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.
Cab - Just Another Day / Given Dreams
(private, 1986)Slow and slightly doomy metal. We're pretty far from the epicness of SOLITUDE AETURNUS though. Rather, this is a heavy metal band playing slow songs, with mellow vocals. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Charlie Calvo and Scrambler - Just How It Hurts Me / Jenny
(Main Street Records, 1989)While not slick enough to venture into AOR territory, this is basically a BON JOVI, ROXETTE and BRYAN ADAMS hybrid with a more pronounced hard rock edge. Wrapped in an extremely 80's sounding envelope. Put on your leg warmers and curl your hair! "Jenny" has some interesting guitar moments, but that's about it. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Child - Keep Movin' / Rip-Off Train
(Ariel Records, 1977)Perhaps released a tad too early to be included here, but I'll include it anyway for completeness sake. Both these songs were also on the band's full length, and the band obviously chose to market their versatility on this 45, choosing the meanest hard rock number from the LP as side a (complete with great twin guitar work), pairing it with the most folksy LP track on side b. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Chyld - Lite The Nite / Ye Morlock
(Chyldysh Music, 1986)Another one of those great starter items which has just about everything going for it (except perhaps the lack of a picture sleeve). It's cheap, it's easy to find, and it's an absolutely superb example of heavy metal done exactly right. I'll stick my neck out and dub this the Canadian answer to LEATHER NUNN. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Clique - If I Were A King / Tempting Eyes
(Cobbtunes, 1986)"Tempting Eyes" is barely decent hard rock which unfortunately suffers from a way too cheesy chorus, but alas "If I Were King" is so cringeworthy all I want to do is scream "Take my advice, and abdicate!" at my vinyl player. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Count Heartbreak - Weredog / Love Is Sepulchral
(Loverock Records, 1981)Pretty run of the mill heavy-ish 70’s inspired rock, which unfortunately suffers from having the compulsory “soft track” on the b-side. Still, you might want to get this single anyway because of the great horror style cover, perfect for those nights spent howling at the moon. If that is your thing. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Crisis - Keep Fighting / Kick It Out
(Cutaway Publishing, 1985)Rumour has it the band was unhappy with the sound of this 45, so they decided to simply give most copies away to people on their mailing list. I can't for the life of me understand why, as this is pure, unadultered NWOBHM worship and actually sounds way better and much more honest than their "Armed To The Teeth" EP. Both songs absolutely rip which, coupled with the low amount of copies circulated, makes this release a highly desired item. 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:
Cyrus Eden - First Offense EP
(Monster Bullfrog Records, 1987)Yet another Canadian ultra obscure slab of heaviness, proving in some way that the land of hockey maniacs were really superior in terms of the average quality of their privately pressed metal seven inchers. At least on the a-side, which compares to early PERENNIAL or SYE. The b-side only musters a decent but not particularly interesting instrumental plus the mandatory cheesy ballad. This release also gets a special mention for having the most ridiculously over sized sleeve known to mankind, even to this day I haven't quite figured out how to properly store it! Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
