Here’s a glorious slab of music from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal days which deserves some serious attention. The band is Sherwood, who hailed from my home county of Yorkshire.
You may not have heard of Sherwood, Indeed – neither had I until I discovered recently that the four songs from the band’s sold twelve inch single from the old days was being released on CD together with four other tracks recorded at the same session.
Bagged myself a copy and I must say Sherwood had plenty of talent and ability being much more than “just” another NWOBHM band.
There’s a strong use of keyboards which give things at atmospheric feel and a proggy edge. That’s amongst the crunchy riffs, nifty soaring lead breaks and plenty of catchy hooks and melodies.
Perhaps Sherwood were too different to a typical NWOBHM style to pick up a record deal and as a result they weren’t around long in the 1980s. However if you listen to their work here on Riding the Rainbow I’m sure you’ll be impressed.
There’s an added NWOBHM connection as the original single was co-produced by Mendes Prey vocalist Jih Seymour.
Catch the Sunrise is one of the finest songs Uriah Heep never wrote. A stomping riff with the keyboards working alongside. A fine, fluid free-flowing lead break, busy bass, strong drums and the big vocals with the memorable hooks and chorus. Superb.
Lady Love comes in as a gentle acoustic(ish) folksy, trippy ballad with the washes of keys adding effect and we have a moody solo.
The Joker and the Fox has a nice spacey, trippy intro before the free-flowing riffs and similar come flooding in similar to Catch the Sunrise. Infectious stuff all sort of a heavy, mystical progressive folk affair. I particularly liked the mazy synth mid song followed by the guitar solo. Such a well written and varied song.
Riding the Rainbow is another thumping heavy and progressive sounding song with effective keys, more glorious guitar, hooks and melody aplenty and check out the little bass interludes. Does it not remind you of Saracen? Have a listen:
Tonight goes back to the ballad style being a gentle emotional piece with the tinkling keys and moody vocal being quite haunting.
The other three songs here – Lost and Lonely, Run to the Shadows and So Far Away each have an approach along the lines of Catch the Sunrise, The Joker and the Fox and Riding the Rainbow.
The riffs, well places lead breaks, swirling keys, flowing bass, big drums, soaring vocals, powerful vocals.
With ability like this, how did Sherwood fly so low under the radar back then you have to wonder.
If you like vintage Uriah Heep, Saracen and say a couple of Sherwood’s NWOBHM era counterparts of White Spirit and Limelight, then Sherwood will be appreciated by your ears.
However, it is a limited edition run of just 300 CDs via Dyamond Roxx. Purