Randomly flicking through my CD collection for something to listen to, I found myself in the N section and landed on the Nutz albums. Decided it was time to give them a spin as it’d been a while since last listen.
If you may not have heard of Nutz, they were from Liverpool and issued their self-titled debut album in 1974.
A classy slab of energetic, beefy 1970s hard rock with plenty of variety to it. Very enjoyable stuff if today sometimes it does sound somewhat of its time occasionally.
Wondering what the New Wave of British Heavy Metal connection is? Stick with me…..
That debut album helped bag them a support slot to Queen then the follow-up, Nutz Too, appeared in 1975 which was a step-up on the debut. That got enough attention to see them land a slot on the much-missed Old Grey Whistle Test.
The band slogged away with grim determination for a couple or three years releasing Hard Nutz and Live Nutz Cuts however despite trying hard and even supporting the likes of Black Sabbath and Budgie, success wouldn’t come their way and they disappeared in 1979…….or did they…..?
At the time of course, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal was fast becoming a thing. And in a weird twist of fate, it provided an unexpected second chance after a Nutz song (Bootliggers) somehow found its way on to the legendary Metal for Muthas compilation album alongside the likes of Iron Maiden, Samson and Angel Witch.
The Nutz boys grabbed the opportunity to reform as Rage and set off on the NWOBHM trail with a debut album titled Out of Control appearing in 1981. It’s a solid enough album of what you might call typically enthusiastic NWOBHM full of crunchy riffs with a rough edge. Here’s the title track:
Two more albums would follow – Nice ‘n’ Dirty on 1982 and Run for the Night in 1983. Both of which had covers which Spinal Tap might have considered for Smell the Glove. Let’s put it that way…..!
For Nice ‘n’ Dirty and Run for the Night their style became much more towards melodic/AOR territory rather than gritty rockers on Out of Control.
In a similar way to their time as Nutz, Rage didn’t enjoy success, their record label dropped them and that was that.
The Nutz albums are ones to check out if you like your 1970s hard rock – though from the Rage years, Out of Control is the one for a spot of NWOBHM if you prefer that.
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