backtrackin for metal newbies

[tinobeat]

So if, say, a fella bought the Early Man expecting more Melvins-esque sludge, but was pleasantly surprised by the presumably old-school metal styles found in its stead, where would one *cough*HCI*cough* suggest going from there in terms of searching for older stuff that influenced them?

I especially enjoy the trio of "Thrill of the Kill", "Like a Goddamn Rat" and "Fist Shaker."

[Joel]

Sabbath? Early Metallica? That's my guess.

[Miss Tasty Princess]

Early Man are closest in sound, to my ears, to Angel Witch, one of the classic NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) bands from the early 80s. Check out their eponymous debut. They had some massive line-up changes after that and I'm not familiar with the later material at all but the pre-debut demoes collection Sinister History is pretty cool.

A couple more recommendations, both from the very early days of metal:

Budgie
Sir Lord Baltimore

[Joel]

i'll second the budgie and sir lord baltimore recommendations, tho unfortunately i don't currently have copies of that stuff. also, dust is really good, check them out. not really metal but sorta close in a boogie rock sorta way is cactus.

[Miss Tasty Princess]

I almost mentioned Dust (trivia: Marky Ramone pre-Ramones when he was still Mark Bell) but decided against it.

I've tried to get into Cactus but unsuccessfully (too blues-based w/o adding enough for me). I do have a Randy Pie album that Peter French sings on, though.

[Patrick]

I like most of the bands you guys are mentioning but don't really think Early Man sound like Budgie or Dust... and we've been listening to the Angel Witch debut in the album and its keyboard/harmonies sound resembles Queen or Yes than it does real metal. Important it may have been, but as a 1980 release it looks backwards rather than forward.

For me, Early Man's obvious touchstones are Black Sabbath, especially early Metallica such as Ride The Lightning, but also Kill 'Em All, and Slayer from almost any era. Also check out Anthrax, Manowar and general Metal Blade and Combat releases from the mid-to-late '80s for the real bibles of speedmetal.

Patrick

[Paul]

Even when Anthrax was "serious," though, it still came off as a joke of some sort.

[Miss Tasty Princess]

I've gotta say I don't hear any Queen or Yes in Angel Witch at all.

Alright, Patrick, are you on drugs?

[Patrick]

Nope we're talking the Angel Witch record that just came out in the 25th anniversary expanded edition, right? First song is "Angel Witch." Lots of vocal harmonies, flanging, Bach-like leads TOTALLY unlike Early Man etc.

With respect to the band, I think they do consider Angel Witch an influence. But on the basis of this album I can't hear it.

Patrick

[Miss Tasty Princess]

I'd say that first track on the AW album sounds more like The Sweet on the chorus than Queen or Yes, actually. The rest of the song, though, is total Early Man worship in reverse.

[Patrick]

I can understand where you're coming from in the rest of the opening track (and not the chorus). And some vocal stylings in some other songs too.

I'll find the part that really reminded me of Queen when I'm back in the office tomorrow.

When I lived in England when I was 15 for a year and attended a comprehensive school, my deskmate in French class was one of the few people who was friendly to me. He had acne, spiky blond hair and maybe an earring and covered his blue cloth notebook binder with elaborate NWOBHM logos. This was 1980-81, so it was the heyday. I learned the logos and names of Angel Witch, Motorhead, Iron Maiden and other bands long before I actually heard them!

Patrick

[tinobeat]

Early-Man-esque or not, the way you guys are talking about Angel Witch sounds like something I could get down with...

[Miss Tasty Princess]

I had a (straight?) friend in drama class (hence the question mark) around the same time who was very much into NWOBHM stuff. He was all upset one day 'cause he'd sat on his Angel Witch album and broken it in half. He was the first person I knew who was into Venom (circa their debut 45), A II Z, Girl, Def Leppard (when they were a rock band instead of a pussy band), etc. I, on the other hand, turned him on to Motörhead and Iron Maiden.

You know, I think I had a point when I started this but now I've forgotten what it was.

Anyhow, if you like Early Man and Di'anno-era Iron Maiden, definitely give Angel Witch a try, tino.

[tinobeat]

I had a (straight?) friend in drama class (hence the question mark)

what a great way to start a story... hahaha.

In any case, it may seem crazy, but I'm honestly not sure if I've even heard a note of Iron Maidean. My half-brother used to collect Iron Maiden posters because he loved Eddie. Those posters scared the piss out of little 8-year-old me, and for the longest time I never wanted to go near the Maiden. I might be over it by now though... not sure :)

I love the Motorhead I've heard though. I need to pick up a full-length or two at some point.

[Miss Tasty Princess]

Well, the last time I saw him he was into goth stuff and wearing an Echo & The Bunnymen t-shirt, IIRC. Seriously, though, it was totally a joke. But, if you're reading this and are offended, Gordon, please forgive me.

The first two Maiden albums, Iron Maiden and Killers, are total classics. They changed a lot musically when Brucey came on board (on vocals) with Number of the Beast and I really don't care for anything from that point forward.

Overkill is my favorite Motörhead album so I'd recommend starting with that one or with Ace of Spades. If you want an overview, though, No Remorse is well chosen (it covers the the first eight years or so).

[tinobeat]

Well, the last time I saw him he was into goth stuff and wearing an Echo & The Bunnymen t-shirt, IIRC. Seriously, though, it was totally a joke. But, if you're reading this and are offended, Gordon, please forgive me.

It came across as a joke, especially considering the source, I wouldn't worry! :)

I'll look into those two Maiden records fer sure.. word

[Miss Tasty Princess]

I'll find the part that really reminded me of Queen when I'm back in the office tomorrow.Still waiting . . . :)

I just listened again and the only song I can think you might think similar to Queen is "Free Man," which, to my ears, sounds much more like early Iron Maiden, specifically "Remember Tomorrow" off their debut.

[SirPatrickSpens]

alright... i'm on a HEAVY kick myself here with genius of Sleep, High on Fire, Earth, Khanate, Sunn O))) etc... i NEVER dug Metallica (tried), nor Voivoid (the same) but after some confusion, love the Melvins almost unreservedly (i was at some of their early-'90s, confrontational live shows)... so i buy Early Man & the new Lightning Bolt... while i'm happy to support Matador, i think i'll be passing the Early Man onto a Metallica-loving friend of mine... to me it's CHEEEEEEEEZ, man, tho' they're certainly good. Lightning Bolt wears you out but seem to me the much more inventive duo, at least at this stage of their development. am i, the post-"My War" et al St Vitus loving non-metal dude missing something here? parts of Early Man remind me of when i tried to get into Bullet Lavolta, tho' obviously they were much more the formalist rock show band. thanks for any suggestions--

sps

edit because i typed Comets on Fire first, whom i also love btw.