fast running smasher FREEDOM. Another highlight ROCK ON ends finally the short career of this promising band. Self destruction and numerous other different problems let them end to early. The lovely styled disc booklet contains a short history of the group which ends with the sad information that two of the band members lost their life. A reunion isn´t so no more possible. Your only chance to listen the great performance of BLACK DEAL is this late homage to the band. Order the album direct from the record company www.andromedarelix.com . For personal contacts you can reach MASSIMO CAVAGLIATO the original drummer of BLACK DEAL by mail under maxcav65@irgilio.it . article by Gerald Mittinger
RIFF RAFF - GIVE THE DEAD MAN SOME WATER(MASTERVOX RECORDS MVXCD 21 / CD´2007) FINLANDThat´s the great moment´s in the metallife !!! I waited and hoped a long time for the rerelease of this underrated Heavy Metal classic of the 80ies ... !!! The Oulu based quintett published this second album back in 1983. Untill today is this release together with the old OZ albums one of the absolute highlights from this country.
From the beginning with the title track to the sinister HANGMAN AT THE DAWN over the bending DRUG RUNNERS holds this record every promise. A metalhymn like SHOUT OUT´N LOUD enoble with the raw vocals by IMMU ILMARINEN is also included like a pounding metal stealer with the title DARK SIDE. I ´m sure many bands of the present metal scene would be more as glad to have such classics into their reportoire. Another remindable cut is the unforgotten SALOON FIGHTERS which banns you with his raw charme. Further contains the album a cover version of BABA O´ RILLEY and the epic final cut MOURNING VEIL. The titletrack GIVE THE DEAD MAN SOME WATER with hisincredible choruslines is based on the poem written by MAURI ILMARINEN. So it´s a great idea of MASTERVOX RECORDS to rerelease this lovely styled foldout cardsleeve together with the amazing debut album ROBOT STUDS from 1981. Take a look at www.mastervox.fi where you can order this albums easy by mail. Did there anybody heard about the members of the group ??? article by Gerald Mittinger
PANDORAS BOX - OMEN(HUNGAROTON RECORDS / CD´1999) HUNGARYFrom my view is this the most essential release of this late seventies early eighties mystic hard rockin band. After the same titeled debut and the alltime classic release KÖ KÖVON was this their third publishing in 1985. In direct competition with the two former releases created P.BOX with this recording their real masterpiece. Free from influenced worked the compositions on this LP with a very own flavour. The catchy titletrack opens the album. With a sinister atmosphere in combination of late seventies inspired hard rock and swearing vocals by VIKIDAL GYULA is this this song always on the winning line. Harder and more orientate to the eighties is the following BUKOTT ANGYALL arranged. Unbelieveable is the feeling and intensity of EJSZAKAI VAGTA. Dramatic develops this quite starting track in his continue to a mystic epic tune.
Followed from the bluesy hard rocker SZÜZ A MAGLYAN surprize the disc again with the for this time unusal arranged AZ ARU LOK KAPUJA. Lot´s of mystic and strange integrated details leads the group there close to seventies heroes like BLACK WIDOW and ELOY. Back to their hard rockin roots enjoy us than ATOK ES IGERET. This easy listening hard rocker slides a bit in the direction of other well known hungarian acts as KARTHAGO and natural OMEGA. In his country is BENSIK SANDOR a accepted and famous guitarist. He also published in this time a solo album. Together with his bandsmates plays he on this album the fantastic instrumental PANDORA TANCA. Finally the LP ends with the heavy rock classic NEVTELEN HÖS. But the record company added five good bonus tracks. Yep, the first of them is TIZBÖL VAJON MENNYI an outtake from the 1985 recording session. The song is okay. Nothing special, just an easy running hard rcok tune. But at all event worth to stand as bonus on this rerelease. On the following four tracks we hear the former vocalist VARGA MIKLOS. This disc contains the track HA LALKATLAN in two different versions. The studio edtion is okay but real essential is a grandious live recording (in perfect sound) from the KONCERTFELVETEL in 1982. After an introverting megasolo from BENSIK SANDOR with the introducing of CHOPIN´s POUR ELISE develops this track an enormous power. Also HOLGYVAL ASZ is a recording from this festival. This song acts with powerfull seventies guitar harmonies sometimes close to DEEP PURPLE. A real highlight is further the final SZUPERGEP (from the KÖ KÖVON album). Of course also this is a live tune from this famous concert in 1982. SAMU shows here an incredible good feeling on his guitar. Try out to find more informations under www.pandorasbox.hu or watch out for this collectable disc at your next hollydays at the Balaton... !!! article by Gerald Mittinger
