SATAN- Kiss of Death, b/w Heads will roll 7″ (Guardian Records, UK, 1982)
One of the finest moments of the NWOBHM era is, withouth the slightest doubt, this two tracker of Newcastle’s SATAN, the band with the ultimate metal band name. While “Kiss of Death” is heavily inspired by early Iron Maiden and the instant hit here, “Heads will roll” at first seems to be the weaker song. When you listen closely though, it’s turns out to be phantastic too, especially from the pianissimo break on. What I also like is the singer’s breaking voice when he’s trying to scream highly pitched. I love these little “imperfections” in great music. Another detail I love is the snotty fuck-you-tone you can notice on the backcover and the bits and pieces I can make out of the lyrics. This is really one pearl!
SATAN’s next release after this was (apart from the two massive tracks on guardian’s “Roxcalibur” comp. LP you can easily get on CD – do get it!) the incredible “Into the Fire” cassette. Especially the version of “Trial by Fire” with it’s opening lead and the third guitar track (which is missing on the slightly faster album version) leaves me breathless whenever I hear it. “Court in the Act”, the album from 1983, had BLITZKRIEG’s Brian Ross on the micro, one of my fave singers ever. This LP is one you must have. The weird style mixture of seemingly satanist imagery with lyrical themes you’d rather hear from a Punk band (the combination of the name Satan with the atomic mushroom is really bizarre). The music is so richly filled with melodies and power, it’s scary. I have never heard any of the later releases and I somehow doubt it’s necessary.
Another imperfection here is the fucked up printing job on the cover. I seriously wonder what the guy was thinking, seems like he printed the color black before red and the backside is a catastrophe too. I hope they got the covers for free at last.
This would be one new category in music: Records with covers fucked up at the printer’s. My old label’s first press of “Slave” by INFEST would be in this category too.
Kiss of Death.mp3
Heads will roll.mp3
And finally, here’s a video from the the band’s gig in Holland in 1983. The singer with his Freddy Mercury style has got to be seen to be believed. Too bad he’s so loud in the mix.
::beatMe:: wrote:
first time I’m hearing these songs in such quality. check the link above for comparison. amazing job once again from the best blog ever!
Posted on 27-Feb-08 at 12:48 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Cheers, Beatme! Yeah, the difference is striking, and it’s not only the bitrate. But considering these rips were made in 2004, they still sound good.
Posted on 27-Feb-08 at 12:55 pm | Permalink
no man's slave wrote:
Too bad your once great blog turns into a heavy metal show.
Posted on 27-Feb-08 at 12:59 pm | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Expect much more Metal in the future, no man’s slave! Glad you like it!! 666, praise Satan.
Posted on 27-Feb-08 at 1:06 pm | Permalink
Steve wrote:
Im looking forward to downloading this. I’ve never had the chance to hear what these dudes sound like and now I will. Also many Thanks for posting the Solitude and Hellpreacher stuff!
Posted on 27-Feb-08 at 1:22 pm | Permalink
Peter - KBD Records wrote:
It got some comedy value. And for that I appreciate it. Must’ve been more daring to be a metal band then a punk band in 1982’s UK. For fucks sake I rather listen to Satan(and suck a little bit on his nipples) then all these pseudo punk bands labeled UK82.
Posted on 27-Feb-08 at 1:27 pm | Permalink
astromouse wrote:
The b side is not as good as kiss of death. but k.o.d. is a MONSTER! I too have never heard these songs in such quality. Your blog is priceless. I’ve downloaded so much from here and in the past 6 months I’ve spent a lot of money for legal re issues I would never have bought otherwise. I come back here daily checking for new material and I’m never disappointed. Some material is maybe weaker, but still the write-ups and the enthusiasm is so inspiring.
Posted on 27-Feb-08 at 2:03 pm | Permalink
Luc wrote:
Satan is killer, and one of the absolute best NWOBHM bands (though I’ve never listened to anything past “Court in the Act” either)
Posted on 28-Feb-08 at 3:07 am | Permalink
Luc wrote:
Oh and what’s the deal with the Infest printing fuck up? Are you refering to the white stripe on the front cover?
Posted on 28-Feb-08 at 3:10 am | Permalink
Maikoholic wrote:
Fuckmetal.org! Whoaahaha.
Do you take donations?
But seriously: quite a shock to learn i like someting that is considered deathmetal, i.e. Terrorizer.
I won’t download this Satan thing however. Imagine i like this too? Would be unbearable…
Posted on 29-Feb-08 at 7:31 am | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Fuckmetal – hahaha. Great!
Download Maikoholic, and learn! Metal is the best – fuck the rest!
Posted on 29-Feb-08 at 8:57 am | Permalink
John Scharpen wrote:
Yay! A NWOBHM single I never managed to get! My copy of “Into the Fire” died at some point over the last couple of decades – curse the cassette format! (hint hint).
By the way, I still have boxes of old demos and live tapes, so if there is anything you’re still looking for, let me know!
Posted on 29-Feb-08 at 11:18 am | Permalink
Justin wrote:
Would someone please educate an ignorant person like myself and tell me what “NWOBHM”. Thanx
Posted on 29-Feb-08 at 12:49 pm | Permalink
ano wrote:
check this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NWOBHM
Posted on 29-Feb-08 at 12:58 pm | Permalink
Fernando wrote:
Justin – now that you know about what hides behind the longest abreviation for the longest label for a rock genre ever invented, a good starting point for that phaenomenon was the Lars Ulrich comp that Erich had “on heavy rotation” a coupla weeks ago, “NWOBHM – 79 revisited”
Posted on 29-Feb-08 at 5:53 pm | Permalink
smodeski wrote:
in the past i considered paying hundreds of spacebucks for this on ebay and such. i can’t believe you own a physical copy motherfucker, my jealousy continues to grow. i suppose i should thank you for posting these in such superior quality, but then again, i feel completely entitled.
(that means thanks, in american)
Posted on 08-Mar-08 at 3:17 am | Permalink
Admin wrote:
Frankly spoken, Smodeski: I’ve had to buy this on eBay for quite a bit of hard earned cash myself. Been on the hunt for it forever and ever, without success, so in the end I thought to myself “what the fuck” and bid hard.
(that means you’re welcome, in swissenglish)
Posted on 08-Mar-08 at 3:28 am | Permalink
Steve wrote:
Killer single! Please consider reposting the Blitzkrieg single.
Posted on 09-Mar-08 at 12:31 pm | Permalink
Good bad Music for bad, bad Times! / SATAN- Into the Fire Demo Tape (selfproduced, UK, 1982) wrote:
[...] some compilation appearance and of course the super great 7″ (”Kiss of Death”, b/w “Heads will roll”), Tyneside’s SATAN decided to fire the original singer Trev Robinson and replaced him with Ian [...]
Posted on 22-Aug-09 at 8:15 pm | Permalink