Yeah,
I'm as stunned as you are to even get so
see this Eastern want
list topper. If you thought those POKOLGEP singles were a bitch to find,
prepare yourself for a task of humungous proportions, coz this debut 7"
by STRESS is so fudgeing rare it's very existence was an issue of debate
up until a few years ago, when one of it's precious few owners agreed
to take a lie-detector test at gunpoint. Or something.
"Acélkerék" is a rather unremarkable, straightforward
heavy rocker reminding me of a hundred other unremarkable, straightforward
heavy rockers and I'll be damned if I can remember a single song title
for comparison. This particular strain of Metal isn't what usually sticks
in my HM-mainframe for very long and the high-pitch screaming vox kinda
bugs me after a few minutes. It would be a shame to call it a bad song,
but it's a really pedestrian piece and would barely have made it as a
filler on their excellent "
Kisértet
Kastély" LP from 5 years later. "Séta Éjfélkor"
is slightly more interesting. A heavier, more pounding track with less
effeminate singing, perhaps a bit too simple to be labeled 'epic' but
definitely the pic of the pair as far as catchyness and mood goes.
In case the message hasn't gotten through: No, this is not the most exciting
piece of Steel ever forged beyond the iron curtain. It clearly lacks the
originality and eerie X-factor of most other contemporary Eastern Metal.
Fans of sturdy NWOBHM-style Heavy and/or manic Magyar Rock-completists
should definitely keep their eyes open, but if you want a more inspiring
introduction to early Hungarian HM I'd like to take this opportunity to
recommend the great and pretty common
"Robbanásveszély!"
comp. LP from 87.