Great Metal Albums of 1985: Metal For Breakfast

 

Welcome to the first heavy metal compilation album I bought. It was early February 1985 when I saw "Metal For Breakfast" at my local record store. Since I often used to feel like the way the dude on the cover looks, I thought it was worth a look. When I flipped to the back cover of the album and saw who was actually on it and their songs, I knew I had to buy it straight away. Who couldn't resist an album with Ted Nugent, Saxon, Y&T, Quiet Riot, Ozzy and Judas Priest on it. Furthermore, the songs from these artists with the exception of Judas Priest's hidden gem, (I had never heard "The Ripper" until this album), was more incentive to get it. But that's only half the story!

Attic Records, being based in Toronto, seemed very eager to unveil much of its local talent and they chose a good group to do so. I had heard of Anvil but never listened to them. "Forged in Fire" changed all that. Any band called The Killer Dwarfs had to be granted a listen and "Heavy Mental Breakdown" did not disappoint. This was the first step on their way to them becoming my all time favourite Canadian band. I know Mercyful Fate are from Denmark but the fact that "Black Funeral" comes right out and sings "Hail Satan" sticks one in the ear for the American religious zealots. On the second side is the lovely Lee Aaron and "Metal Queen" is mind blowing. Of course, there's always a hidden gem and on "Metal For Breakfast" it's the track "Metalhead" by Blotto. It takes a dig at metalheads but it's done in a really funny way plus, it's a good song. So what you have is a great combination of well known metal tunes and ones that weren't so well known coming together to make a fantastic album.

Track Listing:

[caption id="attachment_2368" align="alignnone" width="226"] 1. Anvil- Forged in Fire[/caption]

2. Ted Nugent- Cat Scratch Fever

[caption id="attachment_3211" align="aligncenter" width="223"] 3. Killer Dwarfs- Heavy Mental Breakdown[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4225" align="aligncenter" width="259"] 4. Accept- Balls to the Wall[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3680" align="aligncenter" width="287"] 5. Mercyful Fate- Black Funeral[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4619" align="aligncenter" width="276"] 6. Blotto- Metalhead[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3675" align="aligncenter" width="204"] 7. Lee Aaron- Metal Queen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1148" align="aligncenter" width="259"] 8. Saxon- Princess of the Night[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1309" align="aligncenter" width="194"] 9. Judas Priest- The Ripper[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3552" align="aligncenter" width="272"] 10. Quiet Riot- Metal Health[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2875" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 11. Y&T- Mean Streak[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2343" align="aligncenter" width="238"] 12. Ozzy Osbourne- Crazy Train[/caption]

And I think you should listen to the hidden gem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzu4L4ZnMvQ

Back in 1985, "Metal for Breakfast" was the classic metal combination of what was known and not so known in the heavy metal world. Nowadays, it's just a classic 80s album but it still kicks ass!

[caption id="attachment_4620" align="aligncenter" width="225"] I probably looked more like this back then.[/caption]

Next post: Dokken- Tooth 'N' Nail

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

Great Rock Albums of 1985: Bryan Adams- Reckless

 

Reflecting back to early 1985 when I first heard songs from the "Reckless" album from Bryan Adams, I have to ask myself, "Was I a metal snob back then?" I remember not hating any of the songs from this album but I kind of pushed it to one side because it wasn't heavy metal. The other possibility could be the fact that I may be mellowing a bit with age and the album is more suitable to my pallet because listening to the album again, I really like it and have to say that it rocks in many places.

"Run to You" was the first single from "Reckless" and my favourite track on the album. It would have been my favourite all time except for the cheesy video of him rolling around in the leaves in the song. Fortunately, I have been able to block that memory out when I listen to it and simply appreciate the guitar riffs. "Heaven is a good power ballad even if it didn't make my top thirty list. If I had expanded the list to a top 50, it would have been there. I do like the power chords in it and only now starting to appreciate the guitar work of Keith Scott. He also shines on the opener, "One Night Love Affair,"  a very underrated guitarist indeed.

With so many well known singles on "Reckless," it's impossible to find a hidden gem. "Somebody" got lots of airplay and it's a good power rocker. The problem with "Summer of 69" is that it gets played to death even to this day. On its own, it's a decent song but having been saturated with it over the past thirty-three years, I kind of get put off it.

The closest the album comes to having a hidden gem has to be "Kids Wanna Rock." I do love how it opens with some cool soloing from Scott and he keeps it up between the verses. There are some good power chords a plenty on here as well. Then there's his single with Tina Turner, "It's Only Love." It too rocks, especially live versions and I have to admit, Bryan and Tina did have a good onstage chemistry. "Ain't Gonna Cry" closes the album out very well.

Track Listing:

1. One Night Love Affair
2. She's Only Happy When She's Dancin'
3. Run to You
4. Heaven
5. Somebody
6. Summer of 69
7. Kids Wanna Rock
8. It's Only Love
9. Long Gone
10. Ain't Gonna Cry

[caption id="attachment_3046" align="aligncenter" width="189"] Bryan Adams[/caption]

Bryan Adams- lead vocals, guitar, piano, harmonica, hand claps and foot stomping

Keith Scott- lead guitar, backing vocals

Jim Vallance- percussion

Dave Taylor- bass

Pat Steward- drums, backing vocals

Tommy Mandel- keyboards

Jody Perpick- backing vocals

Tina Turner- accompanying vocal on "It's Only Love"

Mickey Curry- drums

Steve Smith- drums on "Heaven"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEVuuX-x62c

So was I narrow minded or am I mellowing with age? Then again, does it really matter because I really enjoy Bryan Adams' "Reckless" album.

Nest post: Metal For Breakfast

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

Great Metal Albums of 1985: Kreator- Endless Pain

 

Maybe I should do a list of bands whose second albums I bought before their first one. It would be a long list, that's for sure. This hold true for German thrashers, Kreator. My first experience of them was their better known second album, "Pleasure To Kill." I really loved it and played it to one of my friends who first introduced me to thrash. It was good to tell him about a cool album for a change. He was so impressed with that album that he bought the debut album, "Endless Pain."

I know I shouldn't compare an album to one I haven't reviewed yet but I'm going to anyway. The only contrast is that "Pleasure to Kill" is more polished than its predecessor, that's it. What both albums have in common is the intense ferocity of all the songs on them. "Endless Pain" is one total thrash fest from beginning to end. Each and every song pounds your head in every way. Only some brief melodic moments, actually I should say seconds, in "Storm of the Beast" and "Flag of Hate" give you any rest from the onslaught on your ears and it's always been hard to pick a favourite track. After listening to it again, maybe "Flag of Hate" just edges it out.

