The Forgotten Heroes of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Thread

[GaetanL]

I start with:

Icon - Night Of The Crime (1985)


Essential album in that genre for me. The first album S/T is more raw. This second album "Night Of The Crime" is more polished.

First track "Naked Eyes":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U3xzLd403s

Second track "Missing":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdHkjD0UilA

[Psychotic Symphony]

Glenmore - For the Sake of Truth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9xORWAr4lc "Political Games" One of the best melodic metal songs -ever-.
Glenmore - Materialized
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po9_D6FdzmQ

Seventhsign - Perpetual Destiny (RIP Greg)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUdhDh5MUps

(Wicked) Maraya - Cycles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go6XB8rONqw

[introclaus]

Glenmore - For the Sake of Truth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9xORWAr4lc "Political Games" One of the best melodic metal songs -ever-.
Glenmore - Materialized
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po9_D6FdzmQ

Seventhsign - Perpetual Destiny (RIP Greg)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUdhDh5MUps

(Wicked) Maraya - Cycles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go6XB8rONqw

All of these belong on the "Power Metal" thread if you ask me ...

[introclaus]

I start with:

Icon - Night Of The Crime (1985)


Essential album in that genre for me. The first album S/T is more raw. This second album "Night Of The Crime" is more polished.

First track "Naked Eyes":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U3xzLd403s

Second track "Missing":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdHkjD0UilA

Mmm yes - ICON

I love love love the debut self-titled (probably because it was my introduction to the band), but both "Night of the Crime" and "Right Between the Eyes" were great as well. The debut was, as you said, more raw - almost having a bit of a US Power Metal edge without crossing all the way over. "Night of the Crime" is probably my least favorite of the bunch, as the band went in a more hair metal direction than what I had expected back then ... that said, I spun it again yesterday, and it isn't too far from other of the European metal bands around that time such as Pretty Maids, Bonfire, and so on (interesting for a US band) ... With the third album they changed singers (not necessarily a bad move as the new dude could sing for sure) and also adopted a more time-typical US hard rock sound with a blues based backbone (think Dokken meets Badlands). I really like this disc, but I don't necessarily compare it to the previous albums.

[introclaus]

PANDEMONIUM - Heavy Metal Soldiers (1983)



This is one of those albums that I just love but can't explain why ... it's not original in any way whatsoever, and it's not full of fancy playing, amazing singing, great production or anything like that. Heck, even the cover artwork is absolutely mediocre! But, it has that special something that clicked with me many many years ago, and have stuck with me ever since. I know the album by heart, and even if I "forget" about it for a year or two, whenever I come back, I immediately am rocking and singing along with every little note and lyric.

The band is from Fairbanks, Alaska, and to be honest, I can't think of any other band from that area ... not that it had any impact on why I love the music though, lol It was 3 brothers that made up the band: Chris (vocals), Dave (guitar), and Eric (bass) ... the drummer for this, their debut, was Glenn Holland who later on had a short stint with WASP. At some point in time Steven Adler (GunsNRoses) was in the band as well ...

Musically, this is just very basic hard rock / metal, somewhere between Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Omen and Saxon I would say, if that even makes sense, (EDIT: I noticed some people are comparing it to early Def Leppard, which come to think of it also makes sense). But man, all of these songs stands as classics in my book, for whichever reason only a higher power would know.

Full album stream - "Heavy Metal Soldiers" (1983):
https://youtu.be/4U1XoFqM_zw

[Guillaume]

About ICON, I love the 1st one, actually because it's raw and heavy. The follow-ups came out mych lighter and were a disappointment for me.

[Guillaume]

TRANCE - Power Infusion (1983)


The German band released a string of 3 killer albums in the 80s (Break Out (1982), this one, and Victory (1985), this one being my fave.
Lots of great riffing and melodies. I like the vocals, but they might be an acquired taste for some. I think they had some success back then and got some Scorpions references in reviews I read. They continued later on, the band split, named himself Trance Mission after and released several albums.

Most of the original band reformed in 2017, but with a new singer, and the comeback album (The Loser Strikes Back) was quite good,even though having a different voice was , well, different... But the new guy is good and surely better now than the original singer Lothar Antoni, which is kinda powerless since many years...

