Description
2022 re-issue on orange red mixed vinyl with insert. Limited 300 copies
To be brutally honest, if you were playing NWOBHM in 1986 and your band’s name wasn’t Judas Priest or Iron Maiden then your chances were pretty much fucked right then and there. Thrash and speed metal were all the rage in those years, and the increased level of aggression meant that most fans would not be looking back. It’s actually a shame that this transpired, because there were certainly a lot of kickass records coming out of England in that traditional style, especially Raven, who were writing some of their best material in the latter half of that decade. For Blade Runner, the chance at a sophomore meant a huge development in the band’s musical skill and writing style. Warriors Of Rock, though ironically titled in a less menacing manner than their debut Hunted, is a vastly more mature effort. There are still many traces of hard rock here ala Journey, Def Leppard and Whitesnake, but by and large the riffs are heavier and more effective. Gary Jones has incorporated a lot more great leads and melodies, and Steve McKay had come quite a long way, delivering a performance here that could not only top himself, but many other bands in the genre that were still churning out material. It’s almost as if Blade Runner were keeping up with the times, without crossing over into the realm of speed or thrash metal directly, but offering a heavier alternative to an Iron Maiden or Riot. As a result, Warriors Of Rock is simply a gem that was tragically passed over. Yeah, obviously Blade Runner were not writing Master of Puppets or Somewhere in Time here but I think this is an album you MUST check out if you love this period in British metal. Despite the cruder production standards, it compares very favorably to a Turbo, and it’s clearly better than Raven’s attempt at a streamlined, friendly radio sound on The Pack Is Back. It’s really that good, and though it’s sad the band would split up due to a lack of support from their label, at least they left us something fairly enduring against the night.
Track list:
1. Eyes Of The Beholder
2. Warriors Of Rock
3. Snowqueen
4. Wings Of Fear
5. Lionheart
6. Shes Ready
7. Where Eagles Dare
8. The Verdict