A band choosing the quite common name STRANGER can be sure that there are other ones using the same name but playing different styles of music. So every fan needed some time to find "his" favourite STRANGER. In this case it was the Heavy Metal - band who made the album "The bell", a highlight of German Heavy Metal in the 80s. Because of the weak distribution the LP stayed hidden for many possible fans, because you could find it only in Southern Germany. The press who was mainly interested in productions from the U.S. -which hasn't changed until today- ignored most of the bands on the Gama-label. So there was only the underground who supported Metal from Germany. This meant high prices for collectors nowadays who were looking for such diamonds too late. Finally "The Bell" is available on CD, perfectly remastered from Fleming Rasmussen, whom you might know from his work with METALLICA, PRETTY MAIDS, RAINBOW and other famous bands. But why taking a well known producer for such a small band, you might ask? There's a really simple answer: "The bell" is a classic who deserves only the best. You can easily find out by yourself! The second STRANGER-album "Pretty angels" sounded much more "commercial" and Hard Rock-like. The Metal-roots were still existing, but the band tried to feed the printing magazines with stuff they maybe would accept better. In two ways this was a big error. Older fans ignored "Pretty angels" and the press wasn't interested either because there was no big promotion which meant again no small (or bigger) "tip" for the reviewers. This changed when STRANGER turned into a new image. New bandmembers came and a new bandname was invented so finally CHROMING ROSE was born. Some people at a big record-label recognized the musical ability of the band and with more financial background a bigger career started. The magazines who now got a lot of money for advertisements now wrote very positively about the band and a big tour in overseas countries like Japan started. Many fans are still convinced that CHROMING ROSE never reached the quality on their albums like STRANGER did on "The bell", so success maybe reached the wrong band. But lets go away from this marketing-strategies which never were positive for music but only for the companies. "The bell" shows exactly what superb eighties Heavy Metal had to be made of: Power, melodies, good musicianship and fun while playing. Such quality many bands on the Gama-label had at these times. You will remember NOISEHUNTER, STORMWITCH, GRAVESTONE and many others who built the excellent status German Metal had in foreign countries, but sadly never in Germany itself. So have fun with powerful songs reminding us of a glorious past of Heavy Metal!
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.karthagorecords.de
Track List:
1. Bell
2. Wheels
3. Midnight Angel
4. Woman
5. I hold you
6. Bright fog
7. Hazle the witch
8. Broken harmonies
9. Garden of evil
10. Wheels (Demoversion)
11. Warrior (Demoversion)
12. Paradise (Demoversion)
13. Bright fog (Demoversion)
14. Broken harmonies (Demo version)
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.karthagorecords.de
Track List:
1. Bell
2. Wheels
3. Midnight Angel
4. Woman
5. I hold you
6. Bright fog
7. Hazle the witch
8. Broken harmonies
9. Garden of evil
10. Wheels (Demoversion)
11. Warrior (Demoversion)
12. Paradise (Demoversion)
13. Bright fog (Demoversion)
14. Broken harmonies (Demo version)
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- METAL: 80's Metal
- METAL: Heavy Metal
- FEATURING GUITAR