DIVLJE JAGODE (CRO) - Stakleni Hotel (LP, Diskoton, 1981)

RATING: 6/10

It was somewhat unfortunate that, after cementing their reputation as spearheads of Balkanic hard/heavy music with their self-titled debut LP from 1978, Divlje Jagode were forced to wait a long while before making their next step towards world domination (or solid local stardom, to put it on more realistic terms). From 1979 to 1980, some members of the original line-up had to fulfill their army obligations, and some (as bassist Nihad Jusufhodžić) would never resurface in other bands of note. During the hiatus, axeman 'Zele' Lipovača collaborated with Mirzino Jato, a local disco/pop act fronted by Mirza Alijagić to which Zele contributed both as a musician and songwriter for their successful Šećer I Med (1979) LP. Keyboardist 'Muc' Ismailovski also enjoyed some moonlighting in the meantime, joining pop-rockers Srebrna Krila - a commitment he opted to keep when Divlje Jagode decided to regroup in 1980, soldiering on until his untimely demise in New Year's Eve 1999. Drummer Adonis Dokuzović also wasn't available - not exactly sure why, I must admit, though he would later help his wife Carmen in a solo pop/rock project as well as establishing his own Katedrala studio facilities. In the latter half of 1980, a new Divlje Jagode was born, with Zele originally keeping the services of singer Ante Janković and adding Alen Islamović (B) and Nasko Budimlić (D) to the picture. This 4-piece would move to record label Diskoton, as Zele was dissatisfied with the way Jugodisk promoted their first LP, and finally unleashed "Stakleni Hotel" in the latter half of 1981. 

Now readers take note, this is quite clearly a transitional album, as opening track "Autostop" demonstrates without much room for a doubt. The riffs are full-blown metal, and Janković puts some real effort into delivering a stronger, more powerful vocal performance than what is heard on the group's first LP - but the chorus comes with soft female voices singing the name of the track, no less, adding some pop-rockish element to the song in a pretty abrupt manner. The result is mostly enjoyable (and the track became a strong radio hit in Yugoslavia), but it's clear for all to hear that Divlje Jagode, though already a heavy metal band at heart, were still struggling to find the best way to express it into their music. My strong impression is that, when they crank up the volume and devote themselves to play loud and heavy, it's like the road to take is opening right in front of them - but, unfortunately, they still take too much detours along the way, wasting time with some pretty pointless exercises instead of making the heavy-rocking statement they seem eager to deliver.

Once again, I'd say that the excessive balladry is the band's undoing, even more around here than it was the case in Divlje Jagode's debut. "Kako Si Topla i Mila" is almost insufferable to be honest, with tepid, tedious vocal lines and folky acoustic guitars that simply never go anywhere, the track as a whole being instantly (and mercifully) forgettable as soon as it's over. I'd say "Dodirni Me, Skloni Bol" fares perceivably better, with the intrusive acoustic guitars being restricted to the background and making room for more lively, definitely power-metal-ballad driven arrangements. Still, its position in the running order is far from adequate, slowing things down even further and giving the listener the uncanny feeling that the whole album is not going anywhere, like a dog trying to bite its own tail. With that said, "Potraži Put" is by far the best ballad on the album, closing proceedings with a melancholic, contemplative vibe not too far removed from the excellent "Jedina Moya" from their previous record. It's a pretty good one, and I can't help but thinking how nice it would be if it was the only ballad on display here, leaving room for other hard-hitting rockers to shine and wrapping the LP with a more thoughtful, bittersweet tone. Though not a tearjerker at all, I'm afraid "Ulica Na Lošem Glasu" must also be added to the record's misfires, this being a slightly bluesy hard-rocking tune that, despite its good intentions, lacks the bite and charm to stand beyond semi-heavy mediocrity.

But not all is lost, mind you. The title-track hits the nail right on the head, with some strong rifferama and a general feeling not at all dissimilar to Judas Priest in their "Hell Bent for Leather" or "British Steel" days. "Mrak Za Dvoje" is perhaps even better, even hinting to some dynamic twin-guitar work in places (which is actually quite curious, as the band had only one guitarist, but let's cut them some slack) and presenting a forceful, uncompromising drive that really succeeds into putting some metal-loving necks in motion. If this was a 5-track mini-LP, with this particular pair alongside "Autostop", "Potraži Put" and "Za One Do Tebe" (a least accomplished heavy number, but still serviceable enough to make the grade), maybe we would be lauding an undisputed underground classic, instead of describing a record that, although decent as a whole, demands a fair bit of patience to be listened to in one sitting. Whatever the story, "Stakleni Hotel" served its purpose, helping Divlje Jagode to rebrand themselves as a heavy metal proposition and paving the way for some very interesting developments to come. The production values are pretty respectable, all instruments are played with undeniable competence (no virtuosos showing themselves off really, but rather a nice and healthy display of teamwork), and there's definitely a lot worse you can do with your evening than giving this one a spin or two. Just don't go for it waiting for a something out of the ordinary and you'll be fine, I guess.

After over a hundred shows to promote "Stakleni Hotel", and with tracks like "Autostop" and "Dodirni Me, Skloni Bol" marking a strong presence on Balkan's radio stations, Toni Janković started to feel it would be a good move to invest into a solo career - a split that seem to have been pretty amicable, as the singer would frequently appear as a guest in Divlje Jagode's concerts, and his former colleagues would also lend a hand as backing musicians and/or songwriters on his solo albums. The departure of Janković opened way for bassist Alen Islamović to also relinquish the mike stand, and his powerful, surprisingly versatile vocals proved to be exactly what the band needed to finally find their footing as a metal band. More on that very soon...

Toni Janković (V), Sead 'Zele' Lipovača (G), Alen Islamović (B), Nasko Budimlić (D).

01. Autostop (Lipovača, G. Petranović) 03:41
02. Mrak Za Dvoje (Lipovača, Islamović) 03:41
03. Kako Si Topla i Mila (Lipovača, G. Petranović) 05:03
04. Stakleni Hotel (Lipovača, S. Nakić) 03:39
05. Ulica Na Lošem Glasu (Lipovača, G. Petranović) 04:15
06. Dodirni Me, Skloni Bol (Lipovača, M. Tucaković) 04:01
07. Za One Do Tebe (Lipovača, Islamović) 04:00
08. Potraži Put (Islamović) 04:30

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

DIVLJE JAGODE (CRO) - Divlje Jagode (LP, Jugodisk, 1978)

RATING: 7/10

If one wishes to reach at least a minor knowledge about the heavy rock music going on at the Balkans from the 1970s to the 1990s, it's no less than mandatory to give Divlje Jagode's music at least a few spins. With an eventful and productive career that spans to this day, this Croatian group (though born under the flag of communist Yugoslavia) sure helped pave the way for many new bands to come, and their enduring status as one of the most popular hard/heavy acts of the country is totally justified. Recently, I have learned of original bass player Nihad Jusufhodžić's sad demise in April 2026, and this prompted me to revisit the early music of Divlje Jagode ("Wild Strawberries"), which naturally brought the itch to write something about their music. I'm not sure I will have the determination to sit through their entire discography (it's not exactly gargantuan, but it would surely be time-consuming, and some of their records are not really of my liking to be honest), but the best way to deal with an itch is to scratch it, you know, so let's drop a few lines about at least their classic early releases, as both an homage to Jusufhodžić (that didn't really last the distance as the band's bass player, but nevermind) and a way to show respect to a scene that is still largely unappreciated and under-documented, at least when it comes to the English-speaking side of the metal universe.

