Great Metal Albums of 1983: Manowar- Into Glory Ride

 

The more I listen to any album by Manowar, the more perplexed I become at the fact that Kerrang Magazine called them a joke band. Maybe it was because they appeared to have fun when they made their music or possibly it was down to the fact that in the magazine's view, the world wasn't quite ready for Viking metal. I've never considered Manowar a joke then or now and the funny things is that I can listen and enjoy them after all the these years while in my opinion, Kerrang has basically sucked since the mid 1990s and I no longer read it. Saying that, I shouldn't slag them off too much because Kerrang Radio did interview me about "Rock and Roll Children" in 2011.

One of Manowar's albums I still enjoy listening to is their 1983 offering, "Into Glory Ride." While it's a small fraction below their debut album, "Battle Hyms" it's a whale of an album nonetheless. Nearly all of the songs have the melodic high notes sung by Eric Adams accompanied by some very inventive guitar playing by Ross the Boss. Listening to the album today, I can't help thinking that bands like Hammerfall and Gloryhammer listened to "Into Glory Ride" and thought to themselves, "Hey, these guys have something here." Because I am convinced that both of those bands were influenced by Manowar and this album particularly.

"Warlord," the opener is the only more straightforward metal song on here, well as straightforward as Manowar can get but it's still a good way to start out the album. The rest of the album, all six other songs are well over five minutes and sound more progressive or viking like. The best example of this is on my favourite track, "Gates of Vahalla." This song is rife with great vocals and Ross the Boss fingering his guitar all the way through, all seven minutes and eleven seconds of it. We can't take anything away from the rhythm section though because Joey DeMaio and the newly acquired Scott Columbus do a brilliant job here as they do on all the songs. Only "Hatred" is longer by twenty seven seconds and while it's a cool song, I think Adams screams a bit too much on it. Also I love the intro on "Revelation (Death's Angel.) This one is power metal at its best.

Track Listing;

1. Warlord
2. Secrets of Steel
3. Gloves of Metal
4. Gates of Valhalla
5. Hatred
6. Revelation (Death's Angel)
7. March for Revenge (By the Soldiers of Death)

[caption id="attachment_2888" align="aligncenter" width="294"] Manowar[/caption]

Eric Adams- vocals

Ross the Boss- guitar, keyboards

Joey DeMaio- bass

Scott Columbus- drums

Maybe the mainstream world wasn't ready for viking metal or power metal in 1983. I know I would have been but sadly, it would be nearly three more years before I actually listened to any Manowar. I've more than made up for that since, this album and "Battle Hyms" especially.

Next post: Diamond Head- Canterbury

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Bernie Torme- Electric Gypsies

  

For most musicians, being kicked out of a band usually spells the end for their music careers. One would have been forgiven for thinking that would have happened to guitarist Bernie Torme when he was fired by Ian Gillan from his band. It seems somebody forgot to tell that to Bernie because in 1983, he was back with a new band, sometimes referred to as the name of this album, "Electric Gypsies."

Back in the 1980s, not many Americans heard of Bernie Torme. I only learned of him when I saw this album on a catalog, though I never bought it, silly me. It wasn't until I got to England in 1986 when a new found friend introduced me to Bernie Torme and eventually this album. I have been grateful to this friend ever since.

"Electric Gypsies" is one hell of an album, plain and simple. With a good rhythm section behind him and bassist Everton Williams also providing vocals, Bernie Torme just shows what he can do with the guitar and so many rocking ways. "20th Century" is a pure metal tune that just belts your eardrums from the very first note. However, the next track is my all time favourite, "Lightning Strikes." It starts out with a soft progressive metal before it gets down to business with some heavy chords. This is the first song where Bernie truly goes to town with the guitar. Hell, he doesn't go to town, he goes to the city and countryside and a few other places with it. He just lays down the jams on this one.

