Thunderstick | Echoes From the Analogue Asylum

by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer –

The fifth entry in Heaven & Hell’s Lost Relics reissue series, Echoes From the Analogue Asylum is a loaded anthology of solo recordings by Thunderstick. Best known as the enigmatic masked drummer of New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) pioneers Samson, the ever-theatrical Thunderstick (real name: Barry Purkis) decided to form his own band once Samson’s sound started moving into blues rock territory.

Between the brash female vocalists (Anna Borg on 1983’s Feel Like Rock n’ Roll and Jodee Valentine on 1984’s Beauty and the Beasts) and more pop-oriented approach, Thunderstick’s solo albums were quite a departure from the bluesy Samson and the NWOBHM sound in general. It’s got a metal, or at least hard rock background, but the power-pop meets girl-punk elements bring to mind bands as varied as Girlschool, the Runaways, the Go Go’s and Suzi Quatro. This is upbeat, quirky, commercially oriented rock, and it didn’t win over many metal fans. It’s not without its charms though. Songs like “Heartbeat (In the Night),” “Another Turnaround” and “Buried Alive” rock pretty hard, and even the poppier songs have a great ’80s b-grade horror movie soundtrack vibe.

Echoes From the Analogue Asylum collects Thunderstick’s Feel Like Rock n’ Roll EP and the full-length album Beauty and the Beasts, plus a few interesting extras. Neither album had been available on CD previously, and they’ve both been digitally remastered by Thunderstick himself for this collection. Bonus tracks include instrumental versions, demos and the Jack the Ripper themed “You Get Me In Pieces (Love Letter to Jack).” As with previous releases in Heaven & Hell’s Lost Relics series, Echoes From the Analogue Asylum looks as good as it sounds, with a fantastic horror film-style cover image and detailed liner notes.

If you’re a Samson fan looking for the kind of music on Shock Tactics or Head On, this…isn’t it. At all. If you’re a serious NWOBHM collector, Echoes From the Analogue Asylum is well worth checking out. It’s definitely one of the less conventional entries from that era, but Thunderstick does capture the scene’s wild energy and anything goes approach to heavy metal.

Genre: Rock, NWOBHM

Band:
Thunderstick (d)
Anna Marie Carmella Borg (v)
Jodee Valentine (v)
Ben Reeve (b)
Wango Wiggins (g)
Chris Martin (g)

Track Listing:
1. Heartbeat (In the Night)
2. Rich Girls (Don’t Cry)
3. In the Name of the Father (Echoes From the Analogue Asylum)
4. Long Way To Go
5. Contact Angel
6. Afraid of the Dark
7. Another Turnaround
8. Feel Like Rock n’ Roll
9. Alecia
10. Runaround
11. Buried Alive
12. Heartbeat (In the Night) (instrumental version)
13. Afraid of the Dark (instrumental version)
14. You Get Me in Pieces (Love Letter to Jack)
15. Feel Like Rock n’ Roll (alternate demo version)
16. Long Way To Go (Reprise)

Label: Heaven & Hell Records

Website: www.thunderstick.co.uk

Hardrock Haven rating: 7.5/10

Blacksmith | Strike While the Iron’s Hot

by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer

The fourth entry in Heaven & Hell’s Lost Relics reissue series, Strike While the Iron’s Hot is a comprehensive anthology of early recordings by New York heavy metal band Blacksmith. One of the best of the “cult” bands in the American metal scene, Blacksmith never managed to achieve mainstream success, but those who found the band’s albums or caught one of their explosive live performances knew they were fortunate to have discovered one of metal’s best kept secrets.

Their image might have been inspired by early Motley Crue, but Blacksmith’s powerful music was firmly rooted in the iconic metal sounds of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, The Rods and Motorhead. In their early incarnation (with female vocalist Heidi Black), the band’s wild energy and “metal for metal’s sake” attitude recalled the best of the NWOBHM bands, like the bastard offspring of early Iron Maiden and Grim Reaper, especially on metal anthems “Rock Hard” and “Louder Than Hell.” As memorable as those early Blacksmith songs are, it’s the band’s second incarnation that really stands out. The band was obviously energized by the emerging thrash metal sound, but beyond the faster riffs the overall songwriting is better, and new vocalist Malcolm “Mania” Lovegrove brought more power and range to the band’s sound. This version of Blacksmith had more in common with early Metallica, Armored Saint and Vicious Rumors.