Formed in 1977 in Saravejo (now Bosnia, though the band is widely acknowledged as from Croatia and is based there nowadays), as a direct continuation of former acts Zenit and Dobro Ime, the group didn't need much time to capture the imagination of local rock fans, with a handful of singles making the public familiar with their brand of hard/heavy music and prompting Jugodisk to offer the lads the chance to lay down a full-length. By the time the eponymous debut LP hit local shops in 1978, Divlje Jagode were acting as a 5-piece, with band leader Sead 'Zele' Lipovača (G) being assisted by Anto Janković (V), Nihad Jusufhodžić (B), Mustafa 'Muc' Ismailovski (K) and Adonis Dokuzović (D). Though not immediately reaching the explosive success they would enjoy during the mid-1980s, fact is that the group's debut was a very significant release for Yugoslavian heavy music - a scene that, though very open to Western influences (they were never really a part of the Eastern Bloc, you know) and with a significant amount of rock music going on from at least the late 1960s, was still in its infancy when it comes to the heavier side of the rock spectrum. As it's usually the case with nearly all pioneering acts, don't expect "Divlje Jagode" (the album, that is) to be a flawless example of sheer heavy metal genius, but rather part of a learning curve that would give us some genuinely exciting music in later years.

The thing about Divlje Jagode is, oh man, are their songs catchy or what? I mean, with no less than four ballad included on their 9-song debut, one could easily dismiss the record as a disposable display of cheesy semi-metal mediocrity without even listening to it, and that would be a serious mistake, believe. The first two ballads featured, "Krivo Je More" and "Jedina Moja", are immortal classics of the Balkan's heavy music - and, let's be perfectly honest here, both are actually very good! I must admit I have a soft spot for "Krivo Je More", a melancholic tune about remembering a long lost love that, despite its simplicity, does manage to create a very moving atmosphere - but "Jedina Moja" is objectively every bit as good, with a more prominent use of keyboards that, believe me or not, never threaten to become too intrusive and/or overtly emotional. Two truly great songs, I tell you, and the fact that the presence of two ballads doesn't get anywhere near ruining the A side of this LP is quite an indication that we're not dealing with incompetent songwriters around here. 

But, no matter how good the tearjerkers are, we're all here for the hard-hitters, aren't we? And "Divlje Jagode" (the album) have quite a few nice ditties to offer in that department as well. I really like the title-track, for instance, with keyboards arrangements and a solid main riff that, when put together, really bring to mind something of a less virtuoso Deep Purple - all with the healthy dose of catchiness I mentioned earlier, including a let's-repeat-the-name-of-the-song chorus (that works beautifully in this particular occasion) and a "lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-luyy" singalong halfway through that, despite being almost silly in nature, is so charming that you can't help yourself but singing along with it. "Bubi" is also nice, with a more typical hard rocking vibe, but I guess the best of the lot is "Želim Da Te Imam", an immensely catchy heavy rocker with nice guitar arrangements and a soaring chorus to die for. Really good stuff, lads.

In fact, if the rest of the package was as good as the first five cuts, we would have a seriously kickass album in our hands, slightly excessive ballads and all. Unfortunately, ballad number three "Mojoj Ljubavi" is a pretty aimless and insipid one, being honestly a letdown and even detrimental to the merits of the whole package. "Čekam Da Sunce Zađe", though mostly nice enough, suffers from an unimaginatively, dull "yeah yeah yeah" chorus that makes no justice to the pretty functional (and reasonably heavy) instrumentation, and Divlje Jagode is seriously risking losing our attention completely by this point. Fortunately, "Vodarica" is another very nice 70's hard/heavy tune with more than a passing resemblance to Rainbow (the most hard-rocking side of Dio's era, that is), so our ears are mostly satisfied when ballad number four (deep breath) "Sjećanja" steps forward. It's not a bad song at all (definitely way better than "Mojoj Ljubavi", no doubt about that), and perhaps even the most 'metallic' of the bunch when it comes to this album, but I guess most listeners will be simply too exhausted of mellow balladry to give this one a fair chance, the temptation to just skip it and move straight to the next record being almost too strong to resist. When it comes to the soft side of the spectrum, I must say that "Krivo Je More" and "Jedina Moja" are more than enough for me, thanks very much.

Many changes would come Divlje Jagode's way after their LP debut was out, and their brand of fairly typical 70s hard-rocking fare would toughen quite a lot in the following years, to the extent that "Divlje Jagode" may even sound a bit non-representative if you happen to first hear the band via their "Motori" or "Čarobnjaci" releases. Still, it's well worth a listen, and it's also the only full-length release to feature Nihad Jusufhodžić's nice, simple-but-confident bass playing (he would leave in 1979, way before record number two "Stakleni Hotel" was out), so give the man a bit of much deserved respect and have a beer or two while spinning this one, right? 

Anto Janković (V), Sead 'Zele' Lipovača (G), Nihad Jusufhodžić (B), Mustafa 'Muc' Ismailovski (K) and Adonis Dokuzović (D). 

The track listing below reflects the original 1978 release. The album's running order may vary from different formats and/or reissues

01. Divlje Jagode (Lipovača) 05:27
02. Krivo Je More (Lipovača, Janković) 04:19
03. Bubi (Lipovača, Janković) 04:26
04. Jedina Moja (Lipovača, Janković) 05:17
05. Želim Da Te Imam (Lipovača, Janković) 02:52
06. Mojoj Ljubavi (Lipovača, Janković) 03:25
07. Čekam Da Sunce Zađe (Lipovača, Janković) 03:53
08. Vodarica (Lipovača, M.Kašaj) 03:03
09. Sjećanja (Ismailovski, Janković) 03:52

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

SAPPHIRE (UK-Preston) - Sapphire (demo, 1982) plus II (demo, 1983)

RATING: 8/10

Perhaps we can describe this as a pre-review? I mean, it recently came to my knowledge that Lancashire's Sapphire (not to be confused with their - also pretty good - London namesakes) are going to receive a proper CD/LP release at long last, compiling the couple independent releases that are know to us to this day (and perhaps, fingers crossed, some yet-unreleased curios as well?). It made my day knowing this really, as I have been an ardent admirer of the band for roughly 20 years now, having been lucky enough to download both cassette releases via SoulSeek in 2006 or thereabouts - or was it even earlier, maybe a year or so? I can't really remember now, but fact is it was love at first listen, and (though I was never able to locate and/or acquire original copies myself) I'm very thankful that the mp3 files and picture scans came my way in a period when (even with the invaluable help of landmark sources of info such as Malc McMillan's NWOBHM Encyclopedia) I simply wasn't even aware they ever existed, let alone looking for their music. That Sapphire's music will finally be available in proper, collectable formats got me so pumped up that I've been listening to their music all day, and ultimately felt it would be a good time as any to write a few lines about it - not only as a reference to their charming and catchy brand of NWOBHM music, but also as a strong incentive to every good reader to buy a copy as soon as possible, as (just like it came to be the case with Turbo's magnificent "Charged for... Glory" compilation from Cult Metal Classics) I'm pretty sure it will be one of the most valuable additions to the NWOBHM retrospective releases in recent memory.