BOMBARDER - LEDENA KRV(UTTERLY SOMBER REC. / CD´2008) SERBIJABack in 2002 was the release of this great album on the tiny serbijan record company ONE RECORDS. Since the publishing I was with the former release very unlucky because the album was only as a factory printed CDR on the market. Finally in 2008 six long years later we hold now a real pressed CD rerelease of LEDENA KRV (WHEN THE BLOOD FREEZE) in our hands. I am not sure but for my ears sounds this recording now a little bit more powerfull. The cover artwork is now in parts new styled together with a minimum of informations about the band. As well the innersleeve is decorated with some nice band photos too. Beside some of the well known thrash cuts like MOJ BOL (MY PAIN) or KULA TAJNI or ZADAH ZEMLJE (ANTHEM OF THE EARTH) in the style of KREATOR and SODOM put this little american indie label also two bonus tracks from the rare debut vinyl BEZ MILOSTI (WITHOUT MERCY) on this strong rerelease. Of course the album is easy available and easy to order from their webshop . Check out the whole release catalogue of their company www.utterlysomber.com . Now we can hope maybe also for a rererelease of the BEZ BALADS-NAJBOLJE album too. Isn´t that a great idea ??? Perhaps worth to check it out is also the SPEED KILL release by BOMBARDER where you can hear the old demostuff from 1989 of the group. It´s out on s little bosnia based label which published untill now only death metal acts. www.walkrec.tk but don´t await from this recordings a proper soundquality. This is just raw uncut Power Thrash Metal !!! article by Gerald Mittinger
CELELALTE CUVINTE - ARMAGHEDON(PROMUSIC / ZILE SI NOPTI / CD´2007) ROMANIASince so many years is this recording one of my absolute favorites in the spectrum progressive Power / Epic Heavy Metal. Original the album was recorded back in 1994 at the magic sound studio in Bukarest. The small record company VIVO RECORDS published this masterpiece together with CARGO´S - DESTIN album then in 1995. But the quantity of the published CD´s was only some hundered copies. The distribution was bad and fast runs this tiny label bankrupt. Of course I am the lucky owner of both releases, but so many people asked me over the years about the existance of this CD. Luckly now is finally the rerelease. The album is well packaged with the original cover artwork as a limited digipack cd. The band himself created linernotes and repacked the album. So there exists no more the problem to pay a horrible price for the original release. But to continue to the material on the album.
The band started someone at the beginning of the eighties. In 1985 allowed them the former communistic label ELECT RECORDS together with an other hard rock combo (EVOLUTIV) to record a split album. This first six songs were published at the FORMATII ROCK 8 compilation on vinyl. Through the success followed in 1986 then the selftitled debut. From the beginning is the at this time more hard and heavy oriantated sound full of details. In many of this early songs you can hear progressive and epic influences. In 1989 follow ed the simple "II" titled recording. This album leads the Oradea based group with a more heavy rock oriantated conception to the topliga in their country. Also during the struggle of the revolution in Romania the group don´t loose their fate. Without a record com pany in their back the recording session for the next al bum SE LASA RAU (FURTHER ANTHING BAD). First in 1992 helped them NICU ALIFANTIS. He is a popular songwriter and poet in Romania. For his small company TOJI PRODUCTIONS produce he together with CELELALTE CUVINTE this incredible Heavy Metal album. Untill today this vinyl is handled as one of the best Heavy/Power Metal releases from this country. Today it is impossible to grab this vinyl. Collectors from all around the world pay unbelieveable high prieces for this rarity. Around this time is the birth of a brandnew label in Bukarest. The owner of VIVO RECORDS starts his company at first with dancefloor productions. But he also shows interest in the metal scene. Beside CARGO he had also signs QUARTZ, TIMPURI NOI, COMPACT and even our heroes CELELALTE CUVINTE. Under the working title ARMAGHEDON published the quintett yet so