Full Power Infusion album
https://youtu.be/KcdpdQGL8XY

Star Invaders (from the 2017 comeback album)
https://youtu.be/6eq5P2SegM4

[introclaus]

VENGEANCE - BACK FROM FLIGHT 19

I'm sure most old-timers around here will remember classic hard rock albums such as "We're Here to Make You Rock" (86), "Take It or Leave It" (87) and especially "Arabia" (89), as the stand-out albums of Dutch band Vengeance, but for me the masterpiece in their catalogue is the highly underrated "Back from Flight 19" from 1997. Kind of their "Reunion" album of sorts after a long break, and their first where band leader Arjen Lucassen took a side-role as only contributing his playing to one song (and obviously writing + producing all music and lyrics), but for those who wonder if his leaving the band changed anything, well ... YES, a lot - and ... NO, not really Okay, so the music is less hard rock here than on the first 4 albums, although there's still an occasional Led Zep bluesy influence creeping in, a hint of Saxon NWOBHM (primarily Leon Goewie's voice) and even a bit of Rainbow'isms in the epic compositions, but mostly this album sees the band enter into uncharted territories that shows clearly where Arjen now was headed with his solo material, as multiple of the songs here ("Dreamulator", "Pg 16", "Planet Zilch" or "Right to the Core" just to name a few) could just as well have been found on any of the Ayreon or Star One albums if you ask me. This album however had been unfairly ignored from Vengeance's catalogue, and it (in my opinion) really deserves better.

Full album stream: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=O ... dqJgBQ41xM

[Guillaume]

Well, Back From Flight 19 never thrilled me. Maybe I should revisit. As for the classics you mention, you forgot their best album, the s/t from 1984
https://youtu.be/mmIwpYCw44M

[introclaus]

Well, Back From Flight 19 never thrilled me. Maybe I should revisit. As for the classics you mention, you forgot their best album, the s/t from 1984
https://youtu.be/mmIwpYCw44M

Hah, there’s always one ...

I don’t think the debut is anywhere near the next three following it, and absolutely nowhere close to the “back from flight 19”.

[venidominefan]

Warrior - Fighting For the Earth



A stone cold classic with Parramore McCarty's killer vocals and Joe Floyd's killer guitar riffs and songs.

Fighting For The Earth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5VuH9EAhe8

Day Of The Evil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9DVS8FyasA

Ruler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf8i-8hhUgY

[Guillaume]

Well, Back From Flight 19 never thrilled me. Maybe I should revisit. As for the classics you mention, you forgot their best album, the s/t from 1984
https://youtu.be/mmIwpYCw44M

Hah, there’s always one ...

I don’t think the debut is anywhere near the next three following it, and absolutely nowhere close to the “back from flight 19”.

If you say so. I still beg to differ.

[Guillaume]

Warrior - Fighting For the Earth



A stone cold classic with Parramore McCarty's killer vocals and Joe Floyd's killer guitar riffs and songs.

Fighting For The Earth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5VuH9EAhe8

Day Of The Evil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9DVS8FyasA

Ruler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf8i-8hhUgY

Killer album indeed.

But Ancient Future from 1998 is also excellent IMO.

And the one they did with Rob Rock on vox, The Code Of Life.

[introclaus]

Warrior - Fighting For the Earth



A stone cold classic with Parramore McCarty's killer vocals and Joe Floyd's killer guitar riffs and songs.

Great album - always reminded me of the Accept albums of the same time period (early/mid 80s).

[introclaus]

TRANCE - Power Infusion (1983)


The German band released a string of 3 killer albums in the 80s (Break Out (1982), this one, and Victory (1985), this one being my fave.
Lots of great riffing and melodies. I like the vocals, but they might be an acquired taste for some. I think they had some success back then and got some Scorpions references in reviews I read.

I like this - don't think I ever heard it back then. Yes, there's some Scorpions in it for sure, but also reminds me of the first 2 Virgin Steele actually (perhaps the singer?)...

[venidominefan]

Killer album indeed.

But Ancient Future from 1998 is also excellent IMO.

And the one they did with Rob Rock on vox, The Code Of Life.

Agreed on Ancient Future.

Didn’t get to check out The Code of Life, I’ll have to look into that.

Wasn’t there also another one with Marc Storace from Krokus singing? Was that any good?

[introclaus]

Killer album indeed.

But Ancient Future from 1998 is also excellent IMO.

And the one they did with Rob Rock on vox, The Code Of Life.

Agreed on Ancient Future.

Didn’t get to check out The Code of Life, I’ll have to look into that.

Wasn’t there also another one with Marc Storace from Krokus singing? Was that any good?

I personally didn't like the Rob Rock fronted album much, and I don't think I ever checked out the one with Marc Storace.

[venidominefan]

EZO - 1987

Originally named Flatbacker, they put out albums in Japan before being "discovered" by Gene Simmons. On a side note, if anyone has the Flatbacker stuff and wants to do a cdr trade I'd be down for that.

Though not a technically gifted singer, Masaki Yamada had just the right sound and attitude to fit the music like a glove.

Destroyer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZacNQz-OgZ8
House of 1,000 Pleasures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbHX9-QItNs



EZO - Fire Fire - 1989

Second album was more polished and with a better production.

