Great Metal Albums of 1987: TT Quick- Metal of Honor

I’m afraid it’s back to bands who came by and went shortly after, though unlike, Envy, TT Quick would record another album in 1989, but let’s not worry about that now. TT Quick were another band which came to me compliments of my sister sending me tracks of the American metal scene at the time. And of course, the track on the tape led me to explore the band’s album and that’s how I discovered TT Quick’s debut album, “Metal of Honor.”

If the lead singer, Mark Tornillo, sounds familiar, it is because he has been the lead singer for Accept since 2009. That’s the first thing I found amusing when doing my research for the album and band. After the title cut opens the album and grabs your attention, tracks two through five sound as if he is auditioning for his spot in Accept. All of those tracks scream the German band’s name. If more evidence is needed, then the second track, “Front Burner” provides it. Accept have been accused of being AC/DC rip offs, (I don’t think so) but you can not only hear Accept on the track but a bit of AC/DC influence as well. None of this is a bad thing by the way because when you listen to Mark’s vocals through the album, you can hear why he was chosen to replace Udo Dirkschneider, especially on the track, “Child of Sin.”

On the second half of “Metal of Honor,” TT Quick sound a little less like Accept and more themselves. This could be down to the shredding of guitarist Dave DiPietro. While he lays down some cool solos during the Accept phase, he comes into his own on “Asleep At the Wheel” and goes on that way for the rest of the album. After that track, the band goes a bit boogie blues on the track “Come Beat the Band.” Some so-called heavy metal purists might scoff at this track because of its blues swagger but I think TT Quick do a great job on it. Mark shows that he isn’t necessarily a Udo clone and boy does Dave shred! Of course, you got to give full marks to the rhythm section as well as they keep up very well.

Now we come to my favourite track on the album. Proof that my sister and I are on the same metal page because “Hell to Pay” stands head and shoulders above the rest of the tracks. It sounds like it might be a power ballad but the blasting of power chords at the chorus and beyond is just mind blowing. If there is any track where you can say Dave DiPietro is a brilliant guitarist, it is this one. The way he switches between melodic chords and power ones is excellent and then there is his solo, magnifique!

While “Hell to Pay” is the track of the album, the remainder doesn’t go out in a whimper. “Queen of the Scene” is a cool straight-forward metal tracks which keep things chugging nicely. Then we get to “Glad All Over” which is a Dave Clark Five cover. One reviewer of the album hated this track but I like it. Okay, maybe the chorus sounds a bit cheesy but the way TT Quick metalizes this song, especially with Dave’s shredding, who cares? Saying that, it took me several listens before I came to appreciate the closer power ballad, “Siren Song.” It’s one of those tracks which would be out of place anywhere else on the album.

Track Listing:

1. Metal of Honor
2. Front Burner
3. Hard As a Rock
4. Child of Sin
5. Asleep at the Wheel
6. Come Beat the Band
7. Hell to Pay
8. Queen of the Scene
9. Glad All Over
10. Siren Song

Mark Tornillo- vocals

Dave DiPietro- guitar

Walt Fortune- bass

Erik Ferro- drums

My verdict here is that while “Metal of Honor” is another great metal album which has been forgotten by many, it proved to be a springboard for greater glories for Mark Tornillo and Dave DiPietro as both would have success elsewhere.

Next post: Judas Priest- Priest … Live

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Metal Albums of 1986: Warlock- True As Steel

Another great thing about 1986 was that heavy metal was truly becoming international. In the case of Germany, although it was only West Germany at the time, The Scorpions had already been a worldwide hit and Accept was getting lots of attention. In addition, some great thrash bands were coming out of the country such as Kreator. All of this made it possible for an up and coming German band to step into the metal spotlight, that band was Warlock.

My introduction to Warlock came when I saw them at the 1986 Donington Festival and I was very impressed. It could have been partially down to the fact that fronting the band was this blonde bombshell named Doro Pesch who tingled my 25 year old hormones at the time. Okay, she still does it to my nearly 60 year old ones too but not only that, even then I knew she had a stupendous voice and a great band backing her. I was converted to Warlock that day.

Doro mesmerizes the crowd, Bloodstock 2018

Naturally, Warlock’s performance at Donington made me check out her 1986 “True As Steel” album and the magic they produced on stage shone through on the album. The two songs which still capture my attention all these years later are “Fight for the Rock” and “Love in the Danger Zone,” both were released as singles. I also remember “Fight for the Rock” getting played at the metal club in East London I would venture to on Friday nights.

