Description
Official 2021 re-issue on black vinyl
Founded in Copenhagen during 1982, the band Evil rose from the ashes of Never Mind. The band churned out a three song demo in 1983. At this juncture Evil comprised vocalist Pearl Angel, guitarists Kim Xmas and Tommy Strauss, bass player Pete Hurricane and drummer Freddie Wolf. Both Xmas and Wolf were erstwhile members of Palladion. Guitarist Tommy Strauss left the band in the fall of 1984 just before the recording of the bands brilliant debut mini-album, ‘Evil’s Message’ for Rave On Records. ‘Evil’s Message’ was recorded and produced in 10 days. The EP is really different from anything else being battle cried from the Danish at the time. You had a ton of traditional metal bands like Witch Cross, Crystal Knight and Alien Force then a growing melodic metal scene spearheaded by self-established masters Pretty Maids. But it was only in Germany and further abroad that bands were combining speed metal styled drums with more melodic cutting riff-sets. The difference with Evil if say compared to their super Teutonic cousins Helloween and their S/T EP (released during the same year) is; while Evil don’t merit quite as much speed as Helloween they keep more of a N.W.O.B.H.M. mix of melody and good old fashioned D.I.Y. street gruff in their compositions that’s not quite as bombastic. Comparable to how Spartan Warrior mix harmonies and monster riffs together on their S/T monster ’84 release, plus add the fore mentioned speed metal drums with some more subtle Teutonic elements. Another defining factor would be vocalist Per Hanson’s more mid range almost talked style of vocals that sounds closer to the wave of second tier German traditional metal band vocalist’s than the shrieked, glass shattering pipes of Kai Hansen. ‘Evil’s Message’ was the second last heavy metal release Rave-On would make in their short but impressive lifespan, One of my personal favorites as well (Along with H-Bomb and the Mercyful Fate mini LP). According to Kim Xmas Evil went on to record a full record worth of material that they wanted Rave-On to make into a full length a few years after the EP was released but the director of Rave-On wasn’t interested and soon after Per and Peter left the band due to lack of interest in their endeavors. This is one of those most have album
‘…The power of evil is not to be taken lightly…’
Track list:
1. Evil’s Message
2. Evil
3. The Devil Wants Me
4. Son Of The Bitch
5. Take Good Care (Of Your Balls)