There's no doubt the upcoming release will offer plenty of interesting trivia and first-hand accounts about Sapphire (and I damn sure want you to buy it when it comes out), so I won't make any exhaustive efforts to tell every single snippet of info I know about the band (not that I actually know their history in minute detail, you know). Still, some context is always welcome, am I right? The group was originally formed in Preston, Lancashire in November 1981, and it originally worked as a trio with brothers Graham (G) and David Coupe (D) alongside Stewart Mayor (B), putting a number of original numbers together before recruiting Jan Holmes as a lead singer. After a few shows, Mayor left and Ian Dargie (B) took his place, and new singer Dave Drew was invited into the fun, with Holmes assuming keyboard duties instead. This is the line-up that recorded the band's first tape at the local Countdown Studios in the final months of 1982, which allegedly sold in excess of 400 copies and got a very good response in places like Belgium (where they seem to have become something of a pirate-rock-radio sensation for a while) and the Netherlands. Some line-up changes were on the horizon though, with David Coupe and Dave Drew leaving and being substituted by Carl Parker (D) and Ben Morris (V), and this 5-piece would record in June 1983 the five tracks that comprise their second and final tape release. Things looked very promising for a while, and their first (and, so far, only) vinyl appearance as part of the "It's Unheard Of!" compilation in 1984 (with an abridged version of "Encounter") sure have done their chances no harm whatsoever. But no further music was ever heard from the band, and it seems that Sapphire were no longer active by the 1985 or thereabouts. They seem to have been pretty determined in their quest for fame and fortune, going to great lengths to spread their tapes wherever possible and getting as far as planning a full Belgian tour for 1984 (which I'm sure never came to be, unfortunately), so I suppose the lads, having given their best shot for a few very eventful years, ultimately concluded the band had run its course and collectively opted to disband, in order to pursue other interests. None of the members resurfaced in any other bands of note, at least that I'm aware of, but I'm sure the forthcoming compilation will offer us some much welcome extra info in due course. 

The first demo (a release that, given its careful presentation, have been described by different sources as a cassette album) is perhaps slightly more widely known than the sophomore "II" tape, but fact is that most metalheads out there (including a large percentage of NWOBHM enthusiasts) are simply unfamiliar with Sapphire's music, which is a clear indication that the world has gone completely mad indeed. What we hear in "Sapphire" (the debut tape) is elegant, dynamic heavy metal with more than a taste of 70's hard rock (most of all in the style of choice of singer David Drew) and generous connections to the then-flourishing prog rock revival scene, most of all due to the prominent (but not at all intrusive) use of keyboards. In fact, two of the tracks here featured ("Autumn" and "Freeflight") are instrumental cuts with more than a leaning towards full-blown proggy music - and, to be frank, both are little more than keyboard-driven filler that, regardless of its good intentions, won't do much for most metal palates, I'm afraid. That being said, the rest of the material is very good, even surprisingly original in places, as one have to consider the musicians involved were in their early twenties at the very most. Opening track "Encounter" is quite a blast actually, a tale about a contact with alien spaceships that (despite the somewhat silly lyrics) really captures the listener's attention without ever letting go. The use of keyboards is very clever (with melodies that are quite reminiscent of "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind", who would have ever guessed), the mid-tempo drive of the song works beautifully and the vocal lines are truly enjoyable, most of all the very memorable chorus. It has its rough edges, that's for sure, but it's still a remarkably catchy tune that is sure to live rent-free inside your mind for quite a while after listening to it.

But Sapphire are not one-hit-wonders, mind you. "Love is the Feeling" is a delightful, hard-hitting tune that strongly brings to mind a slightly more melodic Trespass (the riffs, though surely not a carbon-copy, are actually not that dissimilar to "One of These Days", incidentally), whereas "Back on the Streets" (enhanced by a simple, but very nice atmospheric mid session) and "Two Timer" are your typical NWOBHM fare - and I mean it in the best way possible, these being tracks that bands like A II Z and Bashful Alley would be glad to call their own. "Crazy" is a mellower tune that starts rather unpromising, but gains a lot of oomph when the guitars kick in, and final track "Battle for Freedom" is a more epic cut with more pretentious arrangements - and, though not a award-winning display of faultless songwriting (it kinda sounds like the lads are struggling to keep it together in places), it's still a commendable step in the right direction in the learning curve towards the most complex end of the metal spectrum. All in all, a pretty nice collection of songs for such a young act, and one that should really gather a fair dose of attention from the record labels of the day, if there was any justice in the world.

The second tape (succintly-named "II") shows some perceivable differences in the band's approach, with arrangements clearly leaning towards a more polished, proggy sound - though never letting their hard/heavy fans down, you can rest assured of that. Actually, I tend to think that songs like "One Last Chance" and most of all "Third Precinct Seventeen" show Sapphire under the most favorable light, with the 5-piece surely moving towards a sound that is all their own, without any obvious comparisons with anyone else. In fact, I'd say "Third Precinct Seventeen" is my favorite song from Sapphire (and I pretty much like them all, you know), with colourful lyrics about some personal tragedy carried along by forceful, dynamic guitar riffing and pretty colourful performances from all members. The stop-and-go chorus is memorable as hell, and I can't help but think how nice if will be if some modern NWOTHM band ever pick this one up as a cover, giving it a proper reworking and more modern production values. "One Last Chance" is a more typical heavy rock number, but I simply love the keyboards on this one, and another catchy chorus is sure to replay into your brain for days after listening to it. 