far their most impressive album. With the suberb but powerfull opener ASA E VIATA MEA (SO IS MY LIFE) enters the group around CALIN POP (guitars) this release. The next round opens then with the cut LUPII (WOLFS). A strange and mystic arranged beginning increase the feeling of fear. If you close your eyes you can imagine how does it feels if you run away from a pack of wolves in the carpates. I like this strange epic edged metal hymn a lot. NEAM BLES TEMAT means DAMNED PEOPLE. This track is as best to describe as a tristese epic metal monster and together with the monumental LUMEA DE APOI (THE LIGHT AFTER) one of the absolute highlights on this album. Close to this bombastic composition stands in line COR DE COPII (CHILDRENS CHOIR) which is in fact a mystic spoken rhyme by childrens. ARMAGHEDON the titletrack is a complex building arranged mosaik running epic tune.One listen and you never will forget this masterpiece... !!! Harsh and rough edged starts then the following BALANTA (BALANCE) and enters the doomy power metal vain. Behind this classic leads us CEL DIN RASARIT (THE ONE FROM THE EAST) again into the complex structures of technical with a doomy touch arranged epic metal. Easy and mystic like in a dreamsphere ends this yourney with the power ballad NU-I VINA MEA (IT´S NOT MY DOUBT). So far, I hope to convince with this review about this forgotten master piece lot´s of followers for intelligent created epic metal. www.celelalte-cuvinte.ro or www.myspace.com/celelaltecuvinte. For the end of this year is planed the release of a new studio recording of the still active band too. So don´t hesitate to grab you your own exemplar of this limited rerelease. article by Gerald Mittinger.
MOON OF STEEL - PASSIONS (LUCRETIA RECORDS / CD´1998) ITALY
Every follower of good classic and timeless Heavy Metal should know this italian masterpiece from 1989. Untill today is this release one of my alltime favorites. Of course I´m very happy about this perfect styled rerelease with the original coverartwork by LUCRETIA RECORDS. But let´s
turn the page of time back to 1989. I remember well as I entered at this year an italian recordstore. Suddenly my eyes catched the extravagant and wonderful packaged gatefold cover of this vinyl. Original pub lished on the tiny Bolonga based CULT´N ROSES RECORDS label which released also the first album of the glamsters SHABBY TRICK. I´ve heard a year before the first time MOON OF STEEL with their contribution SPANISH LADY for the HEAVY RENDEZVOUS (LM RECORDS) compilation. In the same year pupblished also the small company AMTAL BLADE RECORDS another compila tion under the banner NOT JUST SPAGHETTI AND MANDOLINI. Again featured this sampler with FLYIN´ HIGH a track from our heroes. From this time on I hoped for a fullength release. With those great tracks beginns and ends then the whole album. Of course for someone who never heard about MOON OF STEEL isn´t this a good describtion. The opener SPANISH LADY is an energetic classic Heavy Metal tune crowned with the superb voice by DENNIS A. RUGGERI. His markant style to interprate the emotions and harmonies is very close to GEOFF TATE of QUEENSRYCHE. Sure I know there exist all around the globe more or less good bands in this style. But MOON OF STEEL was for my opinion much more as a simple and boring follower of the QUEENSRYCHE style. In continue offers us the second effort IT WON´T BE THE REASON even a melodic edged hyperized maximum taste of this overhelming emotions. Together with the fantastic guitarduo of VIC DE LAMARE and J.J. ANGEL agitates this catchy number forever out of any time. In the third round convince us then with the epic SHY GIRL another classic eighties emotional heavy tune. In parts we can enjoy there also the female duett with LUCIA TACCONE. Good runnin stuff delivers us in the following WHEN THE CLOUDS FALL. Impressive and magical guides us the short instrumental THE MOON then into the overhelming bombast and fast arranged hymn TIME´S MARCHING FAST. Again very close in the style of the old and famous QUEENSRYCHE strikes then TONIGHT. At least sets the grandious complex arranged FLYING HIGH the final note on this masterpiece. By the way this should be the only real great album of the band. Exact ten