Description

Part 24 in the NWOBHM singles replica series. Limited 500 copies in cardboard sleeve

Although their career was, at the very best, of marginal importance when it came to the bigger picture of pop charts and even the hard rock and heavy metal subculture, Persian Risk were one of Wales’ best contributions to the early stages of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Hailing from the suburbs of Cardiff, and based there after coming together in 1980, Persian Risk members Phil Campbell (lead guitar), Alex Lohfink (rhythm guitar), Nick Hughes (bass), and Razz Lemon (drums) lost original lead singer Jon Deverill almost immediately to the Tygers of Pan Tang (a sign of things to come), but replaced him just as quickly with the equally talented Carl Sentance, who debuted on their self-financed debut single, “Calling for You,” the next year. A remarkably professional first effort, the 7″ was a considerable regional hit for the group (by now reduced to a quartet following Lohfink’s dismissal), and generated enough national interest to get a second single, “Ridin’ High” (also 1981), distributed through metal-friendly Neat Records. But even though its contents stood head and shoulders above most anything Neat was promoting at the time — songwriting and performance-wise — the label was inexplicably slow to entice Persian Risk back for any further releases, and before any other label could step up to the table, Campbell had been pilfered by Motörhead, with whom he remained for years. The two tracks on their second single shows a band that were aiming for a more melodic sound than many of their NWOBHM counterparts and the guitar style is not focused on being heavy. Instead the band writes music accessible melodic anthems. I know Phil Campbell is on this recording but what really gives the bands its edge is the voice of Carl Sentance. Very suitable to the music. Well worth checking out

Track list:
1. Riding High
2. Hurt You