IRON MAIDEN (UK) - Ed Hunter (2 CD, EMI, 1999)

RATING: 6/10

Ok, let's keep it simple on this one. Under usual circumstances, there would be close to zero reason to review "Ed Hunter" around here - it's mostly a video game, you see, and this sort of multimedia is of little interest for the purposes of this blog. Oh yeah, there's an accompanying 2-CD set as a soundtrack for the game, but there's very little in the way of new and/or unusual material on it, so it would hardly be a collectable for anyone but the most passionate fans of Iron Maiden. But timing is everything, you know, and the period when "Ed Hunter" hit the shops coincided with one of the most significant changes in line-up ever witnessed by metal, no less: out was Blaze Bayley (a man that, despite his genuine dedication and commendable character, never managed to be the singer the Beast really needed) and back in were not only Bruce Dickinson, but guitarist Adrian Smith as well - the outfit still keeping the services of Janick Gers in order to become a six-piece, three-guitar assault. To be frank, this seems an obvious solution now, over 25 years since it was first figured out, but it wasn't a safe bet back in early 1999: as it transpires, the name of Doogie White (who had already done well in a few auditions with the band a few years previously) was even considered for a short while, before Steve Harris asked Rod Smallwood (who still had a hand on Bruce Dickinson's solo career back then) whether or not Bruce would be willing to be back into the fore. 

It was little more than a passing idea at first, but it started to gain momentum when, after a conversation between Smallwood and Dickinson, the singer made clear that he would be willing to discuss the possibility. Let's face it: no matter how good his solo career was doing at the time (and "The Chemical Wedding" is a hell of a frickin' great record, your know), good old air raid siren Bruce would hardly ever get the crowds he once had alongside Maiden, and the chance to have a second bite at the cherry was surely one not to be turned down. After getting Harris and Dickinson in the same room, things pretty much fell into place, including the potentially difficult issue of bringing Adrian Smith back into the picture as well: the vocalist made clear it was a mandatory condition in order for him to sign the dotted line, but Steve Harris also felt it would be nice to have three guitarists, and Adrian himself admited he wouldn't feel comfortable if his return to the band meant that Janick Gers had to go. All things considered, turning into a six-piece was not only the right thing to do, but also a mostly natural move given the circumstances, while also creating an immediate feeling of excitement and renewal around the band. 

"Ed Hunter" was already comissioned by this juncture, having very little (if any) weight in the whole reunion thing, but the fact that it was hitting the shops offered Iron Maiden the perfect opportunity to spread the word around with a celebratory tour. It was very fortunate, and the jaunts to promote it were all a resounding success, but that doesn't mean one should see "Ed Hunter" as a more important release than it actually is. The tracklist was put together via a poll on the band's website, which is a charming move, but there's nothing nowhere near a surprise in the running order, and the only minor highlight here is a semi-new version of "Wrathchild", where the original 1981 recording is remixed with Bruce Dickinson singing instead of Paul Di'Anno. He does a good job out of it, that's for sure, but a classic is always a classic, and I can hardly imagine anyone playing this compilation on a weekly basis just because he likes Dickinson's version so much better, if you know what I mean. I personally never bothered about the game, and I never played it, so I have no idea of how good or bad it is (though some friend who are way more into the gaming world than I used to say it was a bit of a corker, so there you have it) - but, when it comes to music, we all have the original albums anyway, this package therefore being of interest only for those who really can't live without having every single item ever released by the band they love (nothing wrong about that, of course). If you don't fit the description, rest assured there's far more better purchases you can do with your hard earned cash.

Whatever turns the story took afterwards, fact is that any major changes need some transitional period to fully come to fruition, and the whole "Ed Hunter" thing, though mostly irrelevant in terms of music (the fact that there's zero prospect of any reissues in the foreseeable future is quite a giveaway on that matter), sure served an important purpose when it comes to make the Iron Maiden reunion into a tangible reality. By the time these honourable and talented gentlemen decided to put their minds into writing new music, everybody already knew that the three guitarists could work quite well together, and the collective feeling around the upcoming record was of genuine anticipation, with very little doubt that they could do things right and get their career back on track for good. After years of turmoil, the dreary '90s were fizzling out in a way more hopeful mood, and soon a new era of world domination would begin for the lads.

CD 1

01. Iron Maiden ("Live After Death" live vrs)
02. The Trooper
03. The Number of the Beast
04. Wrathchild
05. Futureal
06. Fear of the Dark
07. Be Quick or Be Dead
08. 2 Minutes to Midnight
09. Man on the Edge
10. Aces High
11. The Evil that Men Do
12. Wasted Years
13. Powerslave
14. Hallowed Be Thy Name
15. Wrathchild (1999 vrs)

CD 2

01. Run to the Hills
02. The Clansman
03. Phantom of the Opera
04. Killers
05. Stranger in a Strange Land
06. Tailgunner

Have you been involved with any of the bands mentioned here? Have any extra info and/or corrections? Please e-mail me (drequon@gmail.com) and let me know!