Early Kreator was never a band for those with sensitive ears. Those are the people who say that thrash metallers can't really play or sing. Yes, sometimes it's difficult to tell Mille and Ventor apart on the vocals but that's part of the fun. Definitely not the most tuneful voices in music but their guttural barks fit very well with the frenzy of the music. Someone also once remarked that all the members could only play three chords fast. He reckoned that guitarist Mille Petrozza had only been playing six months. I thought he was brilliant on the closing track, "Dying Victim." Having never seen any Kreator music sheets, I can't debate it. However, if that is the case, then it's certainly the right three chords because the album sounds fantastic.

Track Listing:

1. Endless Pain
2. Total Death
3. Storm of the Beast
4. Tormentor
5. Son of Evil
6. Flag of Hate
7. Cry War
8. Bonebreaker
9. Living in Fear
10. Dying Victim

[caption id="attachment_4569" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Kreator[/caption]

Mille Petrozza- guitars, vocals on even numbered tracks

Rob Fioretti- bass

Jurgen 'Ventor' Reill- drums, vocals on odd numbered tracks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp9lFWI9b-8

Thrash metal was in its early infancy in 1985 although it would grow astronomically over the year. There were many great bands just waiting to burst out onto the thrash scene, grab the world by the throat and shout, "We are here!" Kreator was one of those bands as "Endless Pain" shows. I am frothing at the mouth at seeing them at Download on Sunday.

Next post: Bryan Adams

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Great Rock Albums of 1985: Glen Frey- The Allnighter

 

When I begin a new year of my trip through the golden decade of heavy metal, I always start with albums that were made in the previous year but didn't come to my attention until the said year. Because there were so many great albums in 1984, I didn't get around to listening to a good number until 1985. One of these was "The Allnighter" from the late former Eagles guitarist/singer, Glenn Frey.

Reflecting back to early 1985, I used to wonder if I was a little unfair to both Glenn and one of his former bandmates who also released a solo album in this year. First, I was very much into all things metal and "The Allnighter" is definitely not metal. Furthermore, I was very much into the last two Eagles albums, "Hotel California" and "The Long Run" which did feature some harder rock than their early 1970s albums.

Glenn goes further away from his Eagles roots with this album as it's a more mellower and somewhat bluesier sound. There are some ballads on here like "Let's Go Home" and "Lover's Moon." Glenn's voice has always been suited to these but it is also versatile enough for the faster songs. "Sexy Girl" is kind of in the middle here and he does sing it well. I recently heard a live version of it and it sounds better than the commercial version. However, the best song and one that I've come to appreciate far more in my aging years is "Smuggler's Blues." This song is proof that Frey can sing harder stuff, not that I had any doubt he couldn't. What has really impressed me about it is the musicianship. Like his previous album, Glenn uses a ton of musicians on it, so I don't know who does the guitar solos on the song but they are ace. Full marks to whoever played them. The song did feature on the mid 1980s TV show "Miami Vice."

Track Listing:

1. The Allnighter
2. Sexy Girl
3. I Got Love
4. Somebody Else
5. Lover's Moon
6. Smuggler's Blues
7. Let's Go Home
8. Better in the USA
9. Living In Darkness
10. New Love

[caption id="attachment_2716" align="aligncenter" width="190"] Glenn Frey[/caption]

Glenn Frey- lead vocals, guitar, bass, drums, piano, synthesizer

Josh Leo, Duncan Cameron- guitar

John 'JR' Robinson, Michael Huey, Larry Londin- drums

David Hood, Bryan Garofalo- bass

Greg Smith, Willie Bergman, Al Garth- saxophone

Vince Melamed, Allen Blazek, Barry Beckett- piano

Barry Beckett, David 'Hawk' Wollinski- synthesizer

Nick DeCaro- strings

Steve Foreman- percussion

Victor Feldman, Jack Tempchin, Oren Waters, Jack Galloway, Luke Waters- backing vocals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSXKyHM133c

I might have mellowed a bit with age and while I like some of what's on "The Allnighter," it really isn't my cup of tea. There are some good songs on it and it's a great album to mellow out to or provide suitable background settings but I won't put away my metal albums in favour of it.

Next post: I know I said at the beginning of the post that I'll be starting with albums that came out originally in 1984 but I have to make an exception. I went to the Download Festival the weekend after I posted this originally, so I need the correct inspiration.

Kreator- Endless Pain

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1985: The Backlash Begins

 

Ever since the days of Elvis, there has always been a backlash against rock music and the backlash against heavy metal in particular has always been many folds greater. Whether it be religious fanatics, parents or just trendy top forty followers who just didn't like the genre, there have been people dead set against heavy metal music. This backlash had been slowly building up throughout the early 1980s but the fact that heavy metal had gotten mainstream attention in 1984 was enough to blow the powder keg in 1985.

The first instance that turned my attention to this backlash was reading letters to MTV citing that they were either playing too much heavy metal or not enough. It would appear that in or around March of 1985, the anti heavy metal brigade won out as MTV made a statement that it would be playing less metal on the air. Now, it's easy to think that there were that many more anti than pro metal people writing to MTV and if anyone says that it was because metalheads are too stupid to write, me and many of my followers here will be over to your house to kick the crap out of you! Once again I digress but my theory was that by the end of the previous year, MTV was already becoming nothing more than a glorified commercial radio station. Some Dead Kennedys lyrics come to mind here and I'll reveal those when I visit their "Frankenchrist" album which came out in said year. Oops, digressing again but less and less metal was being played on MTV or the radio.

[caption id="attachment_1897" align="aligncenter" width="273"] Dead Kennedys[/caption]

As 1985 progressed, I began to notice it in more ways. There wasn't just a backlash against heavy metal but persecution of metalheads as well. One thing I was criticized for in "Rock And Roll Children," though I don't regret it one bit, was over pounding the point of how metalheads were discriminated against back then. Truth was they were! I simply pointed this out. Example, based on my own experiences: in 1984, I went to a McDonald's after the Dio/Twisted Sister concert and had no problems, nor did the many other metalheads who hit up the place after the show. One year later, my friends and I hit the same McDonald's after the Motley Crue/Loudness concert and upon entry, were greeted by all sorts of negative comments. Also, like in the story, there was an off duty cop in the store pontificating how no one did anything like that in his day and how he busts punks like us for drugs all the time. While, there were no arrests that night, one month later, after seeing Dio, we hit the same McDonald's and this time, it was like a policeman's convention. This brings me to another point, while I never saw it happen, there were tales in 1985 of police getting warrants and going into pre-concert parties and busting metalheads. However, they didn't do that at the Wham concert where I heard eyewitness accounts of 12 year old kids getting falling down, sickly drunk. It was definitely war on metalheads in 1985.

