Great Metal Albums of 1983: Vandenburgh- Heading For a Storm

 

Thinking back in the annals of history, one might be inclined to believe that 1983 might have been a pivotal year for Dutch bands. First Golden Earring proved they weren't one hit wonders with their "Cut" album which featured the hit, "Twilight Zone." Then later on that year, I stumbled into my local bar just in time to see this band called Vandenberg on MTV. I can't say that I was totally blown away by them but I did very much like what I saw and heard and it compelled me to investigate more. A friend of my sister ranted about their album "Heading For a Storm" and I would later learn that Vandenberg supported Ozzy Osbourne on tour. What further incentive was needed?

"Heading For a Storm" is yet further proof that in 1983, the dam had truly burst and heavy metal was flooding the world whether it liked it or not. The album starts out with three straight ahead rockers. "Friday Night" might sound cliche these days but it's still a good opener and the next two tracks get progressively better. "Different Worlds" is a typical power ballad but you can't fault it one bit. Besides after that comes my pick for the album, This is War." On this song, lead singer Bert Heerink is at his best on the vocals backed up with some great harmonizing from his band mates. But what makes this song and the album as a whole is the guitar work from Adrian Vandenberg. If anyone has any questions as to why he was picked to join Whitesnake four years after this, then have a listen to the album and the track, "This is War," in particular.

AV's guitar work doesn't end with that song. Afterwards, the album holds that level my favourite track takes it to. I really love the opening metal riffs on the title track and after some more good harmonizing, Adrian nails another great guitar solo. "Rock On" sounds a bit new wave with its opening chords but it goes more metal with AV putting in some cool guitar breaks during the verses and the song has a cool chorus. All of that takes the album out fine with the closing track.

Track Listing:

1. Friday Night
2. Welcome to the Club
3. Time Will Tell
4. Different Worlds
5. This is War
6. I'm on Fire
7. Heading For a Storm
8. Rock On
9. Waiting For the Night

[caption id="attachment_3655" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Vandenberg[/caption]

Adrian Vandenberg- guitar, backing vocals, also designed the album cover

Bert Heernik- lead vocals

Dick Kemper- bass, pedals, backing vocals

Jos Zoomer- drums, backing vocals

 Let me say one thing here! While I might gush over the guitar greatness of Adrian Vandenberg, the unsung hero of the album is Bert Heernik. I have always had tons of respect for any singer who sings in English when it's not their first language. On "Heading For a Storm," he does a grand job and credit should be given where due. After all, "Heading For a Storm" is an album that definitely deserves accolades.

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Y&T- Mean Streak

 

This is one I have to thank MTV for. Y&T came to my attention in 1983 as a result of seeing the video for the title track of "Mean Streak" on it. While I don't remember much about that video, (maybe I should Youtube it), I do know that I liked the song and continue to do so after all these years. However, it's only my favourite Y&T song by default, being the first one I heard from the band. As for as the album "Mean Streak" is full of really good songs.

In regards to the rest of the album, it's easy in my mind to understand why "Mean Streak" was released as a single. It sounds a bit more melodic than many of the other songs but that's not what I like about it, I like that catchy riff. It's also probably why it opens the album because once "Mean Streak" is done and dusted, the more powerful "Straight Thru the Heart" kicks in and batters your ears with its more powerful appeal. The rest of the album follows on from this.

One song on the album that challenges the title track for 80sMetalman's favourite Y&T song is "Midnight in Tokyo." This song has it all. A very catchy intro, some pounding power chords, some more tender moments and a cool guitar solo. With all of these things contained in one song, what's not to like about it? So, why isn't it my new favourite Y&T song? The answer is down to the fact that I don't have it on my mp3, so I haven't been listening to it over the years like I have the title track.

Another really good track is "Hang'em High." This one does the tightrope act of treading between melody and power and it does a nice job of it. Certainly one to headbang away to while driving in the car or engaged in an activity where music aids rather than distracts. I do like that slow down part with the drum roll in the middle of the song, again, nicely done. "Take You To the Limit" is a cool song as well, especially with the guitar solo at the beginning. After, it becomes a cool power bop. "Sentimental Fool" is definitely not sentimental in the way it sounds. I love the guitar solo on it and "Down and Dirty" closes the album as well as any closing song I know.

Track Listing:

1. Mean Streak
2. Straight Thru the Heart
3. Lonely Side of Town
4. Midnight in Tokyo
5. Breaking Away
6. Hang'em High
7. Take You To the Limit
8. Sentimental Fool
9. Down and Dirty

[caption id="attachment_2875" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Y&T[/caption]

Dave Meniketti- lead guitar, lead vocals

Joey Alves- rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Phil Kennemore- bass, backing vocals, Moog Taurus pedals

Leonard Haze- drums, percussion, backing vocals

"Mean Streak" successfully turned my head in the direction of Y&T with this strong power album. That led me to listening to their previous album "Black Tiger," which is also a true metal album. This begs the question which I will investigate further down the years with this band's discography. What made them put out something like "Summertime Girls?"

Next post: I can't be sure when that will be as my computer has to go in for servicing. I wrote this post having to contend with numerous pop-ups. When I return it will be Vandenberg- Heading for a Storm

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Saxon- Power and the Glory

 

For a young American living in the sticks of Southern New Jersey in 1983, Diamond Head was probably the best kept secret of the new wave of British heavy metal, (NWOBHM). I only was fortunate to know their existence because I happened to see them live in England that summer. However, if that is truly the case, then Saxon was the best NWOBHM band not to fully get the respect in the US they truly deserved. Their 1983 album "Power and the Glory" is a solid piece of evidence as to why.