I like the funky vibe on the two songs after, "Too Young" and "Call of the Wild." Both songs have a real catchy hook on them with the added bonus of Bernie's soloing, especially on the latter of the two. "D.I.S.E." is nearly a speed metal track but it's pulled off rather well. Then comes "Presence." It starts out like it's going to be a hippy more progressive song with a very eerie but nice sounding melody to the acoustic guitar. I still find myself wanting to lay back and absorb myself into the song wishing I had something to smoke. This is the first half of the song but even then things don't get that much harder. Bernie's solo is captivating with Frank Noon doing some excellent drumming in support, a very interesting song to say the least.

The last two songs bring "Electric Gypsies" out on a real high. "I Can't Control Myself" is a party song and livens things up following its more somber predecessor and that leads to "Go Go" closing the album out. This was truly an overlooked album.

Track Listing:

1. Wild West
2. 20 Century
3. Lightning Strikes
4. Too Young
5. Call of the Wild
6. D.I.S.E.
7. Presence
8. I Can't Control Myself
9. Go Go [caption id="attachment_3624" align="aligncenter" width="357"] Bernie Torme and his band[/caption]

   Bernie Torme- guitar, vocals

10. Everton Williams- bass, vocals
11. Frank Noon- drums

Do you think that Ian Gillan ever regretted firing Bernie Torme? Probably not but for Bernie, it gave him the opportunity to put out a kick ass album in 1983. Have a listen.

Next post: Manowar- Into Glory Ride

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Riot- Born in America

 

Looking back, I had heard of Riot about the same time as I did Hanoi Rocks. The difference being that I never saw Riot live and therefore it would be several more years before I actually listened to anything from them. I do feel like I missed something there. I have already reviewed two of their previous offerings, "Fire Down Under" and "Restless Breed," both of which were damn good albums. Now that I have listened to their 1983 album, "Born in America," I can say that album too is just as good.

"Born in America" is another straightforward, in your face metal album from Riot. There are no frills, just great songs. The first two set the album off in totally the right direction. Things appear to slow down with "Wings of Fire." The song suckers you into believing it's a ballad for the first minute then Kapow! The song goes into another metal frenzy. (Note: I was going to say 'Wham' but that word shouldn't be used on any 80smetalman post.) I love the guitar solo on "Running From the Law," another good song.

Next comes "Devil Woman" and yes, it's a cover of the Cliff Richard single. Admitting my sad teenage years, I liked Cliff's version when I heard it in 1976. Back then, that was probably the hardest song on AM radio. Riot takes the song and raises it to its full potential. Great power chords with some cool guitar soloing and Rhett Forester's voice sounds a hell of a lot better on this song than Cliff Richard, sorry Cliff.

In spite of my high praise for "Devil Woman," it is not the high point of "Born in America." It's simply the climax. All of the songs that follow are superb starting with my favourite, "Vigilante Killer." The ones that follow on are just as good. All have the trademarks of what makes good heavy metal but it would be unfair to the songs if I were to mention any one of them without mentioning the others. They're all that good and that makes the album fantastic.

Track Listing:

1. Born in America
2. You Burn in Me
3. Wings of Fire
4. Running From the Law
5. Devil Woman
6. Vigilante Killer
7. Heavy Metal Machine
8. Where Soldiers Rule
9. Gunfighter
10. Promised Land

[caption id="attachment_2870" align="aligncenter" width="342"] Riot[/caption]

Rhett Forester- vocals

Mark Reale- guitars

Rick Ventura- guitars

Kip Leming- bass

Sandy Slavin- drums

"Born in America" would mark the end of Riot as it was known here. All except Mark Reale would leave the band leaving him to eventually recruit other names for the band. But that wouldn't happen for another five years in heavy metal history. Forrester would have some solo success but again, that's a story for later. Since "Born in America" was such a cool album, it can be safely said that Riot definitely went out on a high with it.

Next post: Bernie Torme and the Electric Gypsies

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Hanoi Rocks- Back to Mystery City

 

It took me a couple of listens before I finally was able to get into Hanoi Rocks' 1983 release, "Back to Mystery City." At the time, I hadn't heard of them and it would be another year before I actually did when they played a small club in New Jersey. On the other hand, it's been fun delving into their backlog of albums, even this one. It might have taken a couple of listens but I can say now, "I like it."