Of course, the more astute of you will recall that in the closing months of the year, the backlash against rock music and especially heavy metal became the subject of a congressional hearing and lead to the formation of the Parents Music Resource Center, (PMRC). Even after more than thirty years, I tend to laugh at this if it wasn't so pathetic and there will be a post dedicated to that.

In spite of all the doom and gloom, the backlash achieved very little. Great albums were still being made and you'll get to read about a lot of them. There were other great events and concerts including the most famous one, Live Aid. So, sit back and get ready for another roller coaster year in the golden decade of metal.

Next post: Glenn Frey- The Allnighter

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

Tribute to Beru Revue- A Great Philadelphia Band

 [caption id="attachment_4551" align="aligncenter" width="328"] Beru Revue[/caption]

Living in Southern New Jersey, I was very much influenced by what was happening in Philadelphia which was fifty miles away. I rooted for their sports teams, most of the time, except when the Phillies played the Dodgers, the Eagles played the Steelers or the 76ers played the Celtics. However, I have always been a die hard Flyers fan. Most importantly though, Philadelphia was where I went to see most of my concerts. Which is why most of the concerts in "Rock And Roll Children" take place at the Spectrum. Furthermore, Philadelphia radio stations were far superior to the one in Atlantic City, also I got treated to some of the bands coming out of there. One of these bands was Beru Revue.

[caption id="attachment_107" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Philadelphia Spectrum, now sadly torn down.[/caption]

Back in the mid 1980s, Beru Revue made several trips to South Jersey clubs and I was lucky enough to catch them three times. Their brand of rock, considered new wave by most was definitely unique. They combined great musicianship and if you listened to the lyrics, keen political awareness while maintaining a sense of humour. This gave them a pretty large cult following around the clubs of the Delaware Valley, (comprising Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware.) One of their songs, "Hoods A Go Go For the 80s" got airplay on local radio, unfortunately, their fame never spread much beyond that. Although I did take two friends who were visiting from Rhode Island to see them and they were so impressed, they bought Beru's EP.

Beru Revue:

Bob 'Beru' McCafferty- lead vocals

Greg 'T-Bone' Davis- guitar

Gerry Healy- guitar

Johnny Sacks- bass

Buzz Barkley- keyboards

Tommy 'Sir Francis Drake' Pinto- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP3kvxEnhC0

This is my favourite Beru Revue song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhREhk4sqIs

Hopefully, you've had a listen and agree with me that Beru Revue were far too good to be just a locally known band. Even to this day, I have cool memories of them. Maybe one reason they never made it nationally or internationally was the fact that Philadelphia has produced so many great musical acts over the years. One such band would get national attention in 1985, you'll read about that in the near future and a year later, a Philly metal band would do the same. However, I lament as to what a great contribution to the music world Beru Revue would have been if they had been luckier.

Next post: 1985- The Backlash Begins

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

1984 Ends in Metal Tragedy

 [caption id="attachment_2403" align="aligncenter" width="292"] Hanoi Rocks[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2427" align="aligncenter" width="290"] Motley Crue[/caption]

History can never debate that 1984 was the golden year of heavy metal. So many great albums from so many great bands and they even played metal on the radio and MTV. Never again would the genre get so much commercial exposure. However, even with all the great metal, the year would end in a very tragic anti- climax and mean the death of a drummer and his band and another similar tragedy would nearly claim the life of another drummer.

On December 8, members of the bands Hanoi Rocks and Motley Crue had been engaged in a massive drinking binge that had been going on, according to reports, for four days. More booze was being called for so Motley Crue's Vince Neil, eager to show off his new 1972 Ford Pantera, volunteered to make the run even though he was well over the legal drink drive limit and took Hanoi Rocks drummer, Razzle, with him. At 6:38, Neil lost control of his car, (driving 65 in a 25mph zone might have had something to do with it) while swerving around a stationary fire truck and careered into oncoming traffic hitting two other cars. The driver and a passenger in one of the cars was seriously injured and taken to hospital while the driver of the second was miraculously uninjured. Vince himself only suffered cracked ribs and cuts to his face. Things weren't so fortunate for Razzle, he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The loss of Razzle would spell the end for Hanoi Rocks, the band would break up shortly after. Vince Neil's troubles were only beginning as he would have to pay $2.6 million in compensation to the victims, do 200 hours of community service and serve time in prison, albeit a mere 30 days! People are still talking about the leniency of that sentence still. Like I said when I posted about Hanoi Rock's last studio album, I got the chance to see this band about three weeks before the tragedy happened at a small New Jersey night club. That's why this tragedy continues to weigh heavy on me.

If the loss of Razzle compliments of Vince Neil wasn't bad enough, further tragedy would happen on the final day of the year. Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen would lose his arm in car accident. While trying to overtake another car at high speed, Rick lost control of his car, hit a dry stone wall and entered a field where he was thrown from his car because he didn't have his seat belt properly fastened. His left arm was severed and though doctors reattached it, had to re-amputate it on account of infection. Rick's girlfriend also suffered head and neck injuries as well as a concussion. Although this was a tragedy at the time, Rick would be one of the greatest 'overcoming of adversity' stories in all of music.

When 1984 proceeded to 85, a few misguided individuals used these tragedies as some sort of symbol that heavy metal was on its way out. Fools! Yes, heavy metal would never again enjoy the commercial airplay it had in that year, but it would never go away. The lack of radio and MTV play would do nothing to halt record sales and sold out concert attendances.

Next post: My 20 Favourite Power Ballads- 11-20

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Hanoi Rocks- Two Steps From the Move

 

Coming to the final month in 1984, just when I thought that the year of metal might be coming to end, I get news of a band shown on MTV coming to a local club. That band just happend to be, yes you guessed it, Hanoi Rocks. Previous to their appearance, I did happen to catch the video to their single, a cover of the CCR classic, "Up Around the Bend." The video impressed me enough to go to the club and to make a long story short, I was rather impressed. In fact, I sometimes wonder if I should have included that gig in "Rock and Roll Children." My reason for not doing so was because KISS came to Philadelphia that evening and I concluded that the main characters would have gone to see KISS instead. However, I do mention in the story that Bob's older brother Mitch goes to see Hanoi Rocks.

