Here’s another relatively under the radar band from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal days – Touched. A short career in the 1980s saw them release two albums before imploding. Both have been resurrected by Cult Metal Classics and issued in limited CD runs of 500 copies each.
Touched formed in the early 1980s in Lancashire with band members getting together from a couple other local area bands which had split.
Local gigging started to accumulate a fan base and some press attention was forthcoming. The attention of Ebony Records resulted in a recording deal with the debut album of Back Alley Vices being released in 1984.
Touched had a flashy guitarist – Jon Hull – who, quite understandably, was front and centre in the band’s songs. Big cutting riffs with fast and energetic solos all the way. Well, why wouldn’t a band make maximum use of a weapon like that?
Back Alley Vices is in my opinion not a bad debut and rather generic whilst generally promising – however what lets it down considerably is the terrible production. It gave a basic, muddy sound with what should have been big, booming drums and the busy bass lines somewhat lost.
The digital remastering has cleaned it up a bit though can only do so much. Had a proper production been done I feel that Back Alley Vices would have been much better to listen to. May be it was limited by budget restrictions perhaps?
Warrior is a fine opener. Big cutting riff, some variation and atmospherics with the slower sections alternating with the heavier sections and the first taste of Hull’s scorching soloing. A winner. Have a listen:
After that the other eight songs generally follow the same format and whilst not unpleasant are mostly indistinguishable from each other bar the slower paced Running which is nice. Otherwise the songs are generally hard riffs, a few verses, some quite catchy choruses, flashy solo, and repeat.
The main exception being the melody and hooks of Dream Girl. Ignore the juvenile lyrics and it’s a nice bit of almost “power pop”. It was released as a single which won’t surprise you when you hear it.
The B-side to Dream Girl is on here as the sole bonus track. Titled We’ll Fight Back it is a strong song with a huge riff which cuts and slashes away. Should surely have been on the original album as it’s head and shoulders above some which did make it.
The booklet notes indicate that Touched were offered tours with Saxon and Motorhead. However Ebony wouldn’t stump up the cash instead being of the insistence that the money would be better used to record a second album.
That did happen and was titled Death Row. I have a copy of that reissue also and will review separately.
As I say, musically in my opinion Back Alley Vices does come over to my ears as somewhat generic. Does have its moments though and whilst Hull’s fretwork is impressive it gets rather “samey” as the album goes on.
As usual with these old NWOBHM albums/bands from Cult Metal Classics, Back Alley Vices is a limited edition run of 500 CDs. At time of posting, Sonic Age Records have availability and you may find it via other outlets if you look around.
Touched Back Alley Vices on Sonic Age Records:
https://www.sonicagerecords.com/_shop/touched-back-alley-vices-cd
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