The weird thing was that Youtube has this album backwards. The actual first track on the album is the last one on Youtube and vice versa. So, I ask myself, would my listening experience have been different if I had listened to the album in the correct order? My answer: I don't think so. The order doesn't matter here. The short instrumental opening, "Strange Boys Play Weird Openings" could have been called "Strange Boys Play Weird Closings." it's inter-changeable.

Before I get further obsessed with the order of the songs, let's look at the songs themselves. There are a number of good ones so I'll start with the one I'm least impressed with, "Lick Summer Love." It's not a terrible song, nor even a bad one but it doesn't move me either. Hanoi Rocks tries to introduce a calypso feel to the song but it doesn't quite work. Again, I don't hate the song but it is at a level below the others on "Back to Mystery City." Then again, Michael Monroe wrote the song when he was seventeen and has since said that he hated the lyrics.

Now let's go to the positives and there are many. I can't say a bad thing about the rest of the album and it has been difficult for me to pick a favourite track. Each one seems as good as the last one. For example, after riding the mid tempo "Until I Get You" which has been said to typify the band's seventies glam rock style, I get pounded with "Sailing Down the Tears." Now that I have had a moment to think, if I have to pick a favourite, it's going to be "Tooting Bec Wreck." This is more up tempo for me and works on so many levels. Maybe it's me but I do hear a slight influence of the famous Sweet song, "Ballroom Blitz" on it. Plus it's the best song for appreciating Sam Yaffa's bass skills. Then there's the one single from the album, "Malibu Beach Nightmare," which Andy McCoy wrote while smoking hashish. Maybe certain drugs can influence creativity, lol. It was originally recorded in calypso fashion as a joke but the band decided to record it as a rock song, good decision in retrospect. "Mental Beat" is quite a cool song too.

Track Listing:

1. Strange Boys Play Weird Openings
2. Malibu Beach Nightmare
3. Mental Beat
4. Tooting Bec Wreck
5. Until I Get You
6. Sailing Down the Tears
7. Lick Summer Love
8. Beating Gets Faster
9. Ice Cream Summer
10. Back to Mystery City

[caption id="attachment_2403" align="aligncenter" width="349"] Hanoi Rocks[/caption]

Michael Monroe- lead vocals, saxophone, harmonica

Andy McCoy- lead guitar

Nasty Suicide- rhythm guitar

Sam Yaffa- bass

Razzle- drums

Hanoi Rocks were putting out solid albums in rapid succession and beginning to find more commercial success in 1983. "Back to Mystery City" was a good stepping stone in that direction.

Next post: Riot- Born in America

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Kix- Cool Kids

 

In some circles, it's been said that American rockers, Kix, were the first of the glam rock, hair metal movement. While I won't enter that debate, I do remember that when I first saw their photo in 1983, I wanted to grow my hair like them after having to wear a crew cut during my four years of service to my country. However, I heard their music before I saw what they looked like in the form of the single from the 1983, "Cool Kids" album, "Body Talk." It got enough radio play to catch my interest although I'm glad I don't recall seeing the cheesy video for it where the band cavorts with ladies in full workout garb.

"Body Talk" isn't the best song on the album and apparently, Kix only recorded the song to appease their label. However, the rest of "Cool Kids" is better. Even the first two tracks, which sounds in similar mode to the single are better and the title track is better of those two. "Love Pollution" is the first true metal song on the album in my view but it's sandwiched between songs that are not. "Body Talk" follows right after and even after thirty-three years, I still don't know what to make of "Loco-Emotion."