Hanoi Rocks's performance on that memorable evening further motivated me to get their then latest release, "Two Steps From the Move." Another decision I have never regretted because this album is very good. I would be lying if I didn't say that "Up Around the Bend" is my favourite track on it. I had always liked the original version and what Hanoi Rocks did was take a great classic and totally metalize it. However, the album is full of great metal jams. The ones which stick out especially are: "I Can't Get It," "Underwater World, which has a good guitar solo and "Million Miles Away" is as good a power ballad as any. The hidden gem on the album has to be "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." The energy on that song is simply phenomenal! Definitely one to blast driving with the window down and "Boiler" is quite amusing. On the other hand and as cliche as this sounds, all the songs really kick ass. If I were to nit pick, it would be that "Don't You Ever Leave Me" should have been the closer of the album but that's a tiny technicality.

Track Listing:

1. Up Around the Bend
2. High School
3. I Can't Get It
4. Underwater World
5. Don't You Ever Leave Me
6. Million Miles Away
7. Boulevard of Broken Dreams
8. Boiler (Me Boiler 'n' Me)
9. Futurama
10. Cutting Corners

[caption id="attachment_2403" align="aligncenter" width="329"] Hanoi Rocks[/caption]

Michael Monroe- lead vocals and saxophone

Andy McCoy- lead guitar, vocals

Nasty Suicide- guitar, vocals

Sam Yaffa- bass, vocals

Razzle- drums, vocals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9qHE9P8tHE

In 1984, Hanoi Rocks were on the threshold of international stardom. Unfortunately, just a few short weeks after I saw them obliterate a small club in New Jersey, tragedy would strike the band which would lead to their eventual break up. While it's no secret what that tragedy was, I thought it would be better to go into more detail next post. Right now, focus on the band's happier times with this great album.

Next post: 1984 Ends in Metal Tragedy

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Triumph- Thunder Seven

 

Just when I thought that 1984 was becoming all metaled out towards the very end of the year, along comes a great album from Canadian greats, Triumph, to continue the metal mayhem that was that year. By then, both commercial radio and MTV was starting to suck, so when the first single, "Spellbound" came blasting over the airwaves on Thanksgiving Day, I was truly psyched. I was already a Triumph convert by then thanks to their previous albums, "Never Surrender" and "Allied Forces" so I welcomed the new "Thunder Seven" album with open arms and ears.

"Spellbound" is my second favourite Triumph song of all time. I just love how Rik Emmett uses his guitar on the song and the harmonizing on the chorus, just great. There are keyboards but unlike the trend in the 1980s, they simply support and not take over the song. Full marks to Mike Levine, he does a good job with them. With the keyboards in that great song, one might be tempted to think that Triumph had gone the same way as their fellow Canadians, Rush, had done earlier in this year. Trust me, they don't.

Not many songs do what they say in the title but the second song does "Rock Out and Rock On!" Not really much more I can say about it than that, except it's a cool track. Then, I really do like the cowboy type vibe on "Cool Down." I don't know if the song really is about cowboys but what I do know and like is how Rik lays down some really cool guitar work on it. "Follow Your Heart" was the second single from "Thunder Seven" and everything about the song says "single." It's a slightly lighter than the other songs but you can still feel Triumph's energy with it.

The rockingest song and my vote for hidden gem is definitely "Time Goes By." While this song is harder than "Spellbound," there is some great harmonizing vocals on it as well. Another song that has Triumph being at their best, especially Emmett's guitar solo. Following "Time Goes By" are two songs which are less than two minutes, the first one being an acoustic instrumental, done well. The second, sounds like a church choir but it does show the vocal ability of Rik Emmett and Gil Moore in a different light. Their vocal abilities also come through very well on the next track, the ballad, "Killing Time." However, things pick up with the penultimate rocker, "Stranger in a Strange Land" before going out an a mega high with the blues based instrumental, "Little Boy Blues," where once again, Rik shows his guitar prowess.

Track Listing

1. Spellbound
2. Rock on Rock Out
3. Cool Down
4. Follow Your Heart
5. Time Goes By
6. Midsummer's Daydream
7. Time Cannon
8. Killing Time
9. Stranger in a Strange Land
10. Little Boy Blues

[caption id="attachment_1547" align="aligncenter" width="262"] Triumph[/caption]

Rik Emmett- guitar, vocals, synthesizers, bass pedals

Gil Moore- drums, vocals, percussion,

Mike Levine- bass, keyboards, synthesizers, bass pedals, organ, clavinet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-znWVHQA7Aw

It was great to see that when people thought that metal was fizzling out in 1984, Triumph kept things going with this great album.

Next post: Hanoi Rocks: Two Steps From the Move

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Loudness- Disillusion

 

No further proof is needed to support the fact that heavy metal had the world by the balls in 1984 than the album from Japanese metal greats Loudness, "Disillusion." As far as I know, this was the first Loudness album to be sung in English. All previous albums had been sung in the band's native tongue although that did not make them any less kick ass.

Thinking about the above statement, that leads to the one small problem with the album. Minoru Nihara's vocals are sometimes difficult to hear. This is a shame because it is true he sings better English than what he speaks. I've heard interviews with him. What is a further shame is the fact that you can't hear what a great voice he has. Some of you might remember that when I've posted about previous Loudness albums, I compared Minoru Nihara to the likes of Ronnie James Dio, Klaus Meine and Ian Gillan. He certainly belongs in the same league as those just mentioned.

While not being able to fully appreciate Nihara's vocals on "Disillusion" is a little frustrating at times, it is only a small inconvenience because what does obscure the vocals is the brilliant guitar playing of Akira Takasaki. From the first note of the instrumental opener, he just shreds and riffs all over the album. The solos are superb and even his rhythm guitar parts are done amazingly well. He shines extremely well on the tracks "Butterfly" and his instrumental solo "Exploder." However, my vote for the favourite track is still "Satisfaction Guaranteed" because Nihara's vocals come through the clearest on it and he does a good job with them. Of course, Takasaki's guitar playing guided by a good rhythm section help as well.