The two mentioned tracks are among the first four on the album which go ripping through at a steady metal pace. If your attention isn’t grabbed after those four songs, then it never will be. Then they change things up a bit on “Midnight in China.” It goes for a more heavy blues sound and has a great guitar solo trade-off between guitarists Niko Arvanitis and Peter Szigeti. This song has an anthem type feel where if played live would be a good audience participation song. Unfortunately, I don’t recall it happening at Donington. It’s the hidden gem on this album.

Things go very fast after with “Vorwarts, All Right.” It accelerates to speed metal proportions and the band pull it off very well. Then after the powerful title track, another anthem type song, comes a song which really intrigues me. I used to wonder what Doro was actually singing about in “Lady in a Rock and Roll Hell.” Part of me was hoping that she was singing out against the sexism that was around in heavy metal at the time, it hasn’t totally gone away. No, it’s about needing a man. Still a good song though and right after comes a genuine power ballad in “Love Song.” Again, it’s done very well. It could be argued that it should be the album closer but after the rather amusing “Igloo on the Moon,” the album is closed out by the instrumental “T.O.L.,” which does close things out nicely.

Track Listing:

1. Mr. Gold
2. Fight for the Rock
3. Love in the Danger Zone
4. Speed of Sound
5. Midnight in China
6. Vorwarts, All Right
7. True as Steel
8. Lady in a Rock and Roll Hell
9. Love Song
10. Igloo on the Moon (Reckless)
11. T.O.L.

Warlock

Doro Pesch- lead vocals

Niko Arvanitis- guitar

Peter Szigeti- guitar

Frank Rittel- bass

Michael Eurich- drums

I think that in 1986, Germany was welcomed as a full on contributor to the heavy metal world. With this album, Warlock would extend its conquests beyond Europe and get the recognition is so richly deserved.

Next post: Motorhead- Orgasmatron

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Metal Albums of 1985: Metal For Breakfast

Welcome to the first heavy metal compilation album I bought. It was early February 1985 when I saw “Metal For Breakfast” at my local record store. Since I often used to feel like the way the dude on the cover looks, I thought it was worth a look. When I flipped to the back cover of the album and saw who was actually on it and their songs, I knew I had to buy it straight away. Who couldn’t resist an album with Ted Nugent, Saxon, Y&T, Quiet Riot, Ozzy and Judas Priest on it. Furthermore, the songs from these artists with the exception of Judas Priest’s hidden gem, (I had never heard “The Ripper” until this album), was more incentive to get it. But that’s only half the story!

Attic Records, being based in Toronto, seemed very eager to unveil much of its local talent and they chose a good group to do so. I had heard of Anvil but never listened to them. “Forged in Fire” changed all that. Any band called The Killer Dwarfs had to be granted a listen and “Heavy Mental Breakdown” did not disappoint. This was the first step on their way to them becoming my all time favourite Canadian band. I know Mercyful Fate are from Denmark but the fact that “Black Funeral” comes right out and sings “Hail Satan” sticks one in the ear for the American religious zealots. On the second side is the lovely Lee Aaron and “Metal Queen” is mind blowing. Of course, there’s always a hidden gem and on “Metal For Breakfast” it’s the track “Metalhead” by Blotto. It takes a dig at metalheads but it’s done in a really funny way plus, it’s a good song. So what you have is a great combination of well known metal tunes and ones that weren’t so well known coming together to make a fantastic album.

Track Listing:

1. Anvil- Forged in Fire

2. Ted Nugent- Cat Scratch Fever

3. Killer Dwarfs- Heavy Mental Breakdown

4. Accept- Balls to the Wall

5. Mercyful Fate- Black Funeral

6. Blotto- Metalhead

7. Lee Aaron- Metal Queen

8. Saxon- Princess of the Night

9. Judas Priest- The Ripper

10. Quiet Riot- Metal Health

11. Y&T- Mean Streak

12. Ozzy Osbourne- Crazy Train

And I think you should listen to the hidden gem:

Back in 1985, “Metal for Breakfast” was the classic metal combination of what was known and not so known in the heavy metal world. Nowadays, it’s just a classic 80s album but it still kicks ass!

I probably looked more like this back then.

Next post: Dokken- Tooth ‘N’ Nail

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Great Metal Albums of 1984: Accept- Balls to the Wall

If ever the saying, “never judge a book (or an album) by its cover” was relevant, it was certainly the case with Accept’s album “Balls to the Wall.” Ever since it’s launch, the cover of the album has brought criticisms of homo-erotica and this debate continues even today. For me, while I never or will ever enter into that debate, I must admit that I was rather homophobic in 1984 and used to have the album face down whenever I listened to it. But homo-erotic album cover or not, it never stopped me from enjoying the content the album contains.

