Bringing the 80s Brimstone to 2013

IT was the decade that style forgot; a decade of floppy fringes, stupid baggy trousers, Boy George immitators and balaclavas were de rigeur for various terrorists alphabet soup named organisations. Amidst these fashion abominations rock 'n' roll rose, defiant: cocking its collection nose at these weaklings.

Despite the hard rock and metal's own fashion abominations (Poison, Motley Crue amongst others spring to mind) the music and the attitude was an antidote to the miserable gets into 'New Romance' and the perfect antibiotic to the destruction of industry by Thatcher and her ilk.

In 2013 we no longer have the Cold War politics of Reagan and Thatcher, but we do have the 'terrorist threat'. We don't have Thatcher, but we do have Tories in de facto control and selling off the country's assets like the Royal Mail.

Agree or disagree with the politics it feels that the time is ripe for the hard rockers and metalheads to rise again; cut-off denims, high tops and bullet belts are long overdue a return as fashion items and there is a need of a musical landcape on the scene that encompasses thrash, glam and all the glitterati attitude that bands in the 80s adopted.

Amidst the local rising stars Maverick seem to have been caught in a time warp, as if transported from the era of Cinderella, Faster Pussycat and Guns 'n' Roses to 2013. And that is no bad thing.

Their five-track ep released earlier this year (we're catching up on a backlog of reviews) Maverick make a statement of intent; a statement that this is our way, this is the 80s way, hop on the rollercoaster or piss off.

This is music that makes you want to cruise in the car, volume cranked and the wild abandon that comes with knowing a beer and a gig is a few short minutes away from you.

This is music that transports you to an era when this type of rock was pure escapism. And we need that now just as we did in the 80s.

That's not to say that this ep is flawless. While self-titled opener Maverick and closing track Easy Come Easy Go are tremendous songs, at times the production and mix seem a bit off. The cymbals are very priominent at the expense of the bottom end at times. Singer Davey Balfour has a unique voice, but needs to move to having his own identity, because the echoes of Tom Keifer are a little too noticeable.

Lyrics are a little too misogynistic at times - one of the more distasteful side of 80s rock that we should have moved on from.

Set those issues aside and put simply these are five tracks that are fun. Songs you can enjoy rocking out to.

With the statement of intent of 'Maverick' first to assault your aural senses with lead solos and the defiant cry "Stop us if you Dare" it is a quick rampage through the sleaze of 'Cat Got Your Tongue", the challenge to Satan on 'Helfire & Brimstone' before 'Top Heavy' punishes and 'Easy Come, Easy Go' rounds things up with a more considered attitude.

Already Maverick have carved out a place on Northern Ireland's live circuit, delighting fans who remember the 80s and those discovering the music of the era for the first time.

This is a collection of five songs that are a foundation to build upon for live shows and what we sincerely hope will be more releases.

Yep - as they say: "Fists in the air!"

Grumpy old metaller speaks out...

SCREW the mainstream, it's so bland and formulaic that it doesn't know when it is disappearing up its own back passage...

Why this outburst? For once it is not prompted by alcohol (although that is helping!). Some days ago I clocked an episode of Grumpy Old Men in the graveyard of TV that are Sky Channels repeating shows you missed because they were crap first time around. On it the various - and at times vacuous - referenced the music and style of the 80s.

It was either that or watch the utter tripe of the X-Factor (and as per previous posts I recommend SLF's Guitar and Drum, once dedicated, alliteratively, by Jake Burns to "that c**t Cowell), something worthy on BBC or Scuzz and KerrangTV playing pop punk inane posturing...

And it was an alien decade that I stumbled upon. The "grumpy" types referred first to the many style abberations (of which I do confess to many, not least the white leather trousers....) and then to the music of then 80s.

For them the memories were of Kagagogoo, the Birdie Song, Human League, Duran Duran and Spandau Ballix.

All of these dire discourses on crimes against synthesisers and music made me angry (hence this article!).

