Adrian was a little-known German band from the 1980s. One album and out – but what an album it is. Had they been from here in good old Blighty it’d have been tagged New Wave of British Heavy Metal.
A monster of an album that has the lot. Huge cutting, slashing, driving riffs, awesome soloing which is a bit quirky/unusual sometimes, big thumping backbeat.
The vocals are not the strongest and the production is a bit rough around the edges though that doesn’t hide the raw talent on display.
And ignore the amateur artwork of the bloke holding a gun and a weird spider. Middle school art project type affair.
Though as I say, this sole album from Adrian is a monster. Reminds me a little of a mixture of the debut albums form Tytan and Angelwitch with a side order of 1970s Budgie.
I bought it after hearing the opening track – Reach the Sun – and was hooked instantly. Had to find a copy. That wasn’t easy though did find it on Amazon via a reseller. It duly arrived a few days later with a hologrammed card inside noting it as a limited run of 500 copies. So if you want one, act now in case it’s sold out.
That aforementioned opening cut – Reach the Sun – is superb. Check out the fast opening few bars then it all kicks off. Huge slashing riffs, frantic, measured soloing, changes of pace without losing any momentum and a big chorus. Have a listen for yourself:
Is that not one of the best heavy rocking/NWOBHM-style songs you’ve ever heard?
And it’s all just as good over the rest of the album. The King is Born Again gallops along apace with yet more of the cutting/slashing/chugging rifferama and spectacular fretwork.
Love Dies in a Painful Way somewhat slower yet still hits hard and has something of a slightly soulful, brooding and even a bit of a proggy edge to it. Marvellous.
And on and on it goes throughout. All killer stuff.
Other highlights in a truly stand-out album include the morphing of Prelude in to Never Again and the phenomenal South Africa. No filler anywhere.
There’s even a bonus track – Rainbow Warrior – which is noted as being written in 1988 and recorded in 2012, just before this limited edition reissue was released. And Rainbow Warrior is a real epic with at atmospheric feel to it.
How did Adrian not get a major deal with material as good as is present here on One Step in to the Uncertain? Who knows what the answer to that question is.
Get a copy of that limited edition if you can. As I type this review Amazon is showing it as available. Although with it being limited and obscure there may not be many (or any) left.