On a Wing and a Prayer (Compilation, UK, Teesbeat, 1985)

RATING - 7/10

This particular compilation isn't exactly a huge mystery among NWOBHM collectors, though it's still a nice find if you ever locate a copy for a reasonable price. The Teesbeat label was active for the best part of a decade at least, with a studio facility under the same name in Stockton-on-Trees and always showing a laudable disposition to help new bands from the North East of England to reach the vinyl stage - it was, for instance, where Black Rose released their first 7'' single way back in 1982. It seems they released a grand total of three LP compilation during the label's lifespan, this 1985's "On a Wing and a Prayer" being the second (the other two, 1984's "The New Bowery" and 1986's "Rumour Sets the Woods Alight", are hopefully appearing around here sooner rather than later), and it's nice to find out that Teesbeat always allowed the bands they picked to lay down at least two songs for their releases, which not only render the records more cohesive but also gives the hopefuls in question a more generous space to show whatever talent they had. Not that much going on when it comes to genuinely heavy music (and only one act that can be securely labeled as NWOBHM), but still a pretty interesting compilation if we're to be honest, and more than worthy of a proper review around here.

It seems that the LP came out with different inserts, depending on what bands were trying to sell it - an interesting move indeed, as it allowed the groups in question to use it more effectively as a promotional item. Some surviving copies have two, or even three sheets with information about the bands; with that said, it's unfortunate that I'm working with a copy that has no insert at all, as I would be really glad to offer some significant info about Trixter, the only bona fide NWOBHM outfit here featured. Still, let's try to put together the pieces of what little we know about them, always hoping to add new information when it surfaces. The group seems to have been short lived, but fact is that many important local scenesters seem to have had some level of involvement with the combo, most of all guitarist Miles Lofthouse, who also made the rounds with Millenium (as well as their brief re-christening as Tyrone-Power) and thrashers Major Threat. Though the origins of this particular family tree lie in a early 80s combo named Avarice, where Lofthouse first joined forces with Nigel Crooks (I was told once he was a drummer, but I can be wrong, so let me know if you happen to know better), it seems that Trixter was an offshoot from a post-Avarice project, whose name is not yet known and that seemingly recorded a demo or two before adopting the new Trixter guise. Guitarist Jeff Leighton probably took part on the recordings for "On a Wing and a Prayer" as well, and I believe the bass lines were played by Kiko Rivers, who would later record with the most recent incarnations of Black Rose. Have no idea on who was the singer though (maybe it was Nigel Crooks after all, and the band had another drummer, who knows?).

As for the pair of Trixter's originals here featured, "Burn So Bright" starts missing a drum beat, no less, which is quite uncomfortable first time around, But don't give up on them just yet, as this is a pretty interesting (though definitely quirky) heavy number with nice guitar arrangements and a lot of different (and creative) parts for its relatively short running time. The basslines give something of a new wave vibe to the whole thing though, and it takes more than a single listen to really get into what they're trying to reach here. In the end, this may not be the most accomplished of songs, but it's still engaging and enjoyable, and bonus points to the lads for trying to think outside the box and find their own, distinctive sound. "Fraulien", on the other hand, was obviously mispelled on the album cover (I'm not a scholar in German, you know, but I guess they meant to say "fraulein", you know), but does no wrong when the needle hit the grooves: it's a hard-hitting, catchy, full-blown heavy metal tune, and the most interesting track for metalheads when it comes to "On a Wing and a Prayer", hands down. Nothing too complicated going on (though the lead guitarist does a pretty good job with his virtuoso melodies during the instrumental section), but everything works quite well and hints of a band that could have really made it further in the business if given some encouragement and/or financial backing. Well done, lads. 

From the other five bands included, I'd say that Secret Garden's "Tsantsa" is the next best thing as far as us heavy metal enthusiasts are concerned: quite an energetic power pop tune indeed, with some psych rock intonations in places, most of all in the tension-building "shaking your head" chorus. There's also a very interesting solo section towards the end, with some near-metallic melodies that truly deserve a mention. Not NWOBHM by any stretch, but quite a nice song nonetheless, though it ends rather abruptly and leaves the impression that they could have had kept their good thing going a little longer. The other contribution from them, "Summer of Hate", is a mid-tempo number where the new wave influences are far more prominent, though it's still a power pop number for the most part. Not as good as the previous number, unfortunately, and you'll most likely forget it as soon as it's over, as there's nothing too out of the ordinary going on. I also enjoyed True North's "The Wintergarden" - despite a bombastic, deceptive intro, we're into indie rock / post punk territory here, with undeniable similarities to early The Cure and another pretty charming guitar solo halfway through. A good opening number for the LP, which is the exact opposite situation with their "Photographs of Jane", an indie rock ballad carried along by acoustic guitars and loud (though mostly not too intrusive) basslines. It's not a bad composition, but it sound a bit like a three-minute intro rather than a proper song, as you can't help expecting it to explode into a full-band arrangement and it just never happens. The compilers should have allowed the LP to close with "Fraulien" and insert this tune somewhere else in the running order, as it's hardly an exhilarating (or particularly impressive) way to finish proceedings, but there you have it.