For me, and many others who love hard rock, heavy metal and, heaven forfend prog rock, the 80s were a nirvana of pure unadulterated joy.

This was a decade when you could hear Ozzy, Maiden, Motorhead. Marrillion and many others on prime time Thursday night TV, a decade when Judas Priest were on kids' shows and Friday night's The Tube.

This was a decade which started with punk's wonderful snarl (of which Norn Iron's many bands were at the forefront) merged, almost seamlessly into the New Wave of British Heavy Metal - a specious genre which spawned the likes of Metallica.

Maiden, Saxon and Leppard led the way amongst many other unheralded acts like White Spirit, Tank and many others who had their moment in the limelight with a session on Tommy Vance's Fridat Night Rock Show.

This was a decade that saw MSG sell-out the Ulster Hall twice, a decade that saw Metallica and Anthrax cause almost terminal damage to the venerable venue before WASP and Slayer ripped it up. This was a decade when Magnum sold out QUB's SU speakeasy (and yes Kyle, Michael and I may have briefly kidnapped Bob Catley for coffee in the History Common Room...during which I am sure he "borrowed" phrases for the Wings of Heaven album) and the Ulster Hall 14 months later.

This was a decade when metal and hard rock was dominant - a sell-out gig by Whitesnake almost caused a riot in Bedford Street after a rumour of more tickets, but Baal, Sylvia and I were safely inside by then...

This was a decade that saw the release of Master of Puppets, Number of the Beast, Among the Living, Misplaced Childhood, Reign in Blood, Peace Sells, Ace of Spades, Holy Diver, Thunder and Lightning, Slide it In, and even Pyromania (these were the days before Lepps discovered cheesiness stinkier than 10-year-old Gorgonzola).

And what do the numpties and non-entities quote to us? Howard F**kin' Marks and Ricke F**kin' Astley!  What do the advertisers and marketeers toss as ready made 80s references? Oh I can't be arsed referencing their crap. But they should remember that Iron Maiden's Transylvania was once on a Lucozade ad...real energy, not faux power.

In this rant, I should as a responsible (well mostly!) former full-time journo (before I sold my soul to PR) point out that the local hard rock and metal talent is better than ever (congrats to Trucker Diablo on their recent Rotosound endorsement) with literally dozens of acts that could grace global stages, compared to the average Driveshaft, the sadly unsigned Winter's Reign and Norn Iron's own NWOBHM standard bearers, Sweet Savage. (who I must note are still pumping out awesome songs!)

So, what is the purpose of this typed rant (other than personal reminiscences). Simply put, hard rock and heavy metal - even the multi platinum selling acts - exists today, as in the 80s, in the 'underground'. And even there there are graduations of 'being underground'.

Iron Maiden and Metallica can sell out the Odyssey Arena, yet the radio rants about Snooze Patrol. Many, many other rock and metal acts like The Answer sell-out the Ulster Hall, the Mandella Hall and other Belfast venues. The Distortion Projects brings international acts to the Ormeau Road, Ma Nelsons is emerging as a trusty metal venue and Ahoghill's Diamond Rock Club is burgeoning.

This rant (brought to you by 'beer') has two-purposes: an opportunity to show off my age as an advantage over the kiddie metallers, and secondly as a rallying call to the young generations and the sedentary older rockers. I may have illnesses, responsibilities and other sh*t meaning I venture to gigs less frequently than I wish.

What's your excuse?

PS: Congrats to Ball and Sylvia on becoming hard rocking grandparents, and Steve on becoming a da...now bring that child up listening to Satan's sounds :)   \m/

PPS: if you love yer rock and metal make a commitment to see at least one local act each quarter and put aside a couple of quid to buy their CD. \m/

PPS: We even liked Meatloaf then, who one asked his girlfriend for some back door action...she told him she would do anything for love, but she'll not do that. \m/

PPPS...apologies for the excessive parentheses, but sobriety disappeared over the horizon about two hours ago

PPPS - I'm stopping now as I could - and I mean it - rant all night...