Strike While the Iron’s Hot collects the band’s self-titled 1986 EP as well as their 1989 full-length debut Fire From Within. Both have been remastered by Jamie King, who really managed to breathe new life into these old recordings. For those of us who had only heard the Fire From Within bootleg that had been circulating, this is almost like hearing an entirely new album. The CD also includes a band biography, rare photos and the original artwork, along with a powerful new cover image. The enhanced portion of the disc includes flyers, photos and other goodies, and there’s a code in the inlay that lets you download rare demo recordings. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also a limited edition version of Strike While the Iron’s Hot that includes a DVD full of rare Blacksmith live footage.

If you’re a fan and collector of ‘80s era heavy metal, particularly the cult bands whose true metal sound destroyed the more popular MTV prettyboys, a collection like Strike While the Iron’s Hot is a dream come true. And if you missed Blacksmith the first time around but love uncompromising, old school heavy metal, this is the perfect introduction to the band. Not only is this classic material finally available (officially) on CD, but it has never sounded better. This is a first rate collection that’s obviously a labor of love for both the band and the label.

Genre: Heavy Metal

Band:
David Smith (g)
Heidi Black (v) (1-5)
Malcolm Lovegrove (v) (6-13)
Michael Marino (b) (1-5)
Chris Madsen (b) (6-13)
George Snyder (d) (1-5)
Chris Caglione (d) (6-13)

Track Listing:
1. The Bone March/Tower of London
2. Rock Hard
3. Louder Than Hell
4. The Blacksmith
5. The Beast
6. House
7. Louder Than Hell
8. A Taste of Darkness
9. The Bone March/Tower of London
10. Theatres des Vampires
11. Hell To Pay
12. Fug It
13. Black Attack

Label: Heaven & Hell

Website: www.blacksmithusa.com

Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10

Ancient Creation : Moonlight Monument

by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer

Moonlight Monument is the third album from Kansas City-based metal band Ancient Creation. The band, newly signed to Heaven and Hell Records, has a sound that’s tough to pin down. There’s a strong traditional metal backbone, but there are also elements of power, thrash and even some traces of progressive and doom metal. It’s a killer mix of sounds, and one that brings to mind Obsession, Annihilator, (early) Iced Earth, Sanctuary, and to some degree the power/thrash of Helstar and Vicious Rumors.

Moonlight Monument starts on a strong note, with the wicked “Profane Destiny” (those opening riffs are very “Night of the Stormrider”) and continues with the dark heaviness of “Black Reflection.” That sense of darkness and heaviness pervades the album regardless of how fast or slow the songs are. Part of that is the lyrical content, which is bleak and apocalyptic in the best metal tradition. But even “At Dusk,” the instrumental introduction to the title track has that dark aura.

Speaking of that title track, “Moonlight Monument” is probably the album’s finest song, with some very impressive high-speed riffs and intricate yet soulful solos. With their thundering rhythms, the powerful, almost doomy “Drifting to Fade” and “Stories in the Snow” are also highlights. There’s really not a weak song to be found though.

Ancient Creation did a fantastic job with this one. Moonlight Monument is an album that has a classic heavy metal sound without getting blatantly nostalgic, and it’s also an album that gets better and reveals a bit more each time you spin it. If you’re a fan of traditional, power, or thrash metal (or all points in-between) with a darker edge, Moonlight Monument is an album you’ll definitely want to check out.

Genre: Metal

Band:
Steve Bentley (v)
Peter Nisenkier (g)
Andy Critz (b)
Kevin Keeton (d)
Maxx Christopher (g)

Track Listing:
1. Profane Destiny
2. Black Reflection
3. Apocalypse
4. With Anguish
5. Through Prophets Eyes
6. Drifting to Fade
7. Stories In the Snow
8. At Dusk
9. Moonlight Monument

Label: Heaven & Hell Records

Website: www.myspace.com/ancientcreation

Hardrock Haven rating: 7.7/10

Billy Farley of Ritual

by Derric Miller
Staff Writer

Ritual singer/founder Billy Farley checked in with Hardrock Haven to discuss their brand new release The Ancient Tome; the background his band which has been making music for well over 20 years; the studio/recording process as compared to the ’80s and sneaking into the Saturday Night Live studio to record some tracks; how Ritual ended up being part of Heaven and Hell Records’ Lost Relics series; and a whole lot more.

Ritual was one of those bands from the ’80s who were on the cusp of stardom but like thousands of other bands, they didn’t quite get there. Ritual is still making music today; head to http://www.heavenandhellrecords.com and get your hands on a copy of The Ancient Tome today.

(If the embedded player doesn’t populate, click here to stream the interview in a stand-alone player.)

Seventh Calling LIVE!