It would be a very difficult task for any Saxon album to knock off "Denim and Leather" as my favourite album of theirs, so "Power and the Glory" will have to settle for number two. It is every much the killer as its 1981 predecessor! I have to admit, I'm pretty much impressed with all eight of the tracks on here. Maybe that's why it's only number two because "Denim and Leather" has nine.

"Power and the Glory" opens with the title track which is a good song to catch your attention. However, compared to the other tracks on the album, it's the weakest, not that in any way it's not a good track, it is. But the others that follow are mind blowing. Some really cool guitar solos from Oliver and Quinn on the tracks "Nightmare" and "This Town Rocks." On the latter, I am wondering which town they are singing about because back in the mid 1980s, I lived in a town that didn't. Some might say that about the town I live in now in the UK but those who rock aren't visible. They just come out whenever a cool band like Hells Bells comes to town. Here I go digressing again. Great songs all here!

Impressing me further is the intro to "Midas Touch." While Saxon has historically had many songs whose introduction has been a great hook, the one on this track takes the top spot for the album. And like so many Saxon songs, "Midas Touch" isn't a song with a great intro that descends into mediocrity as the song progresses.

If my favourite Saxon album didn't have such a killer closing track, then I would probably be gushing over the closer on "Power and the Glory." I have to put "Denim and Leather" totally out of my mind so I can sing the praises of "The Eagle Has Landed." It works in so many ways, as a closer and as a song in itself, great song. I have to say that I think Biff and the boys were on top form when they made "Power and the Glory."

Track Listing:

1. Power and the Glory
2. Redline
3. Warrior
4. Nightmare
5. This Town Rocks
6. Watching the Sky
7. Midas Touch
8. The Eagle Has Landed

[caption id="attachment_1148" align="aligncenter" width="236"] Saxon[/caption]

Biff Byford- vocals

Graham Oliver- guitar

Paul Quinn- guitar

Steve Dawson -bass

Nigel Glockler- drums

Some might argue that with all the great metal, especially (NWOBHM) albums that were out in 1983, it's easy to see why Saxon's "Power and the Glory" might have been overlooked in the US. No excuse I say and I wish it didn't take me another two years before I started listening to Saxon in earnest. This album deserves to stand with all the other ones that were around in that year.

Next post: Y&T- Mean Streak

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Diamond Head- Canterbury

 

It is quite possible that my mind is well and truly going. My memories from when I saw Diamond Head at the 1983 Monsters of Rock Festival at Donington Park in England, I thought that this band played some really hard metal. However, when I listen to their 1983 "Canterbury" album, which was released two months before their Donington appearance, I find myself asking, "Is this the same band?" The "Canterbury" album isn't that straight forward in your face metal I remember from when I saw them all those years ago. Don't get me wrong, it's still a cool album and there are a couple of hard tracks on it, however, the album takes a more progressive rock, artsy direction.

The first two tracks are definitely in the progressive vein but still decent tracks. For some reason, the opener, "Makin' Music" reminds me a little of the opening track from Pat Travers' live album. Things go gradually harder with the tracks that follow. The first metal track in the sense of the word for me is "One More Night." That song does knock your socks off. I could say the same thing for the next track as well but the vocals remind me too much of early U2. I don't want to insult lead singer Sean Harris but he does sound like Bono a little on it. One could say that this track might be what U2 would sound like if they went metal, as if. Then again, maybe I think too damn much.

Thoughts of U2  don't disappear immediately on the very next track. They linger for the first half of "Knight of the Swords" but they do go away when Brian Tatler lays down his best guitar solo on the album. For me, that alone makes it the best track on the album. You know all this thinking about U2, I have to remember that back in 1983, they were good in my eyes and ears as they were with many others. So, the comparisons shouldn't be seen as a harsh criticism. After "Knight of the Swords," things go more melodic hard rock with "Ishmael." It's an okay song but I don't find it anything to get too excited about. With "I Need Your Love," Diamond Head goes kind of new wave/metal. It is a good track to bop your head along to and it hosts the second best guitar solo on it, so pluses all around. The title track closes the album and this is definitely an artsy progressive rock tune. It begins with a piano to which Harris sings a ballad like tune for the first two and a half minutes. While the song doesn't go crazy power metal after, it does pick up the tempo. There is some fine musicianship on it and it turns out to be a good way to end the album.

Track Listing:

1. Makin' Music
2. Out of Phase
3. The Kingmaker
4. One More Night
5. To the Devil His Due
6. Knight of the Swords
7. Ishmael
8. I Need Your Love
9. Cantebury

[caption id="attachment_3633" align="aligncenter" width="234"] Sean Harris and Brian Tatler who made up Diamond Head[/caption]

Sean Harris- vocals

Brian Tatler- guitars

Additional Musicians:

Colin Kimberly- bass

Mervyn Goldsworthy- bass

Duncan Scott- drums

Robbie France- drums

Jamie Lane- drums

Chris Heaton- keyboards

Back in the early 1980s, Diamond were the best kept secret of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, (NWOBHM). While Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Saxon to name some had established themselves as big names in the US, most Americans never heard of Diamond Head. One such person, when reading my Donington t-shirt thought that because the name Diamond Head was on it, the concert had taken place in Hawaii. I put him right on that one. "Canterbury" might not have been the metal album one would expect from Diamond Head, but it's still good album nevertheless.

Next post: Saxon- Power and Glory

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