Nightcrawler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFzYtMT-cjQ
Fire Fire: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vug_h6DPrw0

[introclaus]

DANZIG - Danzig II Lucifuge

This is one of those albums that I own on both vinyl, CD and digital as I love it so much. An incredible album of super original heavy metal with influences from gothic, punk, blues rock and doom, all melted together into this amalgam that sounds like no one else but Danzig. I can't think of any band that has perfected this sound as well as good ol' Glenn Danzig himself.

I know a lot of people prefer the debut thanks to such hits as "Mother", "Twist of Cain" or "She Rides", but while I love that album a lot, it's Lucifuge that wins out by a hair, thanks to such tunes as "Devil's Plaything", "Killer wolf", "Tired of Being Alive", "Blood and Tears" (this song always gets me, soooo emotional), "Her Black Wings" and ...oh damn it, just play the entire album!!!

Stream of album:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5 ... g2agnFB8pc

[MitchG]

There's a small handful of bands that immediately come to mind when I think of the category of great but criminally underrated rock/metal bands (one of them is Riot, although they aren't underrated among this knowledgeable group, but the other couple I'll save for later!). Coney Hatch put out a monster of a debut album in 1982, and a couple decent follow-ups (Outta Hand and Friction). Do they qualify as "forgotten heroes" if too few people know about them? Well, for me they do.

These guys had two great vocalists in Carl Dixon and Andy Curran, and just some great songs. Shoulda been huge. Based on live YouTube clips they still kick around doing reunion shows and put out another album a few years back.

Devil's Deck: https://youtu.be/a4bq5yP7Jvk

Monkey Bars: https://youtu.be/mVtuz47wbPs

[introclaus]

DISNEYLAND AFTER DARK - No Fuel Left for the Pilgrims



I'll never forget the year this album hit the streets - it was the biggest thing since sliced bread in the Danish music scene, and everyone had to own it. It was 1989 and I was in high school. Even those of my friends who weren't into metal at all loved this album. Having started out in the early 80's as a "punk meets country music" act (dubbed "cow-punk" by the media - https://youtu.be/7EjF0xkgDpU), Disneyland After Dark (or D-A-D, as they later came to be known as, once Mickey Mouse's lawyers got involved) were the darlings of the Danish rock scene, drawing hordes of fanatics to their concerts, something that is true even to this day. I have probably seen them live 15 times of more over the years, as they are an amazing live band.

After two releases that were more in the punk/rock genre than hard rock, the band took the plunge completely with this one, and joined the millions of other bands riding the "hair metal" wave to a certain extent ... at least in terms of looks. Musically "No Fuel..." is sleazy rock, somewhere between AC/DC, G'n'R and The Cult, but with that odd Danish twist on it all that made it somewhat of a different release, which perhaps is the reason they never took of big-time. It could also be that their in-fights with the lawyers at Disney held them back, as we all know name changes 4 albums into your career is never good for you.

Either way, "No Fuel..." is a classic to me. From opener "Sleeping My Day Away", over wonderful tunes like "Girl Nation", "Point of View", "Lords of the Atlas", "Rim of Hell", to the insane speedster of "Ill Will" closing out the album, this is rock'n'roll at its best.

Sleeping My Day Away: https://youtu.be/ASfVIFUw20Y
ZCMI: https://youtu.be/5-mJnUgtfaE
Point of View: https://youtu.be/wLWJOVM0zr0
Lords of the Atlas: https://youtu.be/WFeF7WXpW9c

[GaetanL]

Brighton Rock - Take a Deep Breath (1988)



Outlaw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5cR7RTzTVk

Love Slips Away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmz1IH32YEw

I know this band from the beginning. It was about time I buy the albums. I like this album much more than I expected...

[introclaus]

Brighton Rock - Take a Deep Breath (1988)



Outlaw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5cR7RTzTVk

Love Slips Away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jmz1IH32YEw

I know this band from the beginning. It was about time I buy the albums. I like this album much more than I expected...

I don't think I've listened to this since it came out near the end of the 80's ... Guess I should give it a spin.

[LarryD]

Saw a documentary on these guys recently and brought back great memories of this band ..........this disc in particular.

[introclaus]

Saw a documentary on these guys recently and brought back great memories of this band ..........this disc in particular.

I enjoy this band for what they are - a second rate 80's heavy metal band borderlining US Power Metal style. Not bad, but not amazing either. Also, I always found it stupid to release two albums with the same title ... guess the record label business got in the way there.

[LarryD]

Saw a documentary on these guys recently and brought back great memories of this band ..........this disc in particular.

I enjoy this band for what they are - a second rate 80's heavy metal band borderlining US Power Metal style. Not bad, but not amazing either. Also, I always found it stupid to release two albums with the same title ... guess the record label business got in the way there.