The second half of "Cool Kids" makes up for the faults of the first half. "Mighty Mouth" is a good rocking tune that starts off with a scream from lead singer, Steve Whiteman, which I don't know how seriously I should take. Still the song does rock! It also turns the album up a gear and progresses throughout the remainder of the album. "Nice on the Ice" and "Get Your Monkeys Out" are both good tracks. I do smile at the opening line to "Get Your Monkeys Out," which goes: "I live in the jungle" and the line from the chorus, "You got to let your monkeys out." Then things go slower with a country sounding ballad, "For Shame." This song is so country sounding that I found an acoustic version of this song on Youtube. I even want to do a "Yee hah!" during the guitar solo on it. However, I don't think the band is serious on the song. Fortunately, things return to more metal pastures with the closer, "Restless Blood," which sounds to me like fore runner to one of Kix's best know songs, "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah." Maybe it's the "hey, hey, hey" that's sung several times in the song that makes me think that. Still, "Restless Blood" does conclude things on a positive note, even with the slow down part in the middle of the song because that's rapidly followed by the best guitar solo on the album. A great way to end!

Track Listing:

1. Burning Love
2. Cool Kids
3. Love Pollution
4. Body Talk
5. Loco-Emotion
6. Mighty Mouth
7. Nice on Ice
8. Get Your Monkeys Out
9. For Shame
10. Restless Blood

[caption id="attachment_3590" align="aligncenter" width="239"] Kix[/caption]

Steve Whitemann- lead vocals, harmonica, saxophone

Brad Divens- guitar, backing vocals, talk box

Brian 'Damage' Forsythe- guitars

Donnie Purnell- bass, backing vocals, keyboards

Jimmy 'Chocolate' Chalfant- drums, percussion, backing vocals, co-lead vocal on "Body Talk"

Kix got my attention in 1983 and though I can't say that I've always been a die hard fan, I know that the "Cool Kids" album is cool. Although I did try, I couldn't quite grow my hair like any of them.

Next post: Hanoi Rocks- Back to Mystery City

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Anvil- Forged in Fire

 

It's probably a psychological thing with me but whichever album I hear first from any given band tends to be my favourite one from that band. This is most likely the reason why my favourite Van Halen album is Van Halen II, my favourite Twisted Sister album is "You Can't Stop Rock and Roll" and my favourite Lynyrd Skynyrd album is "One More From the Road." The same principle applies to Anvil. "Forged in Fire" was the first Anvil album I listened to and it is my favourite. However, I tend to believe that even if I didn't hear this album first, it still would have been my favourite Anvil album.

Why is "Forged in Fire" my favourite Anvil album other than it being the first of theirs I listened to? The answer is quite simple, there are just so many great songs on it. The title track alone, which I first heard on a metal compilation album, was enough to capture my interest. I loved the pounding guitars on the song and after over thirty years, I'm not sure whether or not to take the lyrics to "Forged in Fire" seriously. Still, it doesn't matter because I love the song so much. I mean who couldn't be amused at these lyrics:

"Power blasted streams engage the injection
The mechanism reacts with affection"

If I were to levy one criticism at the album, it would be the placing of the first two songs. I know Anvil albums open with the title track and even though I love the title track on this album so much, I can't help thinking that the second track, "Shadow Zone" should have been the opener. That is definitely an ear catching speed metal tune that would wake up the dead. However, this is just me thinking too much.

The rest of the album carries on with one great song after another. All tracks are great metal tunes that can stand on their own. Back then, I took the lyrics of "Free as the Wind" to heart as that was how I felt after leaving the marines. Even the change in momentum when Dave Allison sings lead on "Never Deceive Me" only seems to make the album sound that much better. Many of the songs are might be considered speed metal like "Shadow Zone" as they are played very fast and ferociously. I find "Hard Times and Fast Ladies" a very interesting song and while I might mentally debate which song should be the opener, there is no question that Anvil made the right choice for the closer with "Winged Assassins."

Another reason why I like this album so much is that Steve 'Lips' Kudrow really goes to town on the guitar on just about all of the songs on here. His most noted ones are on "Free as the Wind" and "Winged Assassins" but there are noble efforts throughout. Therefore, I will be expecting the same when I go to Gloucester this Tuesday evening as see Anvil in all their glory. That's right, I'm finally getting to see these guys live and why I posted the album now. I wonder how many songs from "Forged in Fire" they'll actually play.

