Plasmatics - "Metal Priestess" E.P. (1981)

A combination of punk rock & heavy metal with a bit of traditional hard rock thrown in here & there. I didn't have much time for the Plasmatics 1982 album "Coup d'état" or Wendy O. Williams' 1984 solo album "WOW" but this is a much better example of the early punk/metal hybrid the band is touted to have created. I like it.

Don Dokken - "Breakin' The Chains" (1981)

The Dokken debut isn't as good or as metal as the 1984 follow-up "Tooth & Nail". Stylistically it sits somewhere between glam metal & heavy metal with a particularly muffled sounding production. There are a 3 or 4 solid tracks included but overall it's just not consistent enough to overcome the dodgy sound. There are simply too many cheesy pop choruses.

The best thing Dokken ever did was their Beast from the East live album, IMO.

One of those forgotten early progressive metal bands.

That death metal outburst on the opening track is nuts. I also get the idea that these MDB albums were quite an inspirational source for Paradise Lost's recent doom/death return.

Saxon - "Crusader" (1984)

''No Hope in Sight'' sounds like Paradise Lost aping Iron Maiden.
''Sacrifice the Flame'' sounds like Paradise Lost aping October Tide.
''Flesh from Bone'' sounds like Paradise Lost playing straight up death metal.

...This is an odd release indeed.

Gas - "Nah und Fern" box set (2008)

Disc 1 - "Gas" (1996)
Disc 2 - "Zauberberg" (1998)

I seriously doubt it.


N.P JUDAS PRIEST Painkiller

Cloven Hoof - "Cloven Hoof" (1984)

^ Not so keen about that one but I love Dominator. What do you think of that one?

NP:

Sounds pretty good.

I don't mind it but it's definitely a bit inconsistent with the couple of highlight tracks being just strong enough to get it over the line. The production isn't ideal although pretty typical for a NWOBHM debut.

Lots of Candlemass.