Here’s some proper “old school” New Wave of British Heavy Metal for you. The marvellous Holocaust have their early singles/EPs out on one CD.
Some real classic stuff from the early NWOBHM days featuring arguably their best known song from back then – Heavy Metal Mania – along with a dozen other early 1980s cuts.
The four early singles from the band included on the CD are: Heavy Metal Mania from 1980, Smokin’ Valves from 1980, Coming Through from 1982 and Raw Live ‘n’ Loud EP 1981.
Raucous stuff it all is too. Raw NWOBHM at its best. Short, sharp songs with all the big churning riffs, franticly fizzing solos and the throbbing drums/bass to complete the NWOBHM recipe.
All thirteen songs hit hard. Heavy Metal Mania is everything a NWOBHM track should be. The brooding chord/riff building then driven along with the big solo and a bit of a hypnotic back beat. Proper foot-tapping, infectious stuff.
From the same EP, Love’s Power and Only as Young as You Feel complete a powerful trio of songs in a similar style. Surely an opening statement of intent which would catapult Holocaust in to the big time.
Here’s the entire EP.
https://youtu.be/deIYw-UvA_E
As we know, not that easy back then. Lots of NWOBHM types vying for position. The other EPs Holocaust would issue as follow-ups also showed much talent for hard rocking/metal type offerings with balls.
Check out in particular Out of My Book and Don’t Wanna Be a Loser with its anthemic shout along fist in the air chorus.
The live EP is a riot. Very strong delivery. Raw, powerful. Death or Glory and (especially) Forcedown Breakdown quite spectacular.
No doubt Holocaust had “it” and with a bit of good fortune could have made it much bigger as these early songs show. Indeed, their debut Album (The Nightcomers) gave further evidence of how good they were however the big time eluded them.
Despite that, the band is still active today and earlier this year released a new album.
However taking us back to 1980 and the classic NWOBHM days with this collection of those original EPs is a proper treat. Oh what could have been……
HOLOCAUST HEAVY METAL MANIA THE SINGLES AVAILABLE HERE
Next up: Raven and Samson. More early NWOBHM to enjoy.
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