"851216" is a bit more laid back, with keyboard melodies that float above the rest of the band almost like a different song - this actually being pretty nice, as it gives the track something of a ethereal, slightly haunting vibe. But the verses and chorus are not that memorable to be frank, the track as a whole failing to reach the heights of its two predecessors. Final tracks "Coming of the Storm" and "Twilight Watcher" are the most adventurous of the batch, though not moving too deep into flamboyant arrangements or busy displays of dexterity - let's face it, the lads playing it were undeniably talented, but not skilled enough to awe the world with their musicianship just yet. "Coming of the Storm" starts as a pretty decent mid-tempo number with pensive lyrics until halfway through, when it lays the pedal to the floor and launches into a fast-and-furious section that, albeit pretty simple, still works out quite nicely. "Twilight Watcher", on the other hand, is not that long (4-minutes straight), but I'd say it's very ambitious for its running time, with nice guitar-keys dialogues and a few surprising changes in dynamics that can really take the listener off guard. It also gets pretty heavy towards the end, though it doesn't quite take it to the limit like in the previous track. A pretty nice piece of music nonetheless, and it comes to show that Sapphire had a fair number of tricks under their sleeves after all, and could have evolved into something truly special if given a modicum of encouragement and financial backing.

As stated above, I'm not familiar with the events that led to Sapphire's disbanding, but I sincerely hope some much belated adulation will come their way at long last, and a few comeback shows would be something of a dream come true really. I'd definitely try to schedule my vacations and book a travel to wherever they would play, if I can only find the time (and the money) to do so! It's all only a wild conjecture of mine by this point, but the world is always full of surprises (the Bleak House reunion was quite unexpected for instance, at least for me), so just let me dream a little, right? While none of it comes to fruition, and the Sapphire CD/LP is a promise rather than a reality, let's hold on to the mp3 files (or the old tapes, if you lucky to have it) for a while, savoring the taste of pleasant dreams on their way to become truth. I'll drink to that tonight.

David Drew (V), Graham Coupe (G), Ian Dargie (B), Ian Holmes (K/V), David Coupe (D).

01. Encounter (D.Coupe, Drew, G.Coupe, Dargie, Holmes) 5:15
02. Autumn (Holmes) 1:11
03. Back on the Streets (G.Coupe) 3:43
04. Crazy (G.Coupe) 4:24
05. Love is the Feeling (D.Coupe, Drew, G.Coupe) 4:00
06. Two Timer (G.Coupe) 3:19
07. Freeflight (G.Coupe) 2:46
08. Battle for Freedom (D.Coupe, G.Coupe, Holmes, S.Mayor) 3:37

Ben Holmes (V), Graham Coupe (G), Ian Dargie (B), Ian Holmes (K/V), Carl Parker (D).

01. Third Precinct Seventeen (G.Coupe) 5:08
02. One Last Chance (G.Coupe) 4:43
03. 851216 (G.Coupe) 4:36
04. Coming of the Storm (G.Coupe, Holmes) 6:05
05. Twilight Watcher (G.Coupe, Dargie, Holmes) 4:09

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

GYPP (UK) - Gypsy Dee - The Legendary Gypp Studio Sessions (CD, Jarmusic, 2001)

RATING: 6/10

For a while, all us poor collectors and enthusiasts knew about Gypp is that they recorded a 'proto-NWOBHM' offering in 1978 (the "Yaah!" EP whose review you can kindly read a few scrollings below), that such piece of wax was (and still is) a rarity that would take a fair chunk of your monthly salary to add to your collection and, well, not very much else. Fortunately, their collective history is now far less obscure than it used to be, and I'm glad to offer some solid info on what happened to the lads in the years following their sole original claim to vinyl fame. In fact, the band suffered a major blow not long after "Yaah!" was out, this being the departure of singer and main songwriter Martin Newell following some not-remotely-encouraging reviews to the band's debut release. Unsure about his role in the music scene, and feeling hurt by the cynical response to his early efforts (including a full album with his first band, Pond, that was shelved without ceremony by their ailing record label), Newell decided to hide in the shadows for a while, writing music solely for himself while trying to figure out his next move. It seems to have been a mostly amicable break-up, and he allowed Gypp to keep his compositions as part of their repertoire for the time being. As we all know, Newell would find his niche within the lo-fi, cassette-collecting scene, and his project The Cleaners from Venus is still one of the most legendary and well-regarded names when it comes to this convoluted, enduring subculture. As for Gypp, they ultimately decided to soldier on, but it was clear for everyone that they would have a hard time without their frontman and main creative force.

The tracks comprising this "Gypsy Dee - The Legendary Gypp Studio Sessions" (the "Gypp CD", oh boy how clever) were put together by the Jarmusic label from Germany, a place where (quite bizarrely) the lads seem to have been quite well regarded almost from day one. Most of it (tracks 1 to 8 from the 13 here featured) are demo recordings, laid down in the period after Newell's departure and showcasing their then-new singer Jock Davies. It transpires that Gypp had set up something of a home studio for a while, recording a few tunes to evaluate their own development as a unit, and I don't think any of such demos made it into wider circulation at the time. The recording dates are now impossible to reveal with any great certainty, though it's common knowledge that gigs under the Gypp moniker were scheduled until at least 1981, so you don't need a Mathematics degree to assume it was all recorded at the turn of the decade, most probably between 1979 and 1980. The sound quality is pretty good overall, and I wouldn't be surprised if the lads were actually dreaming about an independent album or something, as the recording values are definitely better than many underground offerings from the period.

It's clear on first listen that the lads were trying to expand their sound and achieve something of a unique personality, with different band members trying their luck with songwriting - though some ideas from Martin Newell are kept, most of all in "Starz Ain't Burning", that totally sounds like a song that could be in their "Yaah!" EP in case they wanted to expand it into a full album or something. No wonder it's one of the most accomplish tracks here, with the perfect balance of proggy and indie that the lads seems to have struggled to find on their own. Nothing around here can really be labeled as NWOBHM, but songs like the aforementioned "Starz Ain't Burning", "Sad Boyz" (strong glam rock vibes here) and most of all "Walking Finger" are the closer you'll ever get when it comes to this band, this latter tune being a hard rocking beauty with nice vocals and busy, dynamic (and sometimes quite melodic) guitar work. On the other hand, "Shoe Box" and "Headlights" seems to show Gypp trying their luck with power pop, the latter showcasing a chorus that could easily be part of a B-side from the Buzzcocks (I kid you not), though the prominent use of keyboards and the somewhat convoluted arrangements in both tracks still remind us we're not dealing with Badfinger clones after all. Songs like "Airship" and "Solaris" are more strongly tied to the whole prog rock thing, though still with pretty direct songwriting and centered around straightforward ideas that are reasonably easy to follow through. The songs are mostly good, though a few oddballs like "Lady Godiva" simply don't work that well I'm afraid, and some of the more sedated tunes (like opener "Airship") would surely benefit from just a tad more heaviness here and there in order to liven then up a little. All things considered, it's a interesting and quite adventurous batch of compositions, but it lacks a more tangible sense of direction if you ask me, being a bit difficult to imagine what kind of audience Gypp were trying to conquer after all. Oh well, maybe they were just having fun and enjoying the hell out of it, without bothering too much with pleasing people and all that, which of course is totally fine. I reckon the record labels never really stood at their door with contract offers and such, but you can't have it all, can you?

