WHITE SPIRIT - S/T (1980)
Let's get something straight once and for all-- the NWOBHM was an ERA (approx. 1976-84 to be anal about it), NOT a sound or style. Seriously, if I hear somebody say something like "so-and-so sounds very NWOBHM" again, my already-simmering disgust for 99.99 % of humanity will manifest itself in acts I'd rather not discuss. If you think Angel Witch and Motörhead sound anything alike, you've either got cardboard ears or are incredibly stupid. Quote sermon unquote.
White Spirit are remembered mainly as the band that launched the career of guitarist Janick Gers, currently plying his trade with Iron Maiden (before that Ian Gillan, Gogmagog and Bruce Dickinson's solo work)-- but White Spirit deserve to be heard on their own terms as they sound absolutely NOTHING like Maiden. Formed in Hartlepool, UK by Gers and drummer Graeme Crallan in 1975, they managed to recruit vocalist Bruce Ruff, bassist Phil Brady, second axeman Mick Tucker and keyboardist Malcolm Pearson during the height of the punk explosion-- no mean feat. I first encountered 'em on Volume II of the legendary "Metal for Muthas" compilations (which also featured the incredible Trespass), where their majestic, keyboard-laden ditty "High Upon High" stuck out like Lemmy at a wine & cheese party.
In all honesty, there ain't much all that metal about 'em-- unless yer one o' those folks who still consider Mk. II Deep Purple to be metal. Which is a perfect reference point: these guys were utterly influenced by Mr. Blackmore & Co. Gers mimics Ritchie's phrasing and pseudo-classical tendencies right down to that lumbering, slowly-bent bass note he used to launch into the majority of his solos. That, with Ruff's leather-lunged yowl and Pearson's nigh-impenetrable morass of keys will initially trick you into believing you're hearing a long-lost Purple LP-- and a damn good one at that. Listen a little longer and harder though, and you'll discover that despite their obvious inspirational handicap, White Spirit excised the sloppy blues-based meandering and lack of focus that often plagued their heroes. They also kicked serious ass-- to prove that point I've added their stripped-down first single, "Backs to the Grind/Cheetah," which is the closest they ever came to playing straight-up heavy metal... and an absolute killer 7-incher it is, with speedy, chunky riffing and banshee-wailing not to be missed!
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ReplyDeletepass = sln2008
sounds promising
ReplyDeleteOh, it's far beyond promising. Not sure where the resistance to this kinda stuff stems from, but it ain't so different to alla the obscure 70's thud-rock everybody seems to drool over. Guess it's that horrible "metal" word-- or that it doesn't have the approval of some born-again "heavy rock guru" douchebag like Julian Cope (no offense to you Ola).
ReplyDeleteThis band is excellent. I'd only ever heard 'Cheetah' on that NWOBHM comp Lars Ulrich put out so thanks!
ReplyDeletehey dude Jake, no offense taken, im down with the english "metal" of the era: cloven hoof, hell, witchfynde and their ilk.
ReplyDeleteisn't witchfynde underrated btw, listen to the 7'' b-side suffer for some killer new-wave-of- boogie-metal
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Witchfynde! "Give 'Em Hell" is one of the best albums of the era. "Stagefright" was a big letdown, but I've considered putting up "Cloak & Dagger," the third LP (which has never been reissued to my knowledge), where they got a singer who sounded exactly like King Diamond-- it's an acquired taste, but I've really grown to dig it over the years.
ReplyDeleteIf you think Motörhead were part of the NWOBHM you should check your rock history because, well, they weren't. Other than that, good point.
ReplyDeleteMotörhead
ReplyDeleteFormed: 1976
First LP: 1977
If you'd dismiss 'em as NWOBHM because of Lemmy's days in the Rockin' Vicars/Sam Gopal/Hawkwind or Larry Wallis' time in the Pink Fairies, that's your prerogative, but most/many of the musicians had played in other bands prior to the emergence of the era. The one I argue being NWOBHM is Judas Priest, as they'd already released an album by 1974.
They were an influence on a lot of those bands, I'll give you that, but the main reason I don't think they were part of the NWOBHM is that they're hardly Heavy Metal to begin with. Their sound owes more to Chuck Berry than Black Sabbath. Basically the only reason they were always lumped in with HM was the long hair.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, ask Lemmy himself on his feelings about Heavy Metal ;p