Original NWOBHMers Paralex are back in the saddle after some thirty years. Signed with No Remorse Records for a one-off project for an album including reworked versions of their original output from way back then plus seven other cuts too. The band is hard at work and a release date is, as time of writing, to be confirmed. It’s the original early 1980s line-up too: Phil Ayling (vocals), Mark Gibson (guitars), Ian Johnson (guitars), Dave Blundy (bass) and Jez O’Donovan (drums).
So what do we know about Paralex? They were one of the first bands associated with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal first springing forth from Newark, Nottinghamshire in 1977. Their White Lighting EP (released in 1980) is considered something of a cult classic of the genre. Band members came and went, gigs were played, sound was developed in to the NWOBHM style as was popular at the time.
As with many bands fighting for attention back then, life could be tough with the endless round of demo recordings sent to record labels with fingers crossed. That didn’t go well for Paralex until fate arrived in an unlikely form as it often can. This time with Paralex members being recognised at a Quartz gig and being introduced to Quartz’s label who in turn signed them. An EP soon followed and was quite popular on the independent label charts which gained Paralex some traction and attention.
Again, as with many bands at the time, that traction didn’t maintain momentum for a variety of reasons including a spot of friction with the record company and further personnel changes. By this time the early 1980s had arrived. That incarnation of Paralex tried a slight change of direction in to thrash territory though that didn’t get them the breaks either despite continued popularity with the rock music journos.
They did fight on through to the middle of the decade though the end of the road was ultimately reached.
Today the circle has turned and with the continued resurgence and interest in all things NWOBHM the boys (well, more like middle aged me now, just like me….) have the opportunity to remind us all what they could have been had things been a little different thirty-five years ago. I look forward to the album being released.