Description
An odd metal compilation album from Trend Records/Gama Musikverlags GmbH
Stranger
Strangers debut album, The Bell (1985), is probably the closest thing to Helloweens Wall Of Jericho out there, an essential release in the ancient German speed metal chapter. The Bell features Gerd Salewski and founding guitarist Rikki Wolfgang Rieger (both would later go on to Chroming Rose). It then took the band a whopping five years to finally release a new album, and what happened? For starters the entire line-up has changed besides founding guitarist Rikki Wolfgang Rieger (later in Chroming Rose), and this is probably why there’s an entirely new sound and direction here. Gone were the furiously fast rhythm’s, pounding beats, soaring vocals and choruses, ripping solo’s that continue on endlessly. In comes some keyboards, synths, a drastic decrease in speed, silly whistles, terrible themes, ballads left and right, and the disappearance of blood thirsty riffs. This second album was not impressive at all. Comparing Pretty Angels to The Bell is practically like comparing Helloween’s Walls Of Jericho to Chameleon, only I’d take Chameleon over Pretty Angels anyday.
Tokyo Blade
80s heavy metallists Tokyo Blade went through numerous line-up changes during their career, but their only constant throughout it all was founding member Andy Boulton (guitar). After the ‘Blackhearts And Jades Spades’ tour Andy Boulton put together a new line up of the band featuring Pete Zito on vocals, Alex Lee on drums, Cherokee bassplayer Andy Catlin, who was shortly after replaced by Chris Stover. They released the commercial ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ as ‘Andy Boulton’s Tokyo Blade’, and did a tour, and at one point found themselves on a festival billing with Black Sabbath. This line up only lasted the one album. It was a matter of great relief actually, when No Remorse, in direct contradiction to its title, took a little pity on Tokyo Blade’s long suffering fans, and set off in a different musical direction — even if only barely. Indeed, although the bulk of its material still comprised sleek hard rock infused with synthesizers, often bordering on AOR, No Remorse wasn’t as intentionally dumped down as its immediate predecessors, only sinking to such lows as on the stripper theme ‘5-Inch Catwalk’.
Veto
Legendary among those who love and praise German Heavy Metal. The band were founded in the early 80s but had major problems to find a permanent drummer. However in 1984 they managed to score a record deal with GAMA records. Even a record deal couldn’t help to attract the right drummer so label boss Peter Garattoni stand in as a session drummer during the recording of their debut album released in 1986. Just like most other Gama bands Gravestone, Noisehunter, Tyrant and Stormwitch they weren’t that well received by the media but more loved by the metal fans. The problem with finding a decent drummer would follow the band during their whole career so the band became more of a studio project than a live band. In 1988 the band released their second and last album ‘Carthago’ and Garattoni laid down the drums even this time. The second album was just as strong as the first one but still no media back up and soon afterwards the vocalist Harry Liebhauser had to leave and that was the final nail in the Veto coffin. The band tried with a new singer but they soon disbanded. Veto had the quality of uniting melody with class and metallic feeling, going from fast songs to melodic stuff and all between.
High Tension
High Tension was a German hardrock band that was formed in Villingen-Schwenningen in 1979 by guitarist/songwriter and singer Armin Weisshaar. The band released 3 albums 1985 ‘Warrior’, 1986 ‘Under Tension’, 1987 ‘Masters Of Madness’ before they quit in 1989 when guitarist Thomas Diestein was injured in a car crash. The band received good reviews during the years and toured in Europe with bands like Girlschool, Victory and Nazareth. The reunited and released a fourth album in 1992 simply called ‘Four’.
Tox
Tox from Göppingen in Germany released their debut album “Prince Of Darkness” in 1985 on Mausoleum records. The album title and cover artwork exude a certain aura of heaviness however Tox wasnt the heaviest band or a band into the occult or satanic imagery. Their second and final album was released the year after.
Stormwitch
Do you wanna take a trip back to the past for a moment, when Heavy Metal meant unity, the bands were absolutely true and, anyway, there was a special mood in the entire Metal scene? It was the early 80s, and while the NWOBHM movement was kicking the worlds ass, in Germany things were a little bit different. Apart from the already familiar names of Scorpions and Accept, many bands with a special teutonic sound were coming out, bands like Avenger (pre-Rage), Helloween, Running Wild, Gravestone, Veto, High Tension, Sinner, Steeler… and Stormwitch. Formed as ‘Lemon Sylvan’ in 1979 before renaming the band Stormwitch. Their popularity grow with albums like ‘Walpurgis Night’, ‘Tales Of Terror’, ‘Stronger Than Heaven’ and the album ‘The Beauty And The Beast’ features some awesome heavy metal very well-written and consistent throughout the whole album.
