Roxxcalibur NWOBHM for Muthas
by Justain Gaines
Staff Writer
For an up-and-coming band in an increasingly crowded genre, making your debut with a covers album is more than a little risky. Choosing to do a covers album that is dedicated entirely to the influential New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement of the early 1980s is riskier still, but it definitely works as an attention-grabber. If you’re a fan of the NWOBHM scene (and if you’re into metal in a serious way, you should be), you can’t ignore Roxxcalibur, the German traditional heavy metal band comprising members of Viron, Abandoned and Child in Time, and their debut album NWOBHM for Muthas.
With its gorgeous Rodney Matthews (Diamond Head, Praying Mantis, Tygers of Pan Tang) cover artwork and a title that’s homage to the legendary NWOBHM compilation Metal for Muthas, NWOBHM for Muthas is the largest collection of NWOBHM covers since Metallica’s Garage Inc. The best part – well, aside from the fact that the band did a NWOBHM covers album in the first place and totally nailed the spirit of the original material – is that Roxxcalibur went for some seriously deep cuts here. They could have gone the easy route and covered Iron Maiden, Saxon, early Def Leppard and Diamond Head. Instead they went deeper; not just Jaguar, Savage, and Witchfinder General deeper, but obscurities like J.J’s Powerhouse and Jameson Raid. Even the most dedicated NWOBHM aficionados will have to do some research when they see this track listing!
Beyond the truly impressive track listing, Roxxcalibur really executed these songs well, combining that unmistakable German metal precision with a genuine appreciation (reverence, even) for the source material. Even the production on NWOBHM for Muthas, which is totally modern, manages to come close to the rough, do-it-yourself sound of those early NWOBHM recordings. Highlights of NWOBHM for Muthas are Jaguar’s “Axe Crazy,” Dark Star’s “Lady of Mars,” and the closing double nod to Steve Grimmett (Chateaux’s “Spirit of Chateaux” and Grim Reaper’s “See You In Hell”), but the whole album is a love letter to one of metal’s most important scenes.
With NWOBHM for Muthas, Roxxcalibur has proven they have the talent and inspiration to play traditional heavy metal with the best of them. The only question now is whether their songwriting skills are up to the task. Hopefully, the band won’t make us wait too long to find out.
Online: www.roxxcalibur.de
Lineup:
Roger Dequis – Guitar
Andreas Neuderth – Drums
Alexander Beisswenger – Vocals
Eric Kaldschmidt – Guitar, Vocals
Mario Long – Bass
Track Listing:
1. Big Ben
2. Running for the Line (J.J.’s Powerhouse)
3. The Gates of Gehenna (Cloven Hoof)
4. Seven Days of Splendour (Jameson Raid)
5. Rainbow Warrior (Break House)
6. Axe Crazy (Jaguar)
7. Lady of Mars (Dark Star)
8. Destiny (Trident)
9. War of the Ring (ARC)
10. Witchfinder General (Witchfinder General)
11. Let It Loose (Savage)
12. Angel of Fear (Radium)
13. Spirit of Chateaux (Chateaux)
14. See You In Hell (Grim Reaper)
HRH Rating: 8/10