Is there any mystery left in Olde Metal Hunting? A harsh question perhaps, but to the cynics and sceptics The Corroseum's answer will always be "Yes!" Plenty of features on this site will prove this point, often
dealing with artifacts possibly even more obscure than those presented below. Yet strangely enough, the
US and Canadian Heavy Metal 7"-scene
is still one of the least explored niches in the domain of Old Metal Vinyl Collecting, at least in relation to its size and popularity. Hence forum member and long-time fan & collector of rare American 7"s, Kristian "Khnud" Knutsson has taken on this impossible feat of documentation, making this the 3rd and - surely in the long run - largest Singles-Special of The Corroseum to date...
A note on rarity Most of the releases reviewed herein are to be considered rare, usually released in either 500 or 1000 copies by small independent labels, or by the bands themselves. The rating is therefore an attempt at approximating how often an item shows up for sale.
= Rather common, a copy can most likely be found without too much effort
= Uncommon, still turns up a few times per year
= Rare, you'll most likely have to search a bit before you find one
= Very rare, expect to have to search several years before one turns up
= More or less impossible to find. The number of known copies can be counted with the fingers of one hand
Also, please note that rarity scores might change over time. A good example would be the Hazardous Waste 45, which was once believed to have been released in only 200 copies and was at that point a very expensive and desired item. Many years later another 300 copies were discovered in a warehouse and the item is, at the time this is written, reasonably easy to find at an affordable price.
A note on ratingReviews are subjective. What I think is great, someone else might think is crap. And the other way around. I strongly suggest using the reviews as a general guide and not as a definitive quality indicator.
= Bad. You probably don't need this unless you're a manic completist (like yours truly)
= Ok, but nothing spectacular
= Good, definitely worth checking out
= Great, buy or die!
= You need this more than oxygen...
Finally, I'd like to thank John Haupt, without him this project would never have been possible.
View the 20 latest entries below, or browse by letter:
White Noise - Authorized Criminal / Ripped Off
(Rubber Ball Records, 1986)Dirty and mean hard rock, with just the right amount of rawness to it. Plus, it's got that MISFITS vibe as well, perhaps it's no surprise these guys also hailed from New Jersey. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Twin-wire - Looking For You / One Night Stand
(Private, 1986)If you dig DIAMOND HEAD-esque vocals, then this is for you as the singer is a dead ringer for Sean Harris. Music wise we're served an up-tempo and slightly chaotic a-side (the drums especially are sort of all over the place), coupled with a slower number on the flip where the bands adopts a slightly softer approach while still remaining firmly rooted in heavy metal. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Sanction - Are We Forever / Don't F**k With My Stuff
(Nite Records, 1987)Classic US power metal of the finest caliber combining soaring vocals and razor sharp riffs with a gruff no-nonsense attitude. For fans of the less epic songs from the first MANOWAR album. Both songs later appeared on the band's full length album, released on cassette only. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Premonition - Glitter Girl
(Private, 1980)The outro of "Glitter Girl" unabashedly copies the bridge from "Before the Kiss, a Redcap" and the very competently performed funk rock instrumental "So What" has Buck Dharma written all over it. So, odds are pretty low that these guys were influenced by BLUE ÖYSTER CULT. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Nite Fire - Tonight / Hold On
(Future Records, 1983)Alas, by this their fourth release, the band has degenerated into feel good high school hard rock. Complete with cowbells, hand claps etc. Catchy, but pretty bland. Quite a disappointment considering their move in the right direction on the excellent "Run From Trouble" 45. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Interface - Long Lonely Nights / Your Time Around
(Storm Records, 1987)The force of the 80's is strong with this one. The drums, the synthesizers, the guitars - they're all so incredibly marinated in our favourite musical era, it's hard to not let your mind drift off to your own memories you might have of the decade. At least for us old timers who are old enough... Musically it's nothing special at all, a pretty generic hard rock/metal hybrid. But those conjured memories might be priceless, who knows? Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Frenchy - Tell The Truth / I Don't Want To Play
(Network, 1982)Tell The Truth is a very good melodic metal song with excellent guitar work throughout, far outshining anything else the band ever recorded (unless an even more obscure, ultra rare, release comes out of the woodwork). Unfortunately the b-side "I Don't Want To Play" doesn't even come close, instead being content to remain firmly in radio friendly rock territory. My condolences. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Foxy Roxie - I'm Partyin' / All Dressed Up And No Place To Go
(Groovage Records, 1988)Quite typical L.A. hard rock of the glammy and sleazy kind. And with a band name and song titles like that, how could you think otherwise? This is basically POISON, but with a female vocalist. Not bad, but nothing too exciting. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Crossroads - Lost / Hostage
(Private, 1984)Most likely a highschool band with a very MITHRANDIR- or VHF-esque singer, meaning it sounds like a kid singing. But this ain't no lightweight "Dreamers of Fortune", far from it. Instead, heavy riffs abound and the lyrics are all about the Devil or the Land of the Dead. As a matter of fact, both the music and the lyrics absolutely rip, so next time you're in the mood of getting sonically crushed by an adolescent, make sure to give this a spin. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Aquilla - Rock The Night / Running Down