Killer (Switzerland)
Killer from Switzerland managed to release 4 studio albums during the 80s that all had their moments however none of them really have that killer tune. The strongest part of the band were singer Mark Broman that had been replaced by Mark Lay for the bands 1986 album Young Blood. Being from Switzerland its obvious that they band has picked up one or two influences from Krokus. Even though Killer felt like quite an average act its still enjoyable to listen to them. It has those powerful melodious songs and fine vocals
Heros
Another unknown act that are exclusive for these Gama compilation albums. The track are written by Peter Garattoni and Schiele so its probably another one of those Peter Garattoni’s projects. 4 known tracks are spread over several of the Gama compilation albums but doesnt seem to have been released anywhere else
Gravestone
Gravestone was one of the many great bands that were on Gama records that never really got anywhere. This band released three good albums and the 85 album ‘Back To Attack’ is a true hammer stroke, still. Simple, pure Heavy Metal. Intelligently done and without any big weaknesses. Guitarist Mathias ‘Don’ Dieth later briefly showed up with Sinner and U.D.O.
Renegade
Renegade from Frankfurt Am Main were one of those many German bands that came out in the early to mid 80s playing teutonic metal (Gravestone, Noisehunter, Tyrant and so on). Renegade released their self titled album on the small Sri Lanka label and it was quite an uneven album. There were some lacklustre hardrock tracks mixed with some thunderous Germanic steel and some strongly NWOBHM influenced ones. The opening track on their debut album was “Dragonslayer” an Accept influenced speed metal track that thunders along nicely. The self titled debut album also features one of the most kick ass party anthems you will hear. “Have Some Drinks” is a phenomenal and catchy number encouraging people to drink at every given occasion. This will have you humming Have Some Drinks Before You Go To Hell for the rest of the day. The album features some a crisp guitar sound.
Tyrant
One of several bands over the years named Tyrant, this version was a German band of the mid-eighties hailing from the Ulm area, employing a standard Judas Priest/Accept style that was quite prevalent in Europe at the time like bands such as Warrant, Gravestone, Running Wild, Grave Digger and many others. The initial Tyrant release, 1984’s ‘Mean Machine’, released by Camel Records and recorded in Spygel Studios in Kircheim in July through August of 1984 it was engineered by Batze Kramer, featured Kerrmit, the guitar pairing of Carl Tomaschko and Holgar Thiele, bassist Andre Papack and drummer Micky Budde. ‘Mean Machine’ is highly recommend to any true metal fan. There are plenty of German influences; I think they listened to lots of Roth-era Scorps and, of course, Accept. Obvious also is the Priest, Saxon, Maiden influence. They can be pigeon-holed into a Power/somewhat-melodic/kinda speedy metal description. Their singer sounds rough like Udo Dirkschneider or Chris Boltendahl, ‘Kerrmit’ also sings with a distinct sense of humour. Kinda like Martin Walkyier but without the social commentary. There are lots of sexual innuendo and references to beer drinking and hell raising with a distinct European overtone. If you are a fan of late 70s/early 80s metal you can do a lot worse than listen to Tyrant. It’s pretty standard stuff, but it does not disappoint, and any fan of German Metal at all get this; as these guys have influenced newer bands like Helloween, Blind Guardian and Primal Fear just as much as the aforementioned `big guys’
Sinner
Led by vocalist and bassist Mat Sinner (born Matthias Lasch), Sinner is a German metal band reminiscent of countrymen like the Scorpions and Accept. The band was formed in Stuttgart, Germany in 1980, and released their first album, Wild ‘n’ Evil, in 1982. Their sophomore effort, 1983’s Fast Decision, was their first album to be released in the United States. Throughout the ’90s and well into the 21st century, Mat Sinner juggled Sinner along with his other projects (including Primal Fear, Level 10, Rock Meets Classic, Voodoo Circle, and his own Mat Sinner Band), with Sinner as the sole constant member of the group.
Track listing:
1. Stranger-Dont Give It Up-from Pretty Angels 1989
2. Tokyo Blade -Chains Of Love-from No Remorse 1989
3. Veto -Mean Mistreater-from Carthago 1988
4. High Tension -Rock N Roll Rebel-from Under Tension 1986
5. Tox -Tell Me What To Do-from Prince Of Darkness 1985
6. Stormwitch-Walpurgis Night-live-from Stormwitch Magyarorszagon 1989
7. Killer -Shes A Crazy Driver-from Young Blood 1986
8. Heros -Iron Wheel
9. Gravestone -The End Of Our Love-from Creating A Monster 1986
10. Renegade -Have Some Drinks-from Renegade 1986
11. Tyrant -Shes A Killer-from Running Hot 1986
12. Sinner -Fast Decision-from Fast Decision 1983