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.
Warhead - Explosive Rock
(Flipside Productions, 1985)Cool looking picture sleeve – check. Tough sounding song titles – check. Songs which are occupying that thin red line between hard rock and heavy metal – check. No bloody power ballad on the b-side – check. Can be found at a reasonable price - check. What's not to like about this one? Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Web - Bad Boys / What If I Tell You
(Worldwide Records, 1986)The things I put myself through in order to complete this project... Having to endure male/female duets against a backdrop of saxophones, keyboards and the occasional distorted guitar is unfortunately one of them. This sad release supposedly serves as a soundtrack of sorts to the "mini rock film Bad Boys". No, that doesn't make me want to watch it. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Whirlwind - King Of Kings / Down the Road
(Whirlwind Records, 1979)Pummeling, twin guitar fronted, completely NON-cheesy, HEAVY Christian metal from Detroit. I don't think I've ever heard a vocalist more or less belt out lyrics about Jesus waiting around the corner in such unbridled fashion before, and this alone makes this release quite interesting. And the fact that the music is a mix of late 70's JUDAS PRIEST combined with the punky, charmingly unpolished rawness of NWOBHM makes this a match made in... well whatever afterlife you choose to believe in. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
White Ash - Live With Rock 'N' Roll / The Spell
(Paragonn Records, 1983)The a-side is really "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" somehow morphed into an obscure metal song (I want extra points for mentioning ELTON JOHN in a review on The Corroseum, goddamnit), and "The Spell" owes no small part to LEGEND. Yup, the "From The Fjords" guys! I bet you never expected this legendary epic band being mentioned in the same sentence as Mr. Flamboyant glasses! Weird mix? But it works. Oh yes it does. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
White Hawk - Mercede Lady / No Place To Hide
(White Hawk Productions, 1984)A competent and kinda laid back hard rock/metal hybrid, with the only drawback being it doesn't really stand out amongst the multitude of other bands (relatively speaking of course) occupying the same niche. As far as I can tell, these are different versions than the ones which appeared on the "Mercede Lady" mini album released in the same year. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
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:
Wicked Sin - Rockin' Roll Party Queens / Scream And Shout
(Wicked Sin Records, 1986)Both the band name and the song titles sound glammy. The members names are glammy and they sure look glammy. Don't be fooled however, as this is pure early TWISTED SISTER worship. Of the "we might use make up but we're still gonna kick your ass" kind. While "Scream And Shout" isn't going to induce any denim and leather clad street fights, prepare to be completely pummelled by the sheer guitar onslaught that is "Rockin' Roll Party Queens". One of the roughest, dirtiest and meanest obscure US single tracks out there. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Witchazel - Bad Is Better / Don't Turn Your Love Away
(Hazel Records, 1987)I'm pretty sure these guys were dead ringers for BON JOVI. The up tempo "Bad Is Better" is slightly more original sounding (with the vocalist trying his damnedest to sound like he's singing in a house band from down below). The b-side "Don't Turn Your Love Away" unfortunately has "Bed Of Roses" written all over it. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Wizard - Rockduster / Last Time For Love
(Koala Town, 1984)No relation to any of the other Wizards featured here. The a-side is good organ complemented hard rock with above average vocals. Sadly the b-side contains the ever so present inexplicable piano ballad. Granted, this time it does contain a hint of heavy guitar in the end, but that alone doesn't help it from being completely uninteresting. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Wrath - Love Cage / Power On Power
(Wrath Productions, 1984)When something is as rare as this, you desperately want it to be good. It's been seen many times before, collectors hyping their musically weak ultra rarities to a level where you really start to suspect if their ears might be in dire need of a complete overhaul. I'm not going to stoop to this level however, regardless of how much I want to. So, while this certainly qualifies as one of the rarest US metal 45s in existence, it's (and it saddens me to admit) just not very good. "Love Cage" consists of the same riff repeated over and over again, "Power On Power" is slightly more varied but still suffers from being far too simplistic. Vocals are kinda weak too. So there you have it folks, rare doesn't always equal good, even though this item will surely remain on many want lists just because you're more likely to contract chicken pox twice than you are finding a copy of this. Rating: - Rarity: - Country:
Wyzdom - Not Afraid To Be Strange / Wake Up The Night
(Wyzdom Records, 1985)Synth rock a-side coupled with a slightly more metallic partner. "Wake Up The Night" is a more than decent, albeit slightly hair metal leaning effort with a rich, warm sound. Not quite unlike the VALIANT 45s also reviewed here. A release that's also noteworthy for coming with (at least) two different picture sleeves - one in full colour (shown here) and one brownish, sepia toned variety. 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)