The final five tracks are taken from one of Gypp's comeback gigs in Germany (played in Gutersloh on September 7th, 1996), when they experienced something of a mini-revival in the region - and even Martin Newell himself agreed to rejoin them for the purposes of such a jaunt, so I'm pretty sure it was all quite eventful. The tapes were probably taken straight from the mixing desk - it sounds pretty good overall, with everything nice and clean as expected, but it lacks some of the punch one would expect from a live recording, as is often the case with similar-sourced material. Nothing too objectionable though, and I think these cuts are a suitable addendum to the studio material preceding it. From this portion of the CD, my favorite would be "Greek Title", a truly endearing song with imaginative arrangements and a long, beautiful guitar solo. It's not exactly heavy, but the mixture of indie-rocking riffing and proggy aspirations actually work out very well on this one, and its nearly 9 minutes go by like it was half as long. "Best Suit" is also nice, with a somewhat more dramatic vibe, enhanced by catchy vocal lines and a prominent drum pattern that really drags the song along quite nicely - it's indie rock, granted, but still vigorous enough to be worth checking out. There's also a version of "Marigoldz" that sound slightly different from the EP, though I'd say the original recording is more my cup of tea. "Boots and Trousers" is way closer to power pop territory once again, and also has something of a cabaret vibe to it, with double-meaning lyrics and an overall presentation that sounds more like a jokey track rather than anything meant to be taken seriously - but the audience seems to love it really, so what do I know, huh? "Eliza", on the other hand, is a pop-rockish semi-ballad that somehow makes me thing of The Housemartins, or perhaps a slightly less poppy version of The Cars (yeah, I know, these analogies are getting weirder by the minute), this obviously meaning your heavy metal thirst will hardly be quenched while listening to it. Whatever the case, it's a charming and light-hearted memento from a band revisiting their own past, and it rounds off this compilation in a mostly adequate manner.

As stated above, all activity surrounding the Gypp guise seem to have ceased after 1981 - which is not to say the musicians involved simply decided to hang their boots and find some day jobs immediately after that. In fact, the 4-man nucleus of Tony Phillips (now also assuming lead vocals), Ian Peppercorn, Brian Rudd and John Butters decided that their previous moniker had run its course, and rechristened themselves as Horizontal Brian, while also leaving their prog-rockish aspirations behind and fully adopting a new wave, electronic-infused pop rock sound. They got as far as releasing a full length LP ("Vertical") in 1983, issued by the Gold Mountain label and mixed by none other than Graham Gouldman of 10CC fame. A few numbers from their Gypp days were reworked, but most of the tracks are unique to the LP - and I'd say it's a mostly decent release worthy of a spin or two for curiosity alone, though we're obviously miles away from anything remotely metallic and therefore I won't delve into a more strict analysis of its contents. The band seems to have folded not long after, with Tony Phillips (who also collaborated with Martin Newell in side projects Stray Trolleys and Dead Students) relocating to the USA and enjoying a successful career as an audio engineer and mixer. Brian Rudd had some level of involvement with an indie/leftfield combo named Purr, and I'm glad to say that he and Ian Peppercorn have recently reunited as a duo under the name Trash Humanica, even revisiting a fair number of Gypp material from the dim and distant past. Drummer John Butters also kept busy through the years, lending a hand to his old friend Martin Newell in a number of The Cleaners from Venus recordings, as well as being a full member in acts such as the Groove Doctors and Mean Red Spiders. It's always heartwarming to learn of talented musicians that keep doing their stuf for the sheer hell of it, and I wish them all nothing but the best for the future, really.

It may seem it's the end of the story as far as this humble blog is concerned, but it's not quite like that, actually. As far as the Gypp name goes, there's still an elusive appearance in a local-band compilation named "So You Think We're All Farmers" from 1981, to which they contributed with "Physical Wreck" - a track I never heard and have no idea how it sounds like (incidentally, Tony Phillips also appears with a solo number named "Working in Pyjamas", later reworked by Horizontal Brian). As if it wasn't enough, there's also a full live album out there, named "Reunion Concert" and with exclusive tracks such as "Cream Diesel", "Heart Like a Slum", "Pregnant Pause" and "Slumming Again". If you can ever help this poor reviewer to get hold of one (or both) of such items, whether in physical media or mp3 format, please be kind enough to drop us a line...

Million thanks to Discogs for tin can photos and label scans

Jock Davies (V - 1 to 8), Martin Newell (V - 9 to 13), Ian Peppercorn (G), Tony Phillips (B, V), Brian Rudd (K, V), John Butters (D).

01. Airship (Rudd, Davies) 4:22
02. Sad Boyz (Rudd, Newell) 2:58
03. Shoe Box (Phillips) 3:01
04. Walking Finger (Peppercorn, Davies) 3:37
05. Lady Godiva (Peppercorn) 3:04
06. Starz Ain't Burning (Newell) 4:10
07. Headlights (Phillips) 3:02
08. Solaris (Gypp) 3:33
09. Best Suit (live) (Phillips) 4:22
10. Boots and Trousers (live) (Phillips) 3:52
11. Greek Title (live) (Peppercorn, Newell) 8:43
12. Marigoldz (live) (Newell) 4:31
13. Eliza (live) (Phillips) 5:42

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

GYPP (UK) - Yaah! (7'' EP, Acorn/Shy Talk Records, 1978)

RATING: 7/10

It took a long while before people could really make their minds about this mysterious Gypp and where to insert in the NWOBHM multiverse. One of the hindering factors was, of course, that it was damn difficult to listen to their "Yaah!" EP from 1978, let alone own a copy, so there were obviously a lot of uncertainty and hearsay surrounding their music. Fortunately, things started to clear as the online metal community gained strenght, and now it's relatively easy to tell the history with significant detail and securely sepparating truth from gossip - though such developments also made clear that Gypp belongs in the very periphery of the NWOBHM as far as music is concerned, even the more broad (and sometimes quite misleading) 'proto-NWOBHM' tag being a bit of a stretch in this particular case. It's now fairly common knowledge that Gypp was one of the early band experiences of Martin Newell, a singer-songwriter responsible for cult acts like the Cleaners from Venus and the Brotherhood of Lizards, a prominent figure in the cassette culture of the 1970-80s while also being regarded as an important poet in modern English literature. This fact in itself adds a significant bit of interest to this 7'', not to mention some extra digits every time it pops up for sale - though it's fair to say it was always a very rare item that you would hardly find in the bargain bin of your local second-hand shop. 

The group were already doing the rounds in their local Suffolk area when Newell joined them in late 1975, after a fruitful but somewhat frustrating experience with an outfit named Plod, a glam rock combo that nearly released an album for Banjul Records but quickly folded when the record was shelved due to the label's bankruptcy. Upon his arrival, Newell sure took much of the creative side of the band to himself, writing a number of songs and giving some definitely pop-oriented leanings to their prog rock style of choice. They were a popular live act not only in and around their home area, but also in Germany, where their music seems to have been very well received even before any vinyl product was out. Quite peculiar indeed, but not at all unjustified, as their "Yaah!" EP is a reasonably interesting (though slightly oddball) listening experience - just don't go for it expecting any skull-crushing metal assault and you'll be fine, I guess. 