Track Listing:

1. Anthem
2. Crazy Doctor
3. Esper
4. Butterfly
5. Revelation
6. Exploder
7. Dream Fantasy
8. Milky Way
9. Satisfaction Guaranteed
10. Ares' Lament

[caption id="attachment_2906" align="aligncenter" width="278"] Loudness[/caption]

Minoru Nihara- lead vocals

Akira Takasaki- guitar

Masayoshi Yamashita- bass, taurus pedals

Munetaka Higuchi- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA2YRcgJfc4

"Disillusion" put Loudness on the metal map in the West and set the stage for the following album which would propel them to greatness. It also proved that culture, race, or national borders had nothing to do with enjoying great metal.

BTW, I will be purchasing my tickets for Sunday's Download tonight.

Next post: Triumph- Thunder 7

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Venom- At War With Satan

 

Everybody probably all knows the stereotypes of all heavy metal bands. They can only play four chords, they scream because they can't sing, etc. Well, when I came upon the third album from British death metalers, Venom, I thought that they had a point. My first thoughts of "At War With Satan" was that it was loud, it was brash and it sounded like the whole album was recorded in somebody's basement. Yes, the album ticked all the boxes of the opinions many non-metal people have about heavy metal. But guess what? I couldn't have cared a monkey's about what they thought. I liked this album on account of all that.

For those who have or listened to "At War With Satan" on either cassette or vinyl will know that the entire first side is comprised by the title track. Therefore, you get nineteen minutes of Venom viciousness in one song. The song itself is meant to tell the story of how Hell revolts against Heaven and God is thrown into hell, all centered around the keeper of the gates of Hell who shares his name with Venom's drummer. While a very long concept song, it does keep you on your toes with the various changes throughout so you don't get bored with it. Plus there's some interesting guitar soloing from Mantas. Back in the day, if I had listened to the track on CD, I might have thought it was different songs as opposed to one long one.

Side two consists of the remaining six songs whose combined length equal that of the title track on the previous side. If anyone had problems with Venom stretching out like they did on side one, then they'd be rest assured that Venom return to their more traditional roots of short, sharp headbangers. "Rip Ride" starts things off well enough but is quickly superseded by "Genocide." That is a cool track. "Cry Wolf" actually is slower than what was considered traditional Venom but the band pull it off. The joke at the time was that you could actually make out what Cronus was singing here. Maybe it was meant to be a single. Following, "Stand Up (And Be Counted)," another song whose lyrics you can understand after the initial growls, comes my all time favourite Venom song, "Women, Leather and Hell." This song typifies what I have always liked about Venom. It's loud, ferocious and about some of my favourite subjects. I was rather disappointed when they didn't play it at Bloodstock, 2016. That leads to the very amusing closer, "Aaaaarrrghh."

Track Listing:

1. At War With Satan
2. Rip Ride
3. Genocide
4. Cry Wolf
5. Stand Up (And Be Counted)
6. Women, Leather and Hell
7. Aaaaaarrrghh

[caption id="attachment_2436" align="aligncenter" width="209"] Venom[/caption]

Cronus- bass, lead vocals

Mantas- guitar

Abaddon- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weXJZ5iVd9o

Critics back in 1984 mostly agreed that "At War With Satan" catapulted Venom into the world of mainstream metal. Maybe it did but those of us who liked this album didn't care about that. What was good was the fact that the band was able to write more mature songs without losing any of their edge.

Next post: Loudness- Disillusion

It is also my displeasure to announce that due to the events of the past month and a half, I will not be going to the full Download Festival. The good news is that I will attend the Sunday where I intend to see, Kreator, Marilyn Manson and headlining will be Ozzy.

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

Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1984: Deep Purple- Perfect Strangers

Destiny brought them back together again. At least that was the big advertising plug for the "Perfect Strangers" album from the newly reformed Deep Purple. Back in the day, this album split opinion among many metalheads. Older ones like me, (I was 23 then), embraced this album immediately. However, there was some dissent from many teen metalheads at the time. Some even said that Deep Purple never should have reformed. To them, "Perfect Strangers" was a disappointment.

Let me add my theory to why teen metalheads might have been disappointed with the album. See, all these youngsters ever heard about in regards to Deep Purple was the classic "Smoke on the Water." For many, this was their only experience with the legends. Therefore, they expected the entire album to be like that classic and when Deep Purple showed their more progressive rock side, which they do on the album, these youngsters were put off.

My experience with Deep Purple, although late, was full on. Of course, I knew of "Smoke on the Water" but I also enjoyed their more progressive songs like, "Wring That Neck" and there's my favourite, "Woman From Tokyo" which incorporates both the prog and hard rock they were famous for. While none of the songs on "Perfect Strangers" quite match up to my fave, they do a rather good job of fusing their progressive and hard rock sounds. I think what these young people didn't understand was that the band couldn't help but add a little prog rock into their music when they had one of the best keyboard players of all time.

Deep Purple try to explain to their listeners that they had progressed from the days of "Smoke on the Water." The closing track and my pick for hidden gem, "Hungry Daze," states this clearly with the lyrics:

"We all came out to Montreax, but that's another song." 

The opening track, "Knocking At Your Back Door" pretty much shapes the entire album. You have some killer guitar work from Blackmore, great keyboard wizardry from Lord, Ian Gillan's vocals were as sharp as they had been ten years earlier and the bombarding rhythm section of Glover and Paice holding all together. It' s a great song to begin the album with. Things just go on from there with the slightly harder "Under the Gun," then the more progressive "Nobody's Home"  which shows off Jon Lord's best keyboard work and the more bluesy sounding "Mean Streak.

One of my biggest regrets after writing "Rock and Roll Children" comes with the title track. When I saw Deep Purple live in early 1985, there was a phenomenal light show accompanying the song. I loved how the lasers shot across the length of the Philadelphia Spectrum making different patters with the notes. I don't think I did it justice in the story. It was the first single and an okay song. "A Gypsy's Kiss" remind me of the old DP classic, "Burn" with Ritchie belting out a blinder of a solo as well as the trade-off with Jon Lord where guitar and keyboards go back and forth. Okay, there are two hidden gems on this album.

In regards to the other gem, I don't think "Hungry Daze" should have been the closer on the album. It's a good track but everything about the penultimate track, "Wasted Sunsets" screams closer! Just listen to the opening guitar solo and the way Gillan's voice just takes over before relinquishing again to another blazing Blackmore solo. The slower blues beat with it bears even more witness that it should be a closer. Hell, even the title suggests it! Other than this track misappropriation, "Perfect Strangers" was a good album for them to come back on.

