The band came out of Minneapolis at the end of the '80s. This is the band's eponymous debut that came out in 1990 on Jake Wiseley's Red Decibel imprint (Jake had previously done the wonderful metalternative-before-it's-time zine
Sheet Metal and subsequently a video version of the mag and the label released great discs from Bloodstar and Cher UK as well as stuff by Last Crack and Fat Tuesday):
http://www.twintone.com/minies/89182.jpeg
The disc is notable for being produced by a pre-MTV-fame Dave Pirner (Bob Mould took on Impaler's
If We Had Brains We'd Be Dangerous; I guess the famed Minnie Apple scene was rife with crossover with the metallic types) and for kicking insane amounts of ass. They combined the chuggery of early Metallica/thrash with the classic songcraft of Thin Lizzy (man they did the BEST version of "Emerald" live I had ever seen) and that disc had some amazing moments - when the main riff kicks in after ethereal swirling during "Daylight Dawning," my skin crawled and still does.
I saw them live several times back in the day - one memorable time at CBGB's, another time in Minneapolis when I happened to be in town to cover a band and they played the next night, and a few more as well. Always amazing, powerful yet refined, reminded me of what I imagine it was like seeing those classic NWOBHM bands in their salad days, filled with piss and vinegar and ready for world domination.
Sadly the group imploded upon unfulfilled expectations. I still have demos the band did for a never-released Columbia album I believe but they sort of just dried up and vanished as the '90s went on. Supposedly they put out a disc in 1995 but I never even got it so I don't know anything about it!! Band leader Jimmy did play with Andrew WK's band but that's the last I heard of any of them.
Can anyone else share love, stories or even a dislike of this band ('cause that will mean at least you did hear 'em at some point)? Or tell me what happened to the guys? Great guys, by the way.
For those interested, they can buy the disc as a custom burn from the Twin/Tone folks
here. It is otherwise out of print. I have never seen it in a used bin anywhere but for all I know it can be found - and I just did find it
for only 99 cents! Someone buy it before I do even though I have it already...
― NYCNative, Saturday, 10 March 2007 21:54 (eighteen years ago)