****That is correct ... the label they were on didn't know to handle metal bands ......they also didn't realize the mistake and the band admits they were so young and stupid and glad to be on any label that they themselves overlooked that mistake ........

I was also surprised to see how many versions of this band there are (were). They changed personnel regularly, so it was no wonder they couldn't get anywhere.....no consistency. Michael Olivieri was bad ass though as a singer and guitar player.

Hell they even took the World Asylum disc with Wade Black on it, and re-recorded it with Michael's vocals and then called it New World Asylum. To me that's just a waste of time and being a control freak .....

[GaetanL]

Valentine S/T debut. Melodic hard rock released in 1990. Produced by Neil Kernon.

Great melodies, great guitar solos, ... I'm wondering why they seem to have missed the boat. Bad band name? Bad timing?

First track of the album:
Runnin' On Luck Again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdOOxzq2mmM

[Sir Exar Kun]

Valentine S/T debut. Melodic hard rock released in 1990. Produced by Neil Kernon.

Great melodies, great guitar solos, ... I'm wondering why they seem to have missed the boat. Bad band name? Bad timing?

Great album! The band changed names to Open Skyz and put out one (?) follow up album under that name, then I believe Hugo (vocalist) put out a couple more under his solo name, but all of them were lighter even than Valentine.

[introclaus]

Valentine S/T debut. Melodic hard rock released in 1990. Produced by Neil Kernon.

Great melodies, great guitar solos, ... I'm wondering why they seem to have missed the boat. Bad band name? Bad timing?

Great album! The band changed names to Open Skyz and put out one (?) follow up album under that name, then I believe Hugo (vocalist) put out a couple more under his solo name, but all of them were lighter even than Valentine.

Never got into Valentine or Open Skyz ... the mix of glam and AOR rarely worked for me (although Holland's Zinatra put out a wonderful debut, Dan Reed Network did some great stuff, and I guess you could put early Winger and even Nelson into that category as well?).

Hugo's solo stuff however was pretty great ... I mean, he looked and sounded like Steve Perry, so all he really needed was someone to write him some melodies that really fit that, which is what Gary Hughes and Vinny Burns did on the first solo album, which is absolute killer. The second album was "meh" and I never checked out the third one. That said, when he got together with Ramos (The Storm) for the Ramos/Hugo project, that was another high point in his career for sure.

[prog_powermetal99]

I realize that nobody may know who this band is, but I fell in love with this cassette back in the day.... I pretty much wore it out back in the early 90s, playing it over and over while at work.............It's nothing special in terms of musical talent or anything, but there was just something magical about it and I still enjoy it today as dated as it might sound........such a unique sounding female singer and really enjoyable songs.....But for some reason this CD doesn't have the song "zed yago" on it, which is my favorite song by them........

[introclaus]

ZED YAGO - Pilgrimage

I realize that nobody may know who this band is, but I fell in love with this cassette back in the day.... I pretty much wore it out back in the early 90s, playing it over and over while at work.............It's nothing special in terms of musical talent or anything, but there was just something magical about it and I still enjoy it today as dated as it might sound........such a unique sounding female singer and really enjoyable songs.....But for some reason this CD doesn't have the song "zed yago" on it, which is my favorite song by them........

This is one of those bands where I appreciate them more for their place in the music scene than for their actual music; they were one of the first heavy metal bands that featured female vocals (alongside Warlock, Hellion, Holy Moses and Chastain) that actually gained some success, they also were one of the first bands to push the pirate theme to the forefront, and they were German (which I was totally into at the time - any German band and I'd most likely love it, haha). Musically, like you said, "Pilgrimage" was fairly average, and besides the "Black Bone Song", most of the album is forgettable.

[GaetanL]

EZO - 1987

I like this hard rock/metal album very much! The 2nd album is pretty good too! (less heavy and more commercial)

[GaetanL]

There's a small handful of bands that immediately come to mind when I think of the category of great but criminally underrated rock/metal bands (one of them is Riot, although they aren't underrated among this knowledgeable group, but the other couple I'll save for later!). Coney Hatch put out a monster of a debut album in 1982, and a couple decent follow-ups (Outta Hand and Friction). Do they qualify as "forgotten heroes" if too few people know about them? Well, for me they do.

These guys had two great vocalists in Carl Dixon and Andy Curran, and just some great songs. Shoulda been huge. Based on live YouTube clips they still kick around doing reunion shows and put out another album a few years back.

Devil's Deck: https://youtu.be/a4bq5yP7Jvk

Monkey Bars: https://youtu.be/mVtuz47wbPs

I have always knew the name of the band. Now I know the music and I really like it!