Track Listing:

1. Forged in Fire
2. Shadow Zone
3. Free as the Wind
4. Never Deceive Me
5. Butter-Bust Jerky
6. Future Wars
7. Hard Times, Fast Ladies
8. Make It Up to You
9. Motormount
10. Winged Assassins

[caption id="attachment_2368" align="aligncenter" width="226"] Anvil[/caption]

Steve 'Lips' Kudrow- vocals, lead guitar

Dave Allison- guitar, lead vocal on "Never Deceive Me"

Ian Dickson- bass, backing vocals

Rob Reiner- drums

Following "Forged in Fire" tragedy would strike for Anvil. For many, this would be considered their last album as they would descend into obscurity and wouldn't be heard from again until the documentary would be released about them in 2008. As a result, I have made an executive decision and will visit the so-called obscure albums they made in the late 1980s. However, "Forged in Fire" is definitely a great album to go out in style to.

Next post: Anvil Live in Gloucester

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Krokus- Headhunter

 

Like Quiet Riot, Krokus were another heavy metal band in 1983 who will forever be considered one hit wonders by the so called mainstream music world but boy what a song it was. Whenever I hear "Screaming in the Night," I am blown away by it now as I was back then. The way the lead guitar comes in supported by bass and drums on the intro just sounds ear catchingly eerie. It used to send a chill up me and Marc Storace's vocals added to that eerie feeling.Then when the guitars kick in, things just explode into metal euphoria. It is definitely in my top five of all time metal songs. I think that the only reason it's not number one is that the guitar solo lets it down. Only slightly but enough to keep it off number one.

Now, as I said for probably the 710,534th time, one song doesn't make an album, so the question is: Does the rest of "Headhunter" measure up? Obviously, there are no songs on it that stand up to the big single. Still, the rest of the album is pretty cool. The title track may only be a mediocre opener but "Eat the Rich" more than makes up for it. The two tracks that follow "Screaming in the Night" are more classic metal tunes and of the two, I prefer "Nightwolf." There's almost a Judas Priest vibe on it but the weird thing is that Rob Halford does a guest backing vocal on the other track, "Ready to Burn." However, after those two tracks comes my second favourite song on the album, "Stayed Awake All Night." This two was released as a single but is not as memorable as the first one. Maybe it's because the song is more melodic than the others, sounds a bit like The Who, but all I know is that I like it. The final three tracks carry "Headhunter" out very well. "Stand and Be Counted" is a strong track and the instrumental, "White Din" is interesting. Unlike the opener, "Russian Winter" is a very nice closer, if not one of the better tracks on the album.

At the time, what impressed me the most about Krokus at the time was the fact they were Swiss. Back then, I naively thought that all the best metal bands came from the US, UK or Canada, the Scorpions being the exception. I was glad that a band came from another country because fast forwarding to now, we can say that heavy metal is truly world wide and it may have just started here.

Track Listing:

1. Headhunter
2. Eat the Rich
3.  Screaming in the Night
4. Ready to Burn
5. Nightwolf
6. Stayed Awake All Night
7. Stand and be Counted
8. White Din
9. Russian Winter

[caption id="attachment_3557" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Krokus[/caption]

Marc Storace- vocals

Fernando Von Arb- lead guitar

Mark Koehler- rhythm guitar

Chris von Rohr- bass, piano, percussion

Steve Pace- drums

Additional Vocals:

Rob Halford- backing vocals on "Ready to Burn"

Jimi Jamison- backing vocals

Unfortunately, in spite of a cool album with a great single, like Quiet Riot, Krokus would fade from mainstream attention for the same reason. Their follow up albums wouldn't be a great as the ones they made in 1983. That's all the more reason to enjoy "Headhunter." For me, it's Krokus's best album.

Next post: Anvil- Forged in Fire

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