June 5, 2010 at The Hideout, Omaha, Neb.

by Derric Miller
Staff Writer

There are a number of excessively talented bands out there going against the grain of all that is Modern Rock and Metal, and bringing it back old school. They are doing it for the sheer love of music, and popularity be damned. Sure, bands like Avenged Sevenfold and Sevendust are all the rage, today, but when you listen to the music created by bands like White Wizzard, Pharoah, Cauldron, and another band with a “seven” in it like Seventh Calling, you can feel that Metal is going to stop being antiseptic and unabashedly corporate sometime soon. And it’s because of bands like Seventh Calling this is inevitably going to happen …

Seventh Calling blew through Omaha, Neb. June 5, in the midst of their cross-country tour pushing their brand new studio release, Epidemic, out on Heaven & Hell Records. For those lucky enough to catch them at The Hideout, a small but inordinately METAL venue, you not only would have witnessed a juggernaut on the rise, but they also came with another band hellbent on saving Metal from itself, the gents of Widow from North Carolina.

The opening band, a local group called Lords of Steel, unassumingly took the stage first. Their set consisted of raw, unpolished songs that rocked the smallish crowd, and everyone in the club had their ears set on fire by the unlimited range of singer Warren Curry. At times, he sounded like Geoff Tate and Michael Kiske of 20-plus years ago, and other times, his less soaring moments still pushed through with a Dickinson-like power. No, he wasn’t anywhere near the class of these singers who are surely the legends he looks up to, yet. But the talent is obvious. With a skilled, mohawk-wielding guitarist in Jeff Decker, and a surprisingly potent rhythm section, if Lords of Steel find their niche and continue to develop it, they might be on to something. (http://www.myspace.com/wearethelordsofsteel)

Up next was Cruz Del Sur recording act Widow, and they wasted approximately zero seconds in showing the crowd what a Metal band is supposed to sound like. Guitarist Chris Bennett is one of those effortless technicians, although he probably wouldn’t admit it. With the lead singer John Wooten IV off to the right of the stage, and the tall bald bassist Michael Wooten dead center, Widow lets you know from the get-go they will do whatever the hell they want … but certainly hope you enjoy it. Widow ripped it up with songs like “The Pleasure of Exorcism” and “Angel Sin,” and also ended their set with an ode to the fallen legend, Dio. This is the way Metal is meant to be played. If Widow is playing anywhere near you, you’d be a dolt to miss them live. The band also has a deluxe reissue out soon called Midnight Strikes … Twice and a new album in the works as well. (http://www.myspace.com/widow )

Seventh Calling closed the night, and they are a more testosterone-driven version of the bands before them. Seventh Calling slides back and forth between Classic Metal and Thrash Metal, and do it with such ease you aren’t always aware what just happened. These guys are tight; their live set sounds exactly like their studio recordings, unless they change it up on purpose. Hearing rabid tracks like “Paid in Blood” and the epic “Beyond (The Wicked Lies)” live was beyond impressive. The title track to the new CD “Epidemic” was another one of those thrash-tinged compositions that made you think that maybe if Metal Church and Megadeth wrote a song together, it’d end up sounding exactly like Seventh Calling. They even closed with a shout out to lead singer/guitarist Steve Handel’s vocal hero, the late David Wayne, and then tore up their version of the song “Metal Church.” Seventh Calling is a guitarhead’s dream, with solos and leads blazing throughout every song, and the demon-throated Handel is a force on the mic as well. Pick up their new album now. (http://www.myspace.com/seventhcalling )

With this much talent playing at such a humble venue, it does beg the question … where the hell are all the Metal fans? So you missed them all in Omaha, but Seventh Calling is heading out east, so check their itinerary and make it to a show. When bands like Widow and Seventh Calling are playing, you get the price of admission (and a great drunk) paid back a hundred times over.

Steve Handel of Seventh Calling

by Derric Miller
Staff Writer

Lead singer/guitarist Steve Handel of Seventh calling checked in with Hardrock Haven to talk about the brand new debut release Epidemic; why they went with the song “Epidemic” as the title track; how they define their sounds, and if it’s somewhere between Slayer and Metal Church; the upcoming tour; specific songs like “Paid in Blood” and the 9-minute opus “Beyond (The Wicked Lies);” and a whole lot more.

Handel is a talented guitarist and METAL singer, and Seventh Calling is another one of those bands who are rebranding what the term “American Heavy Metal” really means. Tune in now to get to know Seventh Calling’s frontman, and pick up Epidemic immediately thereafter.

Online: www.myspace.com/seventhcalling

(If the embedded player doesn’t populate, click here to stream the interview in a stand alone player.)