Opening track "Marigoldz" is perhaps the closer we get to heavy rock territory around here, and the only one that would credibly warrant the 'proto-NWOBHM' tag, but bear in mind we're talking about very borderline material here - if you ever heard bands like The Movie Stars, Tutch or Sidewinder perhaps you can catch my drift. The keyboards give something of a proggy flavor to the track, but it's mostly a simple, good-time rocking tune that sounds pretty innofensive, but still pleasant enough to deserve a few listens (and the lyrics are quite funny too). "Titania" is a more typical prog rock ballad with atmospheric keys floating above a pretty straightforward song construction. I like the guitar solo on this one, very melodic and reasonably powerful, but the track as a whole is no more than decent, I'm afraid. "Sister Darling" runs for the entirety of the B side, and I must say it's my personal favorite here, though one should not take this as indication that it's a more metallic offering than the rest. It's surely the song where the contrasting indie/pop and prog rock elements unite in the most effective manner, resulting in a very melodic, but still quite busy variant that brings to mind a crossover between Haze and Marillion, if such bizarre image makes any sense at all. Not the heaviest song ever commited to tape, but still a pretty interesting and quite individualistic piece well worthy of your attention, most of all if you're interested in the prog rock scene going on in the UK pretty much in unison with the NWOBHM explosion. 

Though surely well received by their small-but-loyal fanbase, this "Yaah!" EP (its, ahem, title probably being a reference to the scream Martin Newell delivers at the start of "Marigoldz") didn't receive a similar welcome from the critics, with a scathing review on New Musical Express being perticularly disheartening to the lads. Those were still the punk rock days, you see, and the brand of music Gypp was willing to bring to the table surely wasn't what the hype demanded at the time. I wouldn't go as far as saying Gypp were cruelly overlooked, as their EP wasn't exactly a stunning display of groundbreaking musicianship just yet, but it seems fair to say they had some promise in them, and it's a bit of a shame that they were never given a proper chance to develop into the next level. It would never come to be anyway, as Newell decided to take an extended sabbathical from the music scene, writing songs in private but refraining from any live activities for a number of years. He would change his mind in later years as we all know, first with a recording-only project named The Stray Trolleys, later fulfilling his lo-fi indie aspirations with the Cleaners from Venus - two projects that, in one form or another, are still going strong to this day. He also released a few solo efforts, and more recently launched a duo named Light Music Company along with Rachel Love (a singer who achieved some minor UK success with a group named Dolly Mixture). With dozens of releases to his credit, along with a strong career both as a author and columnist, Newell is a truly creative mind with an impressive body of work and deserves nothing but respect, though most of his musical input is of little interest for us metalheads.

Though undeniably a hard blow, the departure of Martin Newell didn't quite meant the end of the line for Gypp just yet. After a period of soul-searching, the remaining band members decided to keep plugging in, recruiting new singer Jock Davies along the way. This line-up would lay down a number of demos, later compiled by Jarmusic as the "Gypsy Dee - The Legendary Gypp Studio Sessions" CD from 2001. In fact, such was the respect Gypp garnered in Germany during their heyday that the band performed a few reunion gigs there in 1996, even recruiting Martin Newell to join the fun. But let's not rush things, as a proper review of these late-period misdemeanors is just around the corner...

Million thanks to Discogs for picture sleeve and label scans

Martin Newell (V), Ian Peppercorn (G), Tony Phillips (B), Brian Rudd (K), John Butters (D). All tracks written by M. Newell.

01. Marigoldz 3:55
02. Titania 4:37
03. Sister Darling 6:34

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

HOLOCAUST (UK-Wales) - Slay That Dragon (12'' EP, Piledriver, 19??)

RATING: 7/10

Ok folks, when it comes to insanely obscure NWOBHM, this is about as rare as it gets. In fact, people were making huge waves around this Holocaust (obviously not the Scottish combo) and their "Slay that Dragon" 3-tracker in the early 2010's, when surprising news about the record's existence suddenly took the collecting scene by storm. As you can gather, after decades of squandering every possible place in the UK in search for esoteric slices of vinyl released by British metal bands in the late '70s-early '80s, there's very little left out there to be found, and learning of a completely unknown release (and a pretty decent one, as reports stated) was sure a remarkable thing. Of course, things soon went the usual path of exageration (with people labeling it "the holy grail of NWOBHM", which was not true as no one was looking specifically for it before it was found) and overpricing (I saw people asking five-digit prices for the real thing, believe it or not), though  it's not that out of proportion in this particular case: let's face it, it's actually pretty rare, and few of us will ever have the chance to add an original to our collection. 

Details about the record used to be very scarce (more on it in a minute), and the stories I heard about how it was located in the first place are so fanciful (bordering on self-congratulatory, to be frank) that it's difficult to accept it at face value.If you were to believe the lore around it, the EP was pressed in truly minuscule quantities (I was originally told there was only two, but that sounded too much of an exageration even back then), maybe not even going past the testing stage, and the only surviving copies were in the hands of the band members themselves, these individuals being extraordinarily shy and point-blank refusing to share any significant info about the release and its origins. Bollocks. There were way more than a handful copies pressed, some people sure bought it at gigs back then, and the musicians involved are not that impossible to locate (and/or unwilling to cooperate) after all. After a fair deal of research (and a healthy bit of good luck), I'm happy to finally share with the world some significant info about Holocaust, one of the most esoteric mysteries from the entire NWOBHM folklore!

For starters, no one seemed to know for sure where this particular Holocaust came from. In fact, there were some suspicion that they could be from Canada, as the lacquer cutting of the vinyl seemed to point out to a Canadian pressing company. It can be safely discarded as a coincidence by now, though, as I'm now able to state with a 100% degree of certainty that Holocaust were from Wales, most precisely from the town of Caerphilly. The band were already active in 1979, though is by no means impossible that they were doing the rounds even earlier than that, albeit in slightly different form. In fact, the 12'' 3-tracker (an independent release, the Pile Driver label being created by the band members themselves) have been consistently dated as from 1979, but I'm more than willing to cast some doubt on such a dating, as I have reliable info (from more than one source) that the line-up that recorded it weren't actually together until 1980, or possibly even 1981. One of the band members (the last one to join the band) was also working at Spartan Manufacturing by the time the EP was pressed there, getting as far as having a discount as a courtesy - so I'm inclined to believe his memory on the subject, which implicates that the 1979 release date should be seriously called into question. I'm sure we will be able to clarify this eventually anyway. 

