New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Classic and Progressive Rock

Stormchild Maiden Voyage.

Stormchild Maiden VoyageStormchild. Yet another to the long list of bands from the original New Wave of British Heavy Metal days which had the talent but not the breaks.

Thankfully those top bods at High Roller Records have put together Stormchild stuff from the old days recorded at various sessions but never released.

The band followed the usual route of gigging hard, trying to get a head above the burgeoning competition and bag a record deal. To do that they cut a single “Rockin’ Steady” and used that to attract record companies.

It worked – but not how the band might have hoped and they split before an album could be recorded.

That’s a pity as Stormchild had the chops and back then were a little different to the NWOBHM bludgeon riffola having something of a more melodic approach which nevertheless still “rocked” using keys to add an extra dimension.

So what about the music?

Rockin’ Steady is what one might called “traditional” NWOBHM in style. Nice riff and pace. Punchy, Direct.

Lights, Camera, Action starts to show the melodic arrangements and the keys. A nicely slightly quirky (I think) delivery which demonstrates Stomchild’s skills at arranging a song with various aspects to it. Interestingly there’s an alternative version on the CD which is shorter and heavier. Nice.

Lonely Nights and Riders on the Rain also show how the band rock hard and be melodic at the same time.

Next we start to get in to heavier territory. Sands of Time is a hard-hitter with a meaty hook. Prelude is an excellent instrumental jam with a proper punch to it as guitar, drums, bass get to do their bit.

Lightning Never Strikes Twice punches away with a big, meaty riff throughout and the keys swelling around in the middle section. It’s not a long song fitting plenty in to it before Rock Goddess closes things out in fine rousing style.

Check out Lightning Never Strikes Twice:

Lots of creativity and a different style of NWOBHM here. A shame a band of youngsters back around 1980 who were capable of writing and arranging stuff like this didn’t make it. Stormchild a seriously recommended addition to your collection.

>> STORMCHILD MAIDEN VOYAGE FROM AMAZON HERE <<

I hear that the band recently reformed and have a new album out. I’ll see about tracking it down and then posting up a subsequent review. In the meantime – enjoy Maiden Voyage.

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