1983: The Year The Dam Well and Truly Burst

 Got a little ahead of myself on the last post. I stated that the next post would be The Scorpions but I realize that before I talk about the album that started my 1983 off right, that I should first introduce the year. 1983 was a very pivotal year for me in a lot of ways. Most important was the fact that I spent the first half of the year as a marine and the second half as a civilian. In fact, my last military haircut was on June 25, five days before I got out and it would be seventeen months before I got another one.

I have mentioned on several other blogs about how I used to store my cassettes. During my time in the marines, I bought a lot of cassettes due to the limited living space. At first, I bought a proper cassette case but that only held 30 tapes. Whenever we had some sort of training exercise, whether using live or blank ammo, there would be spare ammo cans laying about, which we were allowed to keep. I managed to get two and it was enough to house 58 more tapes. Those cans were probably my best souvenir from my time in.

[caption id="attachment_2970" align="aligncenter" width="225"] The famous ammo cans[/caption]

Bonus points if you can guess the albums

Both as a marine and a civilian, the one thing that remained constant throughout was the music. I'm tempted to quote from a rather popular film from this year which I've never seen but I'll refrain. It would be this year that I would declare myself a metalhead but I wouldn't totally forget other great forms of rock. Southern Rock's popularity may have waned north of the Mason-Dixon line but having spent the last three months of my enlistment in North Carolina, I still got to hear killer albums from Nantucket, Blackfoot and Molly Hatchet. But as it says in the title, 1983 was the year the dam well and truly burst and heavy metal flooded the world.

Next post: The Scorpions- Blackout  (yes it truly is this time)

To buy Rock And Roll Children,

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Triumph- Never Surrender

 

Just learned something. Different internet sites can provide different information about the same thing. Heavy Harmonies states that this classic album, "Never Surrender" from Triumph came out in 1982, while Wikapedia states that it was released in January, 1983. I can't say because I never had to buy it at the time, my sister's then boyfriend had it and let me borrow it. Needless to say, it got played to death.

I must also confess that I lied last year. I said that "Allied Forces" was my favourite Triumph album. Actually, "Never Surrender" is, although there isn't much between the two and knowing me, I could listen to the other one again and things would revert back. That's just how good both albums are.

It just so happens that "Never Surrender" contains my definite all time favourite Triumph song, "World of Fantasy." The acoustic intro followed by the thundering guitar and supplemented with a catchy chorus and a great guitar solo from Emmett, make for an all time great. Full marks should be given to the band for creating such a masterpiece. It is always the first song to come to mind when someone says Triumph and that catchy chorus is playing through my head as I write.

Of course, there are other great songs on the album, otherwise the album wouldn't be great. There are some great straight forward hard rock tunes starting with the opener, "Too Much Thinking," which starts things off just right. Others include "All the Way" and "Writing on the Wall." Then there's the reggae sounding title track. Well not totally reggae because it does rock. Like my all time fave, "When the Lights Go Down" also starts with a cool acoustic intro, except this one sounds almost like it's going to be a country or Southern rock song. It's not, just typical hard rocking Triumph. Finally, while Emmett's guitar skills are present throughout, I must say that his best effort is the instrumental closer, "Epilogue." He really shines on this one. Putting all of these great tracks together, it's easy to see why "Never Surrender" is such a stupendous album.

Track Listing:

1. Too Much Thinking
2. World of Fantasy
3. Minor Prelude
4. All the Way
5. Battle Cry
6. Overature (Procession)
7. Never Surrender
8. When the Lights Go Down
9. Writing on the Wall
10. Epilogue (Resolution)

[caption id="attachment_1547" align="aligncenter" width="208"] Triumph[/caption]

Rik Emmett- lead vocals, guitar

Mike Levine- bass, organ, synthesizer, piano

Gil Moore- drums, percussion, backing vocals

It doesn't matter whether or not "Never Surrender" was released in 1982 or 83. Whatever year, the album totally kicks ass as Triumph were at their prime. As I already said a number of times, 1982 was a famine year for me musically on account of my military commitments. I have come to regret missing many of those albums I have written about in that year but never got to listen to at the time. The sacrifices we make serving one's country. However, 1983 would be different and I will be starting that pivotal year with albums that were released in 82 but brought my 83 in with such hard rocking style. But first, a break in the action.

Next post: Tribute to another great rock club

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Venom- Black Metal

 

When many people talk about the new wave of British heavy metal, (NWOBHM,) they usually do so with bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon and Def Leppard in mind. A good number will also include Motorhead in with the above but most will leave black metal thrashers Venom out. One reason for that, according to some British metalheads I met upon my arrival in the UK, is that they couldn't take Venom seriously. Who's trying to take them seriously? I'm sure not in the sense of being some kind of music critic. I simply appreciate their loud, aggressive thrash metal sound supplemented by very amusing lyrics about death and Satan. Granted, they're not the most talented musicians in metal but what they put together is enjoyable for me. This is evidenced the 1982 album, "Black Metal."

Listening to "Black Metal" makes me regret the fact that I had never heard of Venom until 1984. I can't even blame being in the service for that. This album would have satisfied the hard edge I was searching for in music and while I wouldn't hear of the term 'thrash' for three more years, "Black Metal" would still have been the answer.

From the get go with the opening title cut, I immediately found myself soaking up the thunderous beat and thrashing guitars from the album. Even when they try to slow down with the introduction of "Buried Alive," you know that in a second, you're going to get your ears blasted. You know, I can never make out what they're trying to do at the beginning of that song, but hey, who cares? Even though, I have to really concentrate to listen for when "Buried Alive" ends and "Raise the Dead" begins, it's not a major thing to worry about. The album just goes on rocking your socks off.

I think one problem some people might have had with this album is that they couldn't pigeon hole it. While the music is thrash, the lyrics are definitely black metal. Take "To Hell and Back" for instance.

"I have been to Hell and back - kissed satanic Queen
Traveling at the speed of light - saw thing never seen
Arm in arm with Lucifer - Belial on my back
I have swam the lake of flames - walked forbidden tracks
To Hell - - and back
To Hell - - and back"

True, part of me wants to roll on the floor laughing my ass off when I hear them but it also makes me want to scream them at any religious nuts who happen by. I think that this is something else that makes this album so cool. If you think that those lyrics are amusing, then check out "Teacher's Pet" which opens with the line "Teacher caught me masturbating underneath my desk." Then there's my favourite track, "Sacrifice" where they constantly spell the title throughout the song. With all of this, no wonder it is said that "Black Metal" influenced a generation of metal.

Track Listing:

1. Black Metal
2. To Hell and Back
3. Buried Alive
4. Raise the Dead
5. Teacher's Pet
6. Leave Me In Hell
7. Sacrifice
8. Heaven's On Fire
9. Countess Bathory
10. Don't Burn the Witch
11. At War With Satan (preview)

[caption id="attachment_2436" align="aligncenter" width="254"] Venom[/caption]

Cronos- bass, lead vocals

Mantas- guitar

Abbadon- drums

History has rewarded "Black Metal" by saying that it influenced both the thrash metal and black metal scene. Hearing this album, I can certainly testify to that. It possesses what I have always loved about both sub-genres of metal. It's just a shame I didn't get to listen to it back in the day because I think Venom were ahead of their time.

Next post: Triumph- Never Surrender

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com