Round #4 is here, weary travelers, and with it, the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. But before we start thinking about fully crossing back into the 21st century, we’ve got trips to Japan, Italy, the UK, and Canada to notch into our belts this week.
If the first thirty haiku snuck under your radar, you can catch up right’chere. And if you’re interested in a quick summary of precisely what’s going on:
The purpose of this list is pretty simple: A means to assuage an ailing mind and make me feel a little better about some of my favorite metal from the 80s being left off the Last Rites collective list.
So, yes, I’ll be throwing a total of fifty additional 80s’ metal albums under the spotlight that have become very near and dear to my heart over these many years.
Again, many of these releases are available through a few different avenues, so be sure to check themetaldetektor to see who’s still delivering the goods.
• • • • •
Loudness – Devil Soldier
Released: 1982 on Nippon Columbia Records
Location: Osaka, Japan
Style: Taka-Power Speed-Saki Metal
Status: Active
R.I.P. Munetaka Higuchi
Sample: “Lonely Player”
~ Please, no “Roudness” jokes
We’ve heard it a hundred times
This arbum is huge ~
• • • • •
Anthem – Anthem
Released: 1985 on Nexus Records
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Style: Tetsuo the Iron Man Metal
Status: Active
Sample: “Red Light Fever”
~ Anthem’s first album
Big, lively and bulletproof
Just like the band’s hair ~
• • • • •
Chastain – The 7th of Never
Released: 1987 on Shrapnel Records
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Style: Ancient Metal from the Future that Sounds Ancient
Status: Active
Sample: “It’s Too Late for Yesterday”
~ Oh, hello, Leather
When can we go on a date?
7th of never ~
• • • • •
Razor – Evil Invaders
Released: 1985 on Attic Records
Location: Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Style: Speed/Thrash Metal that is a Friend of Sarah Connor
Status: Active
Sample: “Evil Invaders”
~ Part man, part machine
Speeding Canadian thrash
Not such a strange brew ~
• • • • •
Deathwish – Demon Preacher
Released: 1988 on GWR Records
Location: Brighton, UK
Style: Thrash/Speed Metal STOP READING THIS AND GO FIND THE REISSUE RIGHT NOW
Status: Split up
Sample: “Demon Preacher”
~ Deadly city nights
Speeding riffs kill street thugs dead
Charles Bronson metal ~
• • • • •
English Dogs – Forward Into Battle
Released: 1985 on Music for Nations Records
Location: Grantham, Midlands, UK
Style: Crossover/Punk/Thrash Metal with Static Electric Hair
Status: Doubly active: One and Two
Sample: “Ultimate Sacrifice”
~ Vallejo artwork
But this ain’t power metal
Punky thrash face-melt ~
• • • • •
Atrophy – Socialized Hate
Released: 1988 on Roadracer Records
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
Style: Socially Conscious Thrash Metal Washed Down with a Beer Bong
Status: Split up
Sample: “Preacher, Preacher”
~ Remember real pits?
Now they’re gentle as lambs’ ears
Not that it matters ~
• • • • •
Paul Chain – Life and Death
Released: 1989 on Minotauro Records
Location: Ancona, Marche, Italy
Style: wE¡Rd døøm µe†aL
Status: Split up
R.I.P. Sanctis Ghoram
Sample: “Cemetery”
~ Paul Chain reigns supreme
As Italian doom’s crowned king
He is a strange dude ~
• • • • •
Nasty Savage – Indulgence
Released: 1986 on Metal Blade Records
Location: Brandon, Florida, USA
Style: Technical Speed/Thrash Metal Figure Four Leg Lock Kill Your Television
Status: Split up
Sample: “Divination”
~ Looked like a wrestler
And smashed TVs on his chest
Ol’ Nasty Ronnie ~
• • • • •
Destructor – Maximum Destruction
Released: 1985 on Auburn Records
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Style: Heavy Metal Blazing Enough to Ignite the Cuyahoga River
Status: Active
R.I.P. Dave “Holocaust” Iannicca
Sample: “Pounding Evil”
~ One hundred percent
Underrated gem right here
No Cleveland Steamer ~
• • • • •