Track Listing:

1. Knocking At Your Back Door
2. Under the Gun
3. Nobody's Home
4. Mean Streak
5. Perfect Strangers
6. A Gypsy's Kiss
7. Wasted Sunsets
8. Hungry Daze

[caption id="attachment_4515" align="aligncenter" width="330"] Deep Purple[/caption]

Ian Gillan- lead vocals

Ritchie Blackmore- guitar

Roger Glover- bass

Jon Lord- keyboards

Ian Paice- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xuBw63xj00

Was 1984 the right time for Deep Purple to return? I've always thought so. I admit, "Perfect Strangers" isn't exactly "Machine Head" but it's a good album. The musicianship of the five members is outstanding, proving that there's more to them than "Smoke on the Water."

Next post: Venom- At War With Satan

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: TNT- Knights of New Thunder

 

You've probably guessed that I've been off from my main job the past several days or why else would I be able to post three days in a row? That all changes as I'm back in work tonight so before I go, I thought I'd leave it with a post about an album from whom I call my favourite Norwegian band, TNT. Leaves Eyes does come a close second though. I didn't hear their second album, "Knights of New Thunder" until 1986 and I have to say that I was quite impressed when I did.

"Knights of New Thunder" was the first album to feature American born Tony Harnell, though for some reason, he is credited on the first few TNT albums as Hansen. Anyway, Tony's fantastic vocal range completed what is essentially a great band. I can totally understand why my sister put him into her band of underrated musicians. Speaking of underrated, guitarist Ronni Le Tekro doesn't get the true recognition he deserves either. He does hammer out some really amazing guitar solos on this album.

Things open on the album with probably the best known track on it, "Seven Seas." It seems to be the one most people remember whenever it is mentioned. The reason for this is a no-brainer. Harnell's vocals shine through straight away supported by Le Tekro's guitar work. We must not forget the rhythm section of Morty Black and Diesel Dahl who are as tight as any on this album. While "Seven Seas" is the most well known track on "Knights of New Thunder," the rest of the album is just as good. In fact, the only tracks that might be called filler are "USA" and "Deadly Metal" though I like both of these tracks too. On a personal note, the lyrics to "Break the Ice" were very important to me in late 1986. The title track ranks right up there with the best album closers.

There is one difference in the tracks on the US version and the European version of the album. Having the US one, I was treated to my favourite track on the album, "Eddie," while Europeans had the track "Tor With the Hammer" which itself is a pretty good track. "Eddie" is a very good power ballad whose lyrics I found very amusing. I think the song is about a deranged dog but I have known humans who fit in quite nicely with the lyrics of the chorus.

"Eddie likes torture and pain;

And Eddie's crying in the rain;

Eddie's got a twisted brain;

And neighours think that he's insane;

Eddie strikes again." 

Track listing:

1. Seven Seas
2. Ready to Leave
3. Klassik Romance
4. Last Summer's Evil
5. Lost Without Your Love
6. Break the Ice
7. Tor With the Hammer
8. USA
9. Deadly Metal
10. Knights of New Thunder
11. Eddie (Track 6 on the US version)

[caption id="attachment_394" align="aligncenter" width="398"] TNT[/caption]

Tony Harnell (Hansen in the credits)- lead vocals

Ronni Le Tekro- guitars, backing vocals

Morty Black- bass, backing vocals, synthesizer

Diesel Dahl- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q5vR-V_8bE

Because of "Eddie," there are two power ballads on the US version of "Knights of New Thunder." While I prefer "Eddie" to "Lost Without Your Love," I do think Le Tekro's guitar solo on the song is amazing. It has been said that "Knights of New Thunder" would be TNT's last pure metal album as they would go more glam after. My sister was always jealous of the band's hair. While, I will explore that theory down the line, I will say for now to just kick back on enjoy the delights of this one.

Next post: Deep Purple- Perfect Strangers

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Tank- Honour and Blood

 

A term that has been batted around quite a lot here on 80smetalman is 'hidden gem.' In most cases, I use it to describe a song I really like on an album that has a well known single or two on it. On occasion, I have also used the term to describe albums from bands who have more well known albums than the one I am posting about at the time. Now, I'm going to use it to describe a band or two. Whenever the new wave of British heavy metal, (NWOBHM), is mentioned, the first bands that come to mind, even mine, are Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Def Leppard and maybe Saxon. All of them great bands who have given us more than three and a half decades of great music. However as I tour through the years, I have discovered two hidden gems from the NWOBHM age. One I posted about a couple of months ago, Grimm Reaper. The other is brought to you now, Tank. I knew of both bands back in the day and loved them and often wonder why neither of them were as big as the others.

Back in those days, I had become quite diligent in scouring the heavy metal import section at my local record store and that's where I came across what I think is their best album, "Honour & Blood." The problem is that I didn't appreciate it enough back then, so I'm making up for it now. What you get with this album is seven songs of pure metal magic. The shortest song is a mere four minutes and thirty-seven seconds long and there is only one other song less than five. Tank go off on crazy long metal jams which are just superb. There is not one song, even the two that are eight minutes long, where I am thinking that the song has gone on for too long. BTW, those eight minuters are the opening and closing tracks on the album and a good way to do it. Especially so on the closer because it features the very amusing lyrics, "Kill, the poor bastard's dying." What a fun way to the close the album, of course the cool guitar solo kind of punctuates it too.

As for the songs in between, they are all great! "When All Hell Freezes Over" is a typical but well done pure metal jam and I'm hooked by the way they sing the chorus. Blistering guitars adorn the title track. "W.M.L.A. (Wasting My Life Away)" and "Too Tired to Wait For Love" are also great metal anthems and more than just amusing titles. However, my favourite track is the cover of the Aretha Franklin hit, "Chain of Fools." I admit, the rhythm reminds me a little of the Rolling Stones classic, "Satisfaction," but the song just kicks it.

Track Listing:

1. The War Drags Ever On
2. When All Hell Freezes Over
3. Honour and Blood
4. Chain of Fools
5. W.M.L.A. (Wasting My Life Away)
6. Too Tired To Wait For Love
7. Kill

[caption id="attachment_3686" align="aligncenter" width="259"] Tank[/caption]

Algy Ward- bass, vocals

Cliff Evans- guitar

Mick Tucker- guitar

Graeme Crallan- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0rSCDsS7Gc

The more I reflect back to those years, the more convinced I am that Tank were a hidden gem in the new wave of British heavy metal. They may not have hit it as big as the others, constant personnel changes didn't help them there, but they left behind several albums, including "Honour and Blood" for us to enjoy.

