I’ve never done this before, but I feel it’s necessary. SAVAGE were one of the NWOBHM’s most influential bands and it’s a major shame that their material seems to be a bit difficult to get, even on CD. There’s been a bootleg CD of the first LP, with a horrible sound and I’m afraid to say that the official CD re-release doesn’t sound too convincing either, with its remastering. To my knowledge, this CD is currently not available. On the other hand, the original pressing of “Loose ‘n lethal” is pressed onto the usual cheap Ebony vinyl. They really could have spent a bit more money on quality mastering & pressing back in the day. But then again, who would have known these albums were made for eternity …..
I ripped the band’s entire vinyl output – except for the “Hyperactive” LP from 1985, simply because I don’t posess it and never heard it. As you can see and hear, the band wasn’t exactly the most productive group there ever was. They recorded and re-recorded the same songs again and and again, but in retrospect, I find it very interesting to hear the general course that the NWOBHM went through reflected in these tunes. They just got more and more focused, until in 1983, SAVAGE was the peak, before a quick downfall set in.
The first ever vinyl appearance of SAVAGE was on the legendary 1981 “Scene of the Crime” comp, issued on Suspect Records. Check the incredible cover art. this is one of the strongest visual links between the NWOBHM and the Punk scenes that I’m aware of. What would later be the, if you allow me to say so, archetypical SAVAGE song, “Let it loose”[.mp3] appeared in a slightly slower and milder version. I love it! The guitar sound is still tame, but the drumming is a bit more audible and overall, the song is arier. “Dirty Money”[.mp3] is also to be found here in an early version. I never liked the song too much.
The next compilation appearance was on the 1982 “Metal Fatigue” sampler (on Eboy), of which I’d love to say it was a classic, but it wasn’t. SAVAGE contribution was “Ain’t no fit Place”[.mp3], which again can be heard on the first LP. This version here is totally great, really quiet and moody. So great!
Later in 1982, the time was ready for SAVAGE’s first stand-alone output: The 7″ on Ebony featured, you guessed it, two more songs that were later to be found on the album. “The China Run”[.mp3] and yet another killer version of “Ain’t no fit Place”.[mp3].
This 7″ was never issued with a picture sleeve. 500 or 1000 copies were pressed, according to my different sources. The single suffers from a weak production and the choice for the a-side wasn’t the best, I’d say.
“Loose ‘n lethal”, the LP released in mid 1983, is where it’s at. From a to z, this LP delivers nothing but brute force, combined with extremely memorable song writing. The first thing you will notice is the guitar sound: So raw, dirty and in your face! And the best thing is – they knew very well that this is the center stone in the band’s musical architecture, so they made the record start off with the incredible scrubbing, brushing of the guitar chords, the intro to the incredible title track “Let it loose”. When I brought this record, still warm from the pressing plant, to my friend’s place and played it for him, we both just sat on the corner of his bed, holding the album cover and saying: “Wow, the cover art suits the sound perfectly!”. And so I still think: The cold blue, the action, motion, speed and the violence – that’s all to be found in “Let it loose”, one of the most impresive songs ever cut into vinyl. From there on, it’s a tour de force, literally. “Cry Wolf” is another calibre of its own, with masses and masses of power. Even if the band is slowing down a bit or even leaning towards a slightly more balladesque sound, the energy level remains in the reds. Take “Berlin”: What a song! So melodic, catchy, full of tristesse and depth – and the guitars just add that extra bit of aggression that adds up to a truly unique, original sound. Especially “Berlin” is one of the highlights in the entire NWOBHM. It could sound cheesy, and it would, hadn’t there been the already beginning omnipresent escalation of musical aggression in 1983. Given that, it just turns into a dark, atmospheric and destructive almost-pop song (pop in terms of popular quality). Amazing, really amazing! The LP does have its lengths, I’d admit that. “Dirty Money” is not the greatest song, in any version and I’m not too sure about “White hot” either (which unfortunately closes the album). “Ain’t no fit Place” is another master piece, with much of a feeling of urgency pushing the song forward. “On the Rocks” suffers a tiny little bit from the chorus, but the rest is superb. “The China Run” rules alone because of the howling – I love howling singers. Another forceful, yet kinda depressing song on this monstrous album.
Download the entire “Loose ‘n lethal” LP here, carefully ripped from heavily played vinyl.
After this, a 3 song 12″EP was next. Unfortunately, the band took the wrong turn with this: Imagine, they had focused more on the thrash element – the band would have become “big”. But as we know, the NWOBHM laid the ground for the exploding Thrash Metal sound and bands like Metallica, Slayer or Exodus reaped the fruits. Isn’t it weird how the british bands almost entirely took thatwrong turn? It seems like the thrashier NWOBHM sounds were rather an accident in the eyes of those who created it.
The three songs on “We got the Edge” are okay. The title song, “We got the Edge”[.mp3] is the best, it evokes memories of the band’s glorious past. “Runnin’ scared”[.mp3] is really bad and “She don’t need you”[.mp3] is even worse, especially with the fake live audience (a bizarre phenomenon of 70s and 80s bands, even WITCHFINDER GENERAL among others stepped in this trap). Ludicrous. As is the backcover photo.
As soon as this material sees a proper reissue, make sure you buy it! In the meantime, original copies of the “Loose ‘n lethal” regularly pop up on ebay and won’t cost you a fortune. Same for the 12″. The 7″ is a bit harder to find, but still below the 40$ mark, I believe.
Make sure you download “Loose ‘n lethal”. You have to hear the guitar sound!
PS: I just realized that in fct, I do have the 2nd album as well. Must have bought it on ebay some day … That’s so typical for these ebay purchases: You buy a record and it just disappears in your collection. If there’s demand for it, I will add it.
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We’ve had a bit of a Metal thing going on here the last couple of weeks, so what could be better than keepin’ on surfing the same wave a bit longer, yet going Punk? The heaviest Punk band in the world: Canada’s DAYGLO ABORTIONS.