BTW, the 4-piece responsible for recording "Slay that Dragon" consists of Dean Oates (vocal and rhythm guitar), John Slattery (lead guitar), Phil James (bass) and Anthony Jones (drums). It seems that Dean and John knew each other as classmates since the mid 1970's, though the original nucleus of what would become Holocaust (using a different name, now long lost in the mists of time) most probably consisted of Dean and Phil. Whatever the case, the three tracks we now know ("Slay that Dragon", "Take Me to Your Lawyer" and "So Called Civilised Way") seem to have been the only studio recordings from the group - they did have a few other self-penned tunes in their repertoire, but none of it were ever laid down on tape, I'm afraid. And now I must reveal (to the horror of many) that no less than 500 copies were pressed, with an unspecified (but not very large) number being sold at gigs in and around the Caerphilly area - and one of the original band members kept something in the region of 300 unsold and unplayed copies of it in his attic until five or six years ago, when (after concluding it was all warped and melted beyond salvation) he decided to dump them all in a refuse tip... Oh well, at least we know there are a few more pieces floating around, so there is some hope to find a still-unearthed copy of this NWOBHM ultra-collectable after all. If you happen to have good contacts in Wales, most of all in the Gwent area, ask them to keep a strong eye on the bargain bins of local parochial fairs and perhaps you may get real lucky!

Fortunately, the music itself is no longer the mystery it used to be. I remember a conversation I had many years ago with a very serious NWOBHM collector, who heard the rumors and did his very best to get at least a snippet of Holocaust's music, just to make sure it was metal after all. When someone who had it finally agreed to send this collector some music, this individual went to great lengths to make sure it would not be shared: it was recorded in an old cassette tape, deliberately in mono, with many fluctuations in EQ done on purpose so you couldn't have anything near a good time listening to it. Yeah, let's talk about not making things easy, all right. Anyway, time took its natural course, and, after at least a full decade of speculation, some enterprising individual managed to get hold of a copy, rip it in mp3 format and upload it on some metal forum online. Thanks to this good samaritan, if you know where to look after Holocaust, you damn sure can find it - and, having downloaded such files myself, I'm more than happy to drop a few lines about the music contents of this EP (and no, you can rest assured I do not own a 12'' copy of it, though I would love to get lucky sometime in the future!)

There were more than a few comments around linking Holocaust's sound to Budgie, and I must say it's not far from the mark after all. I mean, Dean Oates's vocals are nowhere near Burke Shelley territory, being more of a John Kay kind of guy, but a track like "Slay that Dragon" could easily be part of an album like "Nightflight" without being out of place at all. It's a very nice song actually, with interesting guitar interplay (including a reasonably dinamic outro) and a multi-layered, slightly atmospheric chorus that works remarkably well, despite some very simplistic lyrics. It's the best track here by quite a margin, if you ask me, which is not to say the remaining cuts are unworthy of a listen. That being said, "Take Me To Your Lawyer" (a title that, given the lyrics, is probably a mispell of "Take Me To MY Lawyer") is a more laid back track with heavy (but slightly disjointed) riffs and a somewhat confusing song structure, and I reckon the lads should have taken some extra time to hone it before taking it to a studio and recording it for posterity. "So Called Civilised Way" is an epic power ballad that runs for the entirety of the B side, and its very sedated nature would have surely benefitted from a few more dynamic arrangements in strategic places, though it's a mostly solid track that can move a few heartstrings if you're in the right frame of mind. The recording and mixing, though very basic, are decent enough and even add a few fuzzy effects in places, giving the whole EP a vibe similar to a well-recorded demo. The musicians, though obviously very young, sure knew what to do with their instruments, and the final product is pretty efficient as a NWOBHM artifact, though there's more than a hint of 1970's hard/heavy music in the proceedings.

There's obviously still a lot to learn and discover about this particular Holocaust: I'm making some extra efforts to obtain a few photos and memorabilia, for instance, though the individuals I'm in touch with have some personal issues to deal with and are more than excused to take their time before bothering to answer my requests, which is perfectly understandable. Still, I'm very glad to be able to share some info about this mystery combo after all, and you can all rest assured that any extra info that come to my knowledge will be added to this article in earnest. Some people rather play dumb with whatever info they can garner, perhaps hoping this will keep them a few steps ahead of the pack in the ruthless NWOBHM collecting scene, but I tend to think it's the opposite really: the more we collectively know, less vulnerable we are to shady individuals and their attempts to rip us off, and any snippet of data from the almost-forgotten past we come to learn is a renewed chance for talented musicians to have their music duly acknowledged and appreciated at long last. 

Extra thanks to Discogs for label scans

Dean Oates (V/G), John Slattery (G), Phil James (B) and Anthony Jones (D).

01. Slay That Dragon (James)
02. Take Me To Your Lawyer (James, Oates)
03. So Called Civilised Way (Slattery, Oates)

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

IRON MAIDEN (UK) - Brave New World (CD, EMI, 2000)

RATING: 7/10

If we want to put it in a single phrase, I guess you can say that the time was right for Iron Maiden to return with a bang. Having Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith back into the picture surely got the hype in motion, and the well-attended gigs to support the "Ed Hunter" compilation offered strong evidence that the whole 3-guitar thing could work out quite fine after all. Besides, the whole environment around them was very favourable for such a reunion: the dreary 1990s were gone at last, the whole "metal is dead" bullshit was finally vanishing for good, and some nice-sounding newcomers (Arch Enemy, Edguy, Opeth, Nightwish, In Flames, Pain of Salvation, Hammerfall etc) seemed strong contenders able to explore new and exciting avenues to the scene. It was all about having some strong legends to lead the way - and if good old Maiden could shake off their "Virtual XI" fiasco and come up with some genuinely interesting music, there would be no one and anything to block their way back to the top. Thinking back, I can clearly remember how people were excited about a new Iron Maiden album back in early 2000, and not only that: people were actually expectant for it, wishing for it to be the kickass comeback we all knew it could be - and that we all felt the world desperately needed, though perhaps we weren't 100% conscious of that at the time. It was almost like that decisive game of the season, when your favorite player is about to perform the penalty kick or free throw that will give your team the victory - c'mon dude, don't let us down, you can do it. And, luckily for all of us metalheads, Iron Maiden did it.

With that said, it's at least a bit curious to point out that I, personally, don't think that "Brave New World" stood the test of time unscathed: in fact, I tend to consider it to be a somewhat flawed record as a whole, with some significant filler going on, and surely not the world-beating monster it clearly seemed to be when it first came out. It's still pretty good of course, and I really like it anyway, but perhaps its immense success was something of a self-fulfilling prophecy: so desperately we wanted it to be great, and such was the welcoming feeling towards it, that its (many) qualities were instantly praised to the heavens and beyond, while its (few, but significant) shortcomings were collectively overlooked for the time being. One of my pet theories about Iron Maiden is that Steve Harris and the boys are the band with the best timing in the universe: they were at the right place, at the exact right time, and they were there more than once. In fact, I would draw an imaginary line uniting "Brave New World" to "The Number of the Beast" way back in 1982: I don't think neither should be ranked among the best records ever (and they're surely not the 10-out-of-10 listening experiences people often say they are), but both were launched upon a heavy metal environment that was desperately in need of them, and both carried messages that were extremely important for the metal scene moving forward. "The Number of the Beast" told the world that, if you have the songs and the attitude, you don't need to sell out to sell stadiums - and "Brave New World" came to reassure us that metal was, is and forever shall be the coolest thing in our lives, and that it damn sure will never die. Well, maybe when the human race is hopelessly extinct and the planet Earth becomes but a charred piece of rock orbiting an ever-expanding Sun, but I'm sure you undersand what I mean.