Next Post: TNT- Knights of New Thunder

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

Great Rock Albums of 1984: David Bowie- Tonight

 

Every year through the journey through the golden age of heavy metal, there is no doubt in my mind that I missed an album or two that was considered a great album in that year. One I nearly missed was the "Tonight" album from the legendary David Bowie. My (poor) excuse for this was the fact that I was so caught up in posting about all the great metal albums that this one nearly past me by.

Thinking back to said year, I remember when the single, "Blue Jean," from the album first appeared on MTV, my reaction to the song was, "Hey, David has gone back to his more traditional roots that brought him fame, no pun intended, in the 1970s." "Blue Jean" is considered a light rocker in my eyes and it is the best song on the album. Back then, it persuaded me that "Tonight" would be better than his previous album, "Let's Dance," so I went out an procured it. After a listen, I came to the conclusion that "Tonight" was better than "Let's Dance," but not that much better.

For the first few songs, "Tonight" sounds like it was it was preformed by a late 1970s lounge act. Everything that comprises such a thing is present in these songs. It's definitely music to mellow out to, however, I can not fault the first rate musicianship on the songs. It is why I can say that while theses songs aren't exactly my cup of tea, they still provide good listening to if you are in the right mood. Two prime examples are the seven minute long opener, "Loving the Alien" and his mellowed cover of the Beach Boys classic, "God Only Knows."

For those who have "Tonight" on vinyl or cassette, side two goes in a more harder rock direction starting with "Neighbourhood Threat." This is a decent rocker and even more harder than the single "Blue Jean" and precisely the reason why it's the hidden gem on the album. The single comes next and things pretty much carry on from there, although the remainder of the songs aren't quite as hard rock as these two. Saying that, I do like the horns sound in "I Keep Forgettin.'" The second side is definitely the better side for me.

Track Listing:

1. Loving the Alien
2. Don't Look Down
3. God Only Knows
4. Tonight
5. Neighbourhood Threat
6. Blue Jean
7. Tumble and Twirl
8. I Keep Forgettin'
9. Dancing With the Big Boys

[caption id="attachment_3052" align="aligncenter" width="215"] David Bowie[/caption]

David Bowie- lead vocals

Derek Bramble- guitar, synthesizers, bass, backing vocals

Carlos Alomar- guitar

Omar Hakim- drums

Carmine Rojas- bass

Mark King- bass on "Tumble and Twirl"

Rob Yale- CMI on "Loving the Alien," "Tonight" and "God Only Knows"

Guy St Ange-marimba

Sammy Figueroa- percussion

Tina Turner- vocals on "Tonight"

Iggy Pop- backing vocals on "Dancing With the Big Boys"

Robin Clark, George Simms, Curtis King- backing vocals

The Borneo Horns:

Stanley Harrison- alto and tenor saxophones

Lenny Pickett- tenor sax, clarinet

Steve Elson- baritone saxophone

Arif Mardison- string arrangements, synthesizers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Nj_EmUmQc

Okay, David Bowie's 1984 album "Tonight" doesn't make me stop wanting to listen to "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and Spiders From Mars" but it is, at least in my opinion, better than his more commercial album, "Let's Dance." While it's not something I would want to listen to in conjunction with any metal album, it is still a good album to lay back, mellow out and appreciate the fine playing on it.

Next post: Tank- Honour & Blood

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Whitesnake- Slide It In

 

Well, here I go! This is my fourth post in as many days and my fifth in the past six. See what happens when a person has too much time on their hands. It is a good feeling compared to when I am so swamped, I worry that I won't get out my self appointed quota of two posts a week. What better way to end this run than to post about the first Whitesnake album I seriously listened to, "Slide It In."

One thing I didn't realize back in 84 that I learned shortly after was that Whitesnake were going through their normal personnel changes at the time the album was recorded. After the recording of the album, both guitarists and bassist would leave bringing in guitarist John Sykes and bassist Neil Murray to play on the US version of the album. As it was the US version I'm most familiar with, the focus of the post will be in light of that.

For those who have Whitesnake's "Greatest Hits" album, one would believe that they put out loads of power ballads. However, those who delve further into the band's discography would quickly discover the misconception of that belief. The two tracks on "Slide It In" that comes even close to being a power ballad are "Love Ain't No Stranger" and the single, "Slow and Easy." Even those songs only appear to be such at the beginning before going much harder.

The album also leads off with the title track and my all time favourite Whitesnake song. This song demonstrates that Whitesnake has always had it in them to be more than a commercial metal band who played nothing more than power ballads. These days people say that about Bon Jovi but I digress. The rest of "Slide It In" follows in the vein of my all time favourite song. The songs are harder although there is some good melody in them. I like the Jon Lord's keyboards sound in "Gambler," especially the way it links up with the guitar solo. "Guilty of Love" is similar to the title track as a metal tune. It would have sounded even better if the guitar on the mix was turned up a fraction higher. Same things can be said for the remainder of the songs for I can see why some people argue that "Slide it In" was Whitesnake's last real metal album.

Track Listing:

1. Slide It In
2. Slow and Easy
3. Love Ain't No Stranger
4. All Or Nothing
5. Gambler
6. Guilty of Love
7. Hungry for Love
8. Give Me More Time
9. Spit It Out
10. Standing in the Shadow

[caption id="attachment_4490" align="aligncenter" width="385"] Whitesnake- 1984[/caption]

David Coverdale- lead vocals

Mel Galley- guitar, backing vocals

Mick Moody- guitar

Carl Hodgkinson- bass

Jon Lord- keyboards

Cozy Powell- drums

John Sykes- guitar on US release

Neil Murray- bass on US release

[caption id="attachment_4491" align="aligncenter" width="202"] John Sykes[/caption]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUGk7HaJwgE

Was "Slide It In" Whitesnake's last real metal album? I won't get roped into that debate, especially when I hear some of the songs from their next album. However, that wouldn't come out for another three years so it's hard to judge. What I do know is that I really liked this album and it compelled me to go check out Whitesnake's earlier material, particularly when I got to England.

