format: 12" EP"
year: 1980
country: Italy
label: Reddingtons Rare Records
#: DAN 4
info:
2 rare promo versions w/ different d.i.y. sleeves also exist:
- Dragon-sleeve = 4 swords
- Roger Dean-type logo sleeve" = 5 swords
...both sporting the title "Satan's Arrow Strikes".
style: NWOBHM
Side A:
Side B:
UK's PARALEX possess a number of claims to fame and/or infamy: a super-kült deathskull sleeve, a Lars Ulrich-endorsement, a HELL-connection, a very early example of pure trailblazing NWOBHM and coming with notoriously poor vocals. I'm only gonna elaborate on the very last issue here...
It is true that the vocals are the weakest link in their Metal chain,
but to balance off the slagging found in McMillan's NWOBHM-bible I'd like to point out this: ANY die-hard fan/collector of obscure d.i.y. Steel will have come across (and even ejoyed) dozens of worse examples on their journeys through the Heavy Metal twilight zone. Frankly it only really becomes a problem on the more intense proto-thrasher opener "Travelling Man". Its crunchy Blitzkrieg'oid attack definitely deserves something better than those erratic deadpan yelps. Imo it's much easier to ignore the sour bits in a more mid-pace tune like "Black Widow", where the enchanting, jagged lead riff and Heavy WF General-like break take precedence over such lesser imperfections. Def' my fave tune of the EP!
On the more melodic B-side "White Lightning" it's hardly an issue at all, as this simple but catchy tune remains within just the right, narrow tonal span that mr Ayling seem to handle without any major blunders. It's also the one PARALEX tune that reached a wider audience thanx to its inclusion on Metal Blade's seminal "New Wave Of British Heavy Metal - '79 Revisited" compilation 10 years later. A quite logical choice in that sense.