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.
Aggression - Aggression / Secretary Strut
(Relentless Records, 1986)What do you do if you want your obscure heavy metal to become even more obscüre? Add a violin! And that's just what this Californian quartet did. Does it work, then? Hell yes! The title track blends in the violin very well with the speedy double kick drums, a track that suits the band name very well. Also note it's an instrumental. While no "Transylvania", it's still one of the better metal instrumentals put on a 7'' vinyl single. "Secretary Strut" is a slower affair, actually featuring vocals and of course more violin. Did I mention it works? Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Air Raid - Rock Force
(Mapa Records, 1983)The a-side "69 in a 55" will surely please most metal heads, containing a fast paced, energetic number with all the requirements for making a great song including blazing dual leads รก la IRON MAIDEN. Too bad the band opted for a slower approach on "Anytime", and also seem to have changed vocalist. While not a bad song in any way, "Anytime" is firmly rooted in radio friendly hard rock and isn't really able to raise many fists in the air. Still, a single well worth getting for the great a-side alone. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Alecstar - Taking It Over
(Smart Alec Records, 1980)The a-side is pretty generic hard rock, with drums that are way too high in the mix.
The other side is slightly better produced, but similar in style. Both sides are a bit too close to being AOR for comfort, making this a clear "for completists only" type release. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Anthem - Will We Go Far?
(Face, 1982)Balancing that sometimes thin edge between hard rock and heavy metal, this is quite slick and organic sounding (not surprising, as it contains a fair share of organ sounding keyboards) - a bit like a mix between BLUE OYSTER CULT and GENOCIDE. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Anthrax - Soldiers Of Metal / Howling Furies
(Megaforce Records, 1983)I've been debating whether or not to include this release here, as neither the band nor the label are by any means obscure. I finally decided to let them in, mainly because this is ANTHRAX playing their purest, most down to earth, no frills HEAVY metal, never to be heard again on any of their later albums. Both songs are different than the versions on the "Fistful of Metal" album, and really show the band's connection with the NWOBHM movement. This is just soo much better than the later direction the band took, and which we already know everything about. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Antix - Here's Looking At You!
(private, 1987)Unfortunate ballad cheesiness on one side (look at the song titles, I'll leave it up to you to figure out which one it is), but the flip is pretty decent high energy metal which sounds a bit like DIAMOND HEAD albeit with a more simplistic song structure. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Anvil Chorus - Blondes In Black
(private, 1982)"Blondes In Black" starts off almost like "Living After Midnight", and the song never lowers its JUDAS PRIEST-y guard. "Once Again" is a much more varied number, venturing into epic hard rock territory with more than a little nod to the prog rock movement while still keeping its metal roots. Both songs stand head and shoulders over many of their contemporaries, and it's no wonder the band members later went on to form or join more well known acts such as HEATHEN, VICIOUS RUMORS and BLIND ILLUSION. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Apprentess - I Need A Woman / Headless Horseman
(Masters Of Metal, 1985)I Need A Woman is a song about all those things the LA glam metal bands use to sing about. You know what I mean. The thing that makes this 45 stand out is the serious sonic lunacy on Headless Horseman. Part time IRON MAIDEN (Mr. DiAnno in particular), part time GRUDGE without being near any of the two in quality. Still, it's seriously rare so if you ever see a copy for sale, it might be your only chance in life to own a copy. 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:
Armageddon - Jonny / Armageddon
(Vampire State Records, 1979)Quite 70's sounding hard rock which will likely appeal to heavy prog/psych collectors as well. Which probably accounts for the rather hefty price tag it usually fetches nowadays. It's completely devoid of the acoustic interludes this type of music otherwise is so well known for, and instead concentrates on rocking hard. For fans of ATOMIC ROOSTER, LEAF HOUND etc. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Assassin - Treason / All Of Your Love
(private, 1984)Quite archetypal, and distinctly above average Californian metal. Props for having a cheesy song title that's actually a metal tune (the b-side, if you hadn't figured that out already)! It's usually the other way around. Both the tracks have been re-released on a CD compilation, if you prefer your plastic to have a reflective surface and not grooves. 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:
Axess - Don't Need You / You're In Trouble
(MTS Productions, 1986)Another one of those singles that seems to balance on the edge of hard rock while still not being heavy enough to be classified as metal. Both songs are competently performed, one more upbeat ("Don't Need You"), and the other more gritty ("You're In Trouble"), but unfortunately suffer from slightly below average vocals. 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)