Next post: David Bowie- Tonight

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: KISS- Animalyze

 

Since Queensryche supported KISS in late 1984, I thought it only appropriate for the next post to be KISS's "Animalize" album. Unlike Queensryche, I was able to put more details of their performance on this tour in "Rock and Roll Children." Although I didn't actually see the concert, I did get the video of KISS concert for "Animalize," so that helped me a lot. This was in spite of the fact that the concert on the video didn't take place in Philadelphia, which was where I went to see all the concerts at the time.

"Animalize" was the second album by KISS without their make up, following on from their previous album, "Lick It Up." Now, I know KISS themselves along with many others like to downplay this era of Kisstory. True, they were looking more and more like a glam band but then again, so were many bands. However, I don't think this album was particularly bad, it has its good moments.

The opener, "I've Had Enough (Into the Fire)" opens with some metal sounding riffs, which I've always liked. The riffs alone make this song the best choice to open the album. Next comes the big single, "Heaven's On Fire." No arguments from me that this song was made for commercial radio and MTV. It is too similar to "Lick It Up" but then again, I don't dislike it either. I just find myself amused at the similarities between the two singles.

"Burn Bitch Burn" is nothing more than a catchy title and a cool guitar solo. It does give weight to the belief that Gene was too sidetracked with other projects and not putting his full attention to KISS. Paul does succeed in making up for it with "Get All That You Can Take." With all the "ooohs," one could probably say it was Paul's best vocal effort. It too has a cool guitar solo and throughout the years, I've wondered if Mark St John hasn't been given the respect he deserves. Saying that, then future band member Bruce Kullick nails the guitar solo on the next track, "Lonely Is the Hunter" and makes me wonder if KISS should have had him play on the whole album. God, thinking about it can give a person a headache, almost. I will say that the track in question is a better effort from Gene, possibly his best on this album.

It seems that KISS tried to be more speed metal with "Under the Gun." It is definitely the fastest song on the album and the best part is that Paul's vocals fit the song. Maybe I've underestimated his vocal ability these many years. The song does open side two, if you have vinyl or cassette, very nicely and leads to my choice for hidden gem. I know that "Thrills in the Night" was released as the second single on the album but from what I've read, it failed to chart. That makes it a hidden gem in my opinion. It's hard enough to please metalheads but with some good melody and Gene and Eric give great backing to Paul on the vocals and it has a cool guitar solo. Personally, I think the idea for the big single on their next album was taken from it. While I won't call the remaining two songs, penned by Gene, filler, I won't say they're standout tracks. Just two good songs to end the album in the best way.

Track Listing:

1. I've Had Enough (Into the Fire)
2. Heaven's On Fire
3. Burn Bitch Burn
4. Get All you Can Take
5. Lonely is the Hunter
6. Under the Gun
7. Thrills in the Night
8. While the City Sleeps
9. Murder in High Heels

Paul Stanley- rhythm guitar, lead and backing vocals

Gene Simmons- bass, lead and backing vocals

Eric Carr- drums, backing vocals

Mark St John- lead guitar

Additional musicians

Bruce Kullick- lead guitar on "Lonely is the Night" and "Murder in High Heels"

Jean Beauvour (ex Plasmatics): bass on "Get All You Can Take," "Thrills in the Night" and "Under the Gun"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o9A0kRIi7Q

Say what you want about KISS during their unmasked 1980s period, but I think that "Animalize" isn't all that bad. It does have it's good and amusing points but on the other hand, it never made me want to stop listening to "Destroyer."

Next post: Whitesnake- Slide It In

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Queensryche- The Warning

 

One problem with going back in history is that it isn't always easy to put yourself back in that time. In many instances, I've listened to albums with a different attitude than I did when I first listened to them when said album first came out. That is the unfortunate case with Queensryche. When I first heard their debut album, "The Warning," I thought that it was pretty good. However, I wasn't chalking up the days for when their second album would come out. Then there's another dilemma. Sometimes having historical knowledge isn't always good and in Queensryche's case, it isn't. See, what I know now that I didn't know in 1984 was that this band would go onto to achieve some great things. Without breaking sweat, I can think of three Queensryche albums that are far superior to "The Warning" and that isn't fair to this album because it's still pretty cool.

My first experience of Queensryche came when my friend introduced me to them after he had seen them supporting KISS. I couldn't go to that concert because I had to work and that is why my account in "Rock and Roll Children" of their performance that night is what one critic called 'bare bones.' I not only had to take myself 25 years back in time but I had to glean knowledge from another person's memory. Still, I'm sure they kicked ass that evening.

I've decided not to review "The Warning" as if I was in 1984 because subsequent recent re-listens have led me to conclude that the debut album was simply a marker for the better things Queensryche would aspire too. The band might have not liked how the album was mixed but I can hear all the trademark elements that make a good Queensryche album. There are the anthems like tracks of "En Force" and "No Sanctuary." Both of these songs represent what I've always liked about this band, as do the opening riffs of "Deliverance." "Take Hold of the Flame" incorporates a little bit of everything. It has an acoustic intro before Geoff Tate's vocals take things up a couple of notches. Additionally, the guitar solo of one Chris De Garmo has me agreeing with my sister's assertion that the band hasn't been the same since he left.

For me, the second half of the album is the better half. All four tracks are what I can call classic Queensryche metal. There is some interesting harmonizing on "Behold the Storm" and though "Child of Fire" and "Road to Madness" are cool tracks,  my vote for favourite track is "Warning." It definitely has the catchiest licks of all the songs. It sounds like a true metal anthem and Tate puts his vocal stamp on it perfectly. In reference to the guitars, while I still stand by my remark about Chris, Michael Wilton shows he's just as good on the axe. Great song!

Track Listing:

1. N M 156
2. En Force
3. No Sanctuary
4. Deliverance
5. Take Hold the Flame
6. Behold the Storm
7. Child of Fire
8. Warning
9. Road to Madness

[caption id="attachment_4472" align="aligncenter" width="241"] Queensryche[/caption]

Geoff Tate- lead vocals

Chris De Garmo- guitar, backing vocals

Michael Wilton- guitar, backing vocals

Eddie Jackson- bass, backing vocals

Scott Rockenfield- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgJV62Ys-Es

Who says a little knowledge is a dangerous thing? If I knew back in 1984 what I know now about Queensryche, I would have called this album, "a promising start." Because that is exactly what "The Warning" was.

Next post: KISS- Animalyze

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