Well, let's talk about what's good with the album first. Maybe the most important thing about "Brave New World" is that the songs are back for good - and let's face it, the recent memory left by "Virtual XI" was truly worrisome, with a few moments bordering on self-parody. Fortunately, "Brave New World" starts with a banger, and you don't need more than the first few seconds of "The Wicker Man" to know Iron Maiden are back, and Adrian Smith is back with them. OK, the main riff may sound a bit too much like Judas Priest's "Running Wild" if you listen to it closely, but remember what I said about people being slightly lenient with Maiden back in 2000? No one cared, and I don't think anyone should have bothered really, as the tune brings to the table everything we were thirsty for: great guitar interplay, driving basslines, nice lyrics, soaring vocals, a memorable chorus and even the obligatory oh-oh-oh-OH! chanting for people to sing along live. We all had missed Bruce Dickinson's singing, that's for sure, but perhaps Adrian Smith's songwriting was an even more glaring absence on previous records, and have him back was no less than glorious. I know, he would only contribute one other song to the proceedings (the tongue-in-cheek, delightful fun of "The Fallen Angel"), but he wrote the song that, as soon as we all pushed play, told us that everything would be fine, so all credit to the man where is due. 

"The Wicker Man" is perhaps my favorite on the album, but it is followed by another truly exciting cut in the shape of "Ghost of the Navigator" - a track that really shows the whole 3-guitar thing at its more daring and adventurous, not to mention the truly powerful delivery of Mr. Dickinson as the crooner. By the way, if we're to point some individual performances here, the vocalist definitely is the one to be lauded: he sings beautifully throughout, and there's a newfound sense of confidence (almost swagger, in a good sense) on his voice, like he knew how important it was to deliver a good record and was all up for the challenge. Thriving under pressure is one of Dickinson's well known strenghts, and here he thrives indeed, giving what would arguably be one of the best performances of his life. Maybe "Blood Brothers" is the song that shows it in the most positive light: a truly beautiful piece of songwriting by Steve Harris, this tune about the bassist's recently-deceased father gains a different layer of meaning with Dickinson's delivery, turning into a tale about camaradery and how the bonds among people are what gives life a meaning after all. Amazing really, and it's no wonder it frequently makes into the band's setlists to this day. Apart from this trio (and the briefly mentioned "The Fallen Angel", which is quite a scorcher as well), "The Thin Line Between Love & Hate" is also worthy of a positive mention - actually, is a kick-ass hard/heavy rocker for the ages, and could easily be ranked among the most overlooked gems ever penned by the band (though the wisdom of employing such a long, guitar-doodling outro can be easily called into question). No less than five truly memorable tracks out of ten, that's not bad at all. The production is pretty decent throughout, successfully capturing the live-in-studio vibe the band wanted to create, so you can count an extra thumbs-up on that too. 

But now comes the time to mention the album's weak spots. After a mostly very successful start (the title-track, though not the most memorable song Maiden have ever written, is pefectly listenable and brings some delightful guitar interplay to the table), "The Mercenary" comes as the first real letdown here, a song that starts with some heavy-hitting promises but fails to fulfill itself due to an uninteresting, anticlimatic "show them no fear, show them no pain" chorus. As it transpires, Iron Maiden didn't have as much time to write songs as they would have probably liked, therefore some ideas from the "Virtual XI" sessions were reworked in order to complete enough material for a full-lenght release. Now, one seriously has to wonder if the leftovers from the band's least enjoyable album are really the place to go when you trying to create a career-defining comeback effort, but there you have it. Not only "The Mercenary", but also "Dream of Mirrors" and "The Nomad" are tunes who were originally written (and left incomplete) during the "Virtual XI" cycle - something that is not at all surprisingly, as these are undeniably a few steps behind the rest in terms of quality. "Dream of Mirrors" is not a bad song to be fair, with a slow-building atmosphere that works well enough if the listener is willing to give it time - but it's a bloated tune that overstays its welcome if we're to be honest here, a near 10-minute mammoth that could easily have been 2 or 3 minutes shorter (and more interesting) with some skilled, sober-minded editing job. And don't get me started on "The Nomad", a supposedly epic tale of some wise man wandering in the desert that turns out to be little more than a selection of Maiden clichés poorly arranged together to resemble a proper song. "Out of the Silent Planet" is definitely a better song than the aforementioned trio, but I can't help but feeling that it starts quite strong (with a delightful, semi-psychedelic opening) and loses steam halfway through, ultimately being a decent filler that goes a bit overlong.

As I said, it's puzzling that a record regarded by so many as a late-period classic will show itself as a flawed, unpolished artifact under some more strict scrutiny. If we could push aside any context, maybe "Brave New World" would be regarded as little more than a decent late-period effort from a band that, though far from their prime, still have a few tricks under their sleeves; in the real world, however, this is one of the defining moments in Iron Maiden's career, a record much loved by most of their fans and a significant landmark for the metal scene as a whole! Remember what I said about being at the right place etc? I must admit I struggled a little with just how I would rate this record after all - but I guess it would be something of a smart-ass move to pretend I wasn't there when it first came out, and to pretend I didn't love it to death like all the others back then, which is to say that attempting to review it just like any other record would definitely be a non-starter. Any metal fan must listen to it, and any metal fan should have a copy, even if only as an act of gratitude towards a band we will all be forever indebted to. Once again, Maiden has come to save the day, and I can surely cut them some slack like anybody else. It was a time for major renewal for Iron Maiden as we all know, and the tour to promote "Brave New World" was a resounding success, restablishing the band's reputation as one of the most exciting live bands in metal. It would also result in a truly enjoyable live album recorded here in Brazil, but more on the subject very soon...

Bruce Dickinson (V), Dave Murray (G), Adrian Smith (G), Janick Gers (G), Steve Harris (B), Nicko McBrain (D).

01. The Wicker Man (Smith, Harris, Dickinson) 4:35
02. Ghost of the Navigator (Gers, Dickinson, Harris) 6:50
03. Brave New World (Murray, Harris, Dickinson) 6:18
04. Blood Brothers (Harris) 7:14
05. The Mercenary (Gers, Harris) 4:42
06. Dream of Mirrors (Gers, Harris) 9:21
07. The Fallen Angel (Smith, Harris) 4:00
08. The Nomad (Murray, Harris) 9:06
09. Out of the Silent Planet (Gers, Dickinson, Harris) 6:25
10. The Thin Line Between Love & Hate (Murray, Harris) 8:26

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