The title track is probably the best known Accept song ever. I remember it getting a considerable amount of airplay on the radio, though I don’t recall ever seeing the video for it on MTV. That song totally blew me away at first listen. That catchy chorus just gets you banging your head away and singing along to it with all your heart and soul. It does the same for me even after all these years. Even if the song had homo-erotic overtones, which the band has always denied, I wouldn’t have cared then or now.

As was the case in 80s Reagan America, the fact that the cover of the album was thought to entertain homosexual contents, meant the rest of the album must do so as well. Songs like “London Leatherboys” and “Love Child” also were accused of the same. Let me tell you that it was all a load of nonsense. The great track, “London Leatherboys” was about bikers and even if it wasn’t, it’s such a cool metal jam. “Love Child” is about gays but it’s also about all people who are oppressed, which back in that time, was any non-conformist group or individual. It still doesn’t stop it from being a great song. I have to agree with the words of guitarist Wolf Hoffmann who said, “You Americans are so uptight about this.” He was totally correct.

In addition to the tracks I’ve already mentioned, the rest of the album is of the same greatness. Except for the acoustic closer, which in itself, isn’t a bad song, each one of these tracks totally kicks ass. Then as now, I can’t really pick a favorite apart from the famous title track. Power and melody are fused so well it’s amazing. There is something to like about each and every one here whether it’s hard riffs, catchy choruses or blistering guitar solos. “Balls to the Wall” was my metal introduction to the year 1984 and what a great one it was.

Track Listing:

1. Balls to the Wall
2. London Leatherboys
3. Fight Back
4. Head Over Heels
5. Losing More Than You Ever Had
6. Love Child
7. Turn Me On
8. Losers and Winners
9. Guardians of the Night
10. Winter Dreams

Accept

Do Dirkscheider- lead vocals

Wolf Hoffmann- guitar

Herman Frank- guitar

Peter Baltes- bass

Stefan Kaufmann- drums

Like I said, “Balls to the Wall” was my metal introduction to 1984 as I first heard it in early February of that year. I don’t think I could have asked for a better one than this.

Next post: Rock Goddess- Hell Hath No Fury

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Roll-Children-Michael-Lefevre/dp/1609763556/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1509050330&sr=8-3&keywords=michael+d+lefevre

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Triumphs and Other Happenings in 1984

 

Evidence that heavy metal had truly established itself in 1984 can be sited with the 1984 Monsters of Rock Festival at Donington Park, in England. This was the first and probably only Donington to feature seven artists and you can only look at the poster here, see which bands played on draw your own conclusions as to whether or not it was a kick ass day. I wasn’t there but I know people who were and they can confirm it. The only negative comment I heard about the day was that Motley Crue had bottles thrown at them for making too many comments about sex, drugs and rock and roll. Something an opening band should probably not do. Anyway, to see Ozzy, Van Halen and AD/DC all on one stage must have been mind blowing.

I must apologize for Youtube not having any individual songs recorded from this memorable day.

Cyndi Lauper

You are probably asking yourself, “What is she doing here on an 80smetalman’s post?” Well, some misguided individuals thought that Cyndi Lauper had replaced Joan Jett or Pat Benatar as the Queen of Rock in 1984. Nonsense, I say. I will never recognize Cyndi Lauper as such and will go to my grave stating that fact. Yes, I liked “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” the very first time I heard it but afterwards, I wanted to take an Uzi to the television every time the video came on MTV. The only song from of hers I nearly liked since was “Money Changes Everything” and a few years later, grew to like “I Drove All Night” a little.

So, why is she here you ask. Back when I posted about my weekend at Download, where I went to see wrestling, I mentioned that the Rock and Wrestling Connection began in 1984 and it began with Cyndi. At the time, wrestling manager, Captain Lou Albano, claimed she managed Cyndi Lauper on wrestling shows. Cyndi refuted that claim and without going into great details, she made a challenge to Captain Lou that she could manage a wrestler better than him. So, while Lou took Women’s World Champion The Fabulous Moolah under his wing, Cyndi managed challenger Wendi Richter. I’ll leave  you to watch the video to see who won but the Rock and Wrestling Connection started here.

There was a tragedy too in 1984 but that happened at the very end of the year, so I’m saving it for the end of the 1984 tour. So here, let us reflect on the happy times with all the great heavy metal and some wrestling too.

Next post: My Underrated Band

To Buy Rock and Roll Children, go to: https://www.amazon.com/Rock-Roll-Children-Michael-Lefevre/dp/1609763556/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1505042182&sr=8-3&keywords=michael+d+lefevre