format: Split-12" Ep
year: 1987
country: Spain
label: Tuboescape Records
#: 20112033
info: 45rpm
style: Heavy Metal
Side A:
Side B:
A bit of an oddball format this: A split 12" EP, where the side A (THARNA) where also released as a 7" with artwork similar to that depicted on the front. Logically you would think that the tunes of side B artists AGO would also have been separately
released in this fashion, but no, there is absolutely no trace of such a 7" ever existing.
Out of the 2 featured acts, Tharna is the most instant. Rough demo production and performance aside, "Sueños Perdidos" present a perfect Spanish edition of the galopping NWOBHM-sound of Maiden/Tyrant/early Tokyo Blade - pretty much perfect bait to get the Obscüre Metal Vinyl Collector-fringe on the hook. 2nd track "Pobre Diablo" doesn't disappoint and serves as a very respectable B-side with its intricate and even more Maidenesque composition. Compared to their "professional debut LP" from 2 years later, I guess these 2 songs share the same level of unoriginality, but True Metal™ fans will favour this split over the not-bad-but-terribly-predictable Melodic/Mainstream Metal of the LP for sure.
...And the reason you should particularily choose this split over the Tharna single is of course that exclusive B-siders AGO is pretty neat too.
They are however not as instantly likeable as Tharno, but that's mostly because of the even weaker mix. The guitars are pretty much buried in the abyss, but the vocals are great and after a handful of spins you do get over the bad production values some and can sort of fantasize about how mighty fine an epic a tune like "Con Sangre En Tus Manos" could have been under different circumstances. "Metiendola En Caliente" isn't dog-poo either, but more in the hardrockmetal-vein, yet with energy enough to avoid falling into the Disposable B-side cathegory. Incidently I have it from reliable sources (thnx FutureSynner!) that their demos are slightly better produced and very enjoyable, so further research is encouraged..
Final score: Cool underground release you need more than boring pulp-metal like Santa, Obus, Angeles Del Infierno etc, because, like... Obsküre Kûlt!!