years later returned the band with a complete other line up on the circuit. Only the basser MARCO "MOON" VACCARO and the guitarist J.J. ANGEL (GIANLUCA OLIVERI) were original members. With this change came also another musical direction. Don´t know why they didn´t used a new name for this band. With BEYOND THE EDGES followed on ADRENALINE RECORDS a four track mini disc. SARAH "J 3" BONETTI joined as new vocalist. The opening tune DID YOU HER THAT VOICE tendences a little bit in the direction of the PASSIONS session but didn´t reach this high class. More modern arranged cuts like YOU NOT ME or WE´RE NOTHING demontage there all hopes. With TONIGHT contains this mini album further an accoustic version from the PASSIONS session. SARAH´S voice is acceptable but in spite of it I can´t confirm with this performance. Later at the beginning of the new millenium fol lowed with INSIGNIFICANT DETAILS a fullength elease which I didn´t dicovered till now. I´m not sure if LUCRETIA RECORDS is still alive. But maybe you have a little chance to find there classic PASSIONS release at one of the typical mailorders. Don´t miss this one. Think it´s possible to see any pictures and to listen some snipnets under www.myspace.com/moonofsteel . An official website exists under www.moonofsteel.net too. articel by Gerald Mittinger
DAGGERS EDGE - DAGGERS EDGE(STEEL LEGACY RECORDS /ltd. edt. CD´2010) UNITED STATESAt first I was sceptic to put another rerelease compilation of obscure demostuff in my collection. But the option to hear there again HELSTAR´S vocalist JAMES RIVERA on some tracks starts my interest enormous. Yes I part your opinion that there is a lot of hype and commercial
sell out all around. But I think it´s a good idea to release this forgotten tracks now to a bright audience. I also didn´t know this material untill now. So it´s a premier to check out this stuff. DAGGER´S EDGE was a typical south california based mideighties US Metal band. Original founded by GREG WINTON (drums) and GUY HOFFMANN (bass) build they up fast a constant line up with the superb guitarists IAN SANDERS and TONY FIOCCA . Perhaps with the joining of JAMES RIVERA the band was on it´s way to the fame. Back in 1987 was the release date of their onyl official demo. Exact with the recordings of this demo starts this compi lation. THREE WICKED KINGS opens the reign with a bolt !!! Typical eighties US Metal with the outstanding voice of JAMES RIVERA let my heart beat faster. Of course the sound isn´t better as a typical demo tape recording from this days. But it doesn´t matter because this kind of US Metal will statisfy every follower of this syle. With some cruel bassvibes starts the second striker DEATHWISH in the crawling and marching midtempo style. I´m wondering why this act didn´t was signed up at this time. Maybe a reason was that in the mideighties the californian metal scene was full with talented bands. Perhaps they didn´t attract the atten tion of the labels because the material was to heavy for the majors. I could imagine well a great record on such labels as METAL BLADE or COMBAT at 1988. But it shouldn´t be. So let´s enjoy this recording... !!! SONIC THUNDER leads in the next chapter. Powerful US Metal similar to WARRIOR and ARMORED SAINT could be a good describtion for this fine tune. Maniac alike fast and furious guitarwork and a thundering rhytmn transports this cut straight inside your nervs. The following track ENTICER features with ROB TREVINO an additional guitarist. Alone this stunnin US Power Metal classic is it worth to own this disc. The next part on this compilation con tains a five track live recording from 1988. I wish the quality of this recording would be better because another great tune as CLOAK AND DAGGER gives me an presentiment how good this ones sounds. TWIST OF THE BLADE acts great too. In parts is there the recording quality absolute unacceptable. The same problem strikes down also PAGAN LORD. A litte bit in better quality is CHARGE OF THE HEAVY BRIGADE recorded. By the way this one is an instrumental which leads in the well known tune DEATHWISH. Hopefully the company will sell this lovely styled historical item for a fan acceptable price. Cause in reallity are only the four tracks from the demorecording listenable. As bonus contains the album also a handful of live recorded videotracks from the same year. www.steel-legacy.com . articel by Gerald Mittinger
VANEXA - BACK FROM THE RUINS(MINOTAURO / MARKUEE 103 CD´2006) ITALY