Also of some interest for those who enjoy heavy music is The Outfit's "Hazy Down", an acoustic ballad with a contemplative (and somewhat grandiose, almost epic) vibe. It's mostly a voice-and-guitar kind of tune, with the full band appearances basically serving the purpose of enhancing the tension and/or emotion in particular parts. The result is somewhat intriguing, let's put it that way, and it could even pass as a semi-metal ballad under different circumstances, so give it a careful listen and perhaps you might enjoy it. "Listen" is pretty much the same formula, though it's a more typical new wave tune with prominent (sometimes nearly intrusive) keyboards, the semi-acoustic vibes being restricted to the chorus this time around. It lacks energy for the most part, and the doo-doo-doop-pah-pah-pah vocal arrangents halfway through are very annoying I'm afraid, so there's very little for us metal collectors to enjoy here, though it's by no means a disgraceful track at all.

The rest of the pack is of minimal (if any) interest for us metalheads, so let's be brief about them. Secret History offer us a Bossa-nova tinged, definitely pop-inclined new wave in both "Won't Let You" and "Peace of Mind" - the latter being quite an oddball actually, with the previous description augmented by some reggae/ska guitar arrangements overwhelmed under a heavy coating of keyboard/brass saccharine. That being said, I think "Won't Let You" is a decent song that mostly fulfill its promises, with a gifted female singer and very nice basslines throughout. As for The Restrictors, their "Peanuts" number is a rock/ska collision that strongly remind me of some similar attempts by The Clash, though with more busy vocal lines (and with a strong cockney accent going on) and instrumentation. The production values doesn't help, as it sounds like there's just too many people playing in the room - the kind of feeling you get when watching a rehearsal from a not very cohesive band, if you know what I mean. As for "Own Little World", it could have been a half-decent Oi! tune in a Cock Sparrer vein, if not for the strident (and very annoying) brass and mellotron arrangements all over the place. Punk/ska collectors may enjoy it, anyway.

Unfortunately, "On a Wing and a Prayer" turns out to be an apt album title, as none of these hopefuls ever managed to make it big. In fact, most musicians and bands involved simply vanished from the scene, with Trixter being one of the few instances where something can be said of their sophomore activities. It seems that the band didn't really last for long after their vinyl appearance, as Miles Lofthouse was recording a demo with Tyrone-Power even before the year was out, and both Nigel Crooks and Jeff Leighton were involved with an outfit named Bedlam later in the decade. Nigel would become a studio engineer and sound designer in later years, with a fair number of projects to his credit (he would produce a demo for Lofthouse's thrash project Major Threat, for instance) before his untimely passing in 2023 (RIP dude, and thanks for all the music). There are rumours of a third Trixter tune floating around, named "In the Heat of the Night", but it's actually the same "Burn So Bright" under a different name - a confusing development indeed, as it's how Nigel Crooks himself named the track on his Soundcloud account. Maybe it was originally called "In the Heat of the Night", and the "Burn So Bright" came as a last-minute decision from someone involved with the label? One can't be sure by now, but there are no other Trixter recordings floating around as far as I know, with this "On a Wing and a Prayer" being the only chance to listen to their considerable collective talents. Some may hesitate to buy a full LP by virtue of a band alone, but "On a Wing and a Prayer" won't cost you a lot more than you'd have to pay for an obscure 7'' single if it was the case, and most of the music is decent at least, so I would say you can do far worse than putting some hard earned cash on this one if you have the chance.

Extra thanks to Discogs for picture and label scans

Side A

01. TRUE NORTH - The Wintergarden
02. SECRET GARDEN - Tsantsa
03. SECRET HISTORY - Won't Let You
04. TRIXTER - Burn So Bright
05. THE OUTFIT - Listen
06. THE RESTRICTORS - Peanuts

Side B

07. THE OUTFIT - Hazy Down
08. THE RESTRICTORS - Own Little World
09. SECRET GARDEN - Summer of Hate
10. SECRET HISTORY - Peace of Mind
11. TRIXTER - Fraulien
12. TRUE NORTH - Photographs of Jane

Have you been involved with any of the bands mentioned here? Have any extra info and/or corrections? Please e-mail me (drequon@gmail.com) and let me know!