(Private, 1985)Aquilla seems like a band that had a hard time deciding which way to go - it's either heavy riffs or piano driven rock'n'roll nonsense. If they had focused on one theme (preferably the former) this release might have been interesting. Now, sadly, it's not. Props for being completely ballad free though. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Virgin Steel - Walkin With My Radio / Ship To Shore
(Private, 1984)Not to be confused with a certain band from Long Island, NY, bearing a very similar name. Anyway, this bunch of merry men from Pennsylvania play some form of very sing along friendly party hard rock/metal aptly named "Walkin With My Radio" backed with some form of epic, pounding, sea farin' metal called "Ship To Shore". Very nice stuff, and the way the band weaves in "Drunken Sailor" with the b-side outro is just pure genius. My only complaint is a rather sub par production, but what can you expect on such a private release? Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Rox Starr - She's My Lady / Amy
(Vibrations Records, 1981)All in all a mostly forgettable release, similar in style to the first two RUSH albums but the 70's sounding hard rock songs are way more bland and with a lot less "elf on speed" in the vocal department. Sorry Geddy (should you ever read this), but I had to say it. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Razor - Up In The Air / Still Rockin'
(Private, 1980)With a name like that, chances are most folks will guess this is likely a heavier outfit. But surprisingly, this is more of a melodic hard rock act with some power pop leanings, released in a rubber stamped white sleeve. And while that moniker might seem off putting to some, nwobhm fans will definitely hear several similarities with bands like MARQUIS DE SADE or DAWNWATCHER when listening to the very breezy and refreshing "Up In The Air". And that chorus is simply to die for - how come this was never a major hit? Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Norman Lang - Can't Find The Answer / You Should Have Seen
(Sky Records, 1982)I normally don't include major label releases in this project, but I'll make an exception here. Not only did this little release also come out on an obscure Canadian dance music label (featured here, and which definitely qualifies to be included in this project), but on the backside of the over commercial crap fest "Can't Find The Answer", is a rather cool hard rock tune called "You Should Have Seen", which you should definitely see - or at least listen to. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Morrill - No One To Love / No End To The Sky
(Morrill + LaRocque Records. (Inc), 1986)Be sure to turn up the volume for this one. Not because it's the most sonically awesome thing ever released, but rather because for some reason the volume (mostly on the a-side, likely due to song length) is hardly audible. Anyway, this is some sort of epic heavy metal with distant, echoing vocals, lots of double bass drumming, and speedy guitar solos. Both songs show potential but are a bit too rough around the edges to make this the undiscovered gem everyone should be on the lookout for. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Kruze Kontrol - Say Nope To Dope
(Hey Bud Records, 1988)Socially conscious release, telling you (in an overly dramatic melodic hard rock fashion) that "Drugs are bad, Mkay?" And if you didn't get the message the first time, they'll repeat it on the b-side too. Unfortunately this is just way, waay too wimpy musically to make any lasting impact on any potential listeners. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Hatterfox - School Days / Coming Down On You
(Med-Fly Records, 1984)Yet another release by this Alabama gang. This time we are treated to a CHUCK BERRY cover coupled with their own original number. Both songs are reasonably fast paced, energetic hard rock tunes, and both are so short they'll have ended before you've had time to sit your butt down in the couch after placing the vinyl on your record player! Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Eazy - Music Is The Master / Livin' On The Edge
(Pied Piper Records, 1989)While the vocalist tries his best to hide his inadequacies as a Robert Plant impersonator on the a-side (or perhaps he's aiming for Eric Adams? I can't really tell), the rest of the band try their best to deliver a full on sonic rock and roll assault on the flip. Do the two mix well together? Not really, as it almost feels like it's completely different bands playing on the two sides. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Dead Serios - Screams In The Night
(Long Song Records, 1986)This Florida outfit is, in most aspects, the unlikely marriage between nwobhm stalwarts RAVEN and WEIRD AL YANCOVIC, utilising a high energy musical approach and coupling it with some not overly serious lyrics. The general goofyness that defines this band is not as prevalent on this EP however, as the songs are mostly about partying and the debauchery generally synonymous with rock'n'roll. All 4 songs were later included on their debut full length album, which doesn't remove the fact that "Screams In The Night" is still well worth picking up. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Asylum Blue - Out In The Streets / Short Time Runnin
(Asylum Blue Records, 198?)Your average 80's garage band hair metal / arena rock project. While "Out In The Streets" is a slick, radio friendly, and therefore quite bland number, the b-side "Short Time Runnin" actually has a healthy dose of grit to it, saving this release from being a total snooze fest. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
...and the mandatory, accompanying, downloadable CDR-samplers:
For comments, questions and critique praise of this guide, please visit the designated North-American Heavy Metal 7"s Guide-thread in the forum, or contact The Corroseum (all messages concerning this guide will be forwarded to Khnud)
