Dragonfly had a brief career back in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal days – though what a band they were. They had something that little bit different to offer.
In true NWOBHM style they loitered around the legendary Ruskin Arms (the “home” of NWOBHM of course…..) and would have their first gig there as support to none other than Angel Witch.
They’d go on to record a four track EP made in true “Blue Peter” (who remembers those days eh?) style with the sleeves for the 500 copies glued together by hand.
Alas, Dragonfly wouldn’t go any further – though thanks to High Roller Records they’ve put together the tracks from the EP along with alternate versions and other songs which I assume were demos recorded by the band back in the day.
Excellent stuff it is indeed. The big crunching heavy riffs are there along with nice free-flowing solos, melodic vocals and a prog-tinged rhythm section. And if this isn’t a contradiction, it’s quite refined too.
Makes me think of Budgie in the Tony Bourge days with perhaps a spot of early Rush in there.
The four EP tracks come first. Silent Nights and mercy both nice chunky, heavy, punchy rockers as is Disappear from View. Solid stuff. The fourth – Spacebound – shows how Dragonfly stretched out in to spacey/proggy territory featuring some scorching guitar work. Check it out as the band play live at the Ruskin back in 1980:
There are alternate versions of Silent Nights, Mercy and Disappear from View also together with six other songs including the pulsing Dragonfly and Loser, the hard and fast No No No and the more commercially minded Stop Your Foolin’.
Much to enjoy here with Dragonfly writing songs which were heavy yet refined and quite intricate at times – Spacebound for example.
The fluid, free flowing guitars are a delight as they deftly solo and chuck out the riffs. The bass is nicely up in the mix pumping away with some complicated lines and the drumming is well on point.
If Budgie and Rush had got together to record Bandolier and Fly By Night it might have sounded something like Dragonfly.
Dragonfly might not have enjoyed much success back in the NWOBHM days – though with the style they had as can be heard on Silent Nights they surely should have gone on given an even break.
>> DRAGONFLY SILENT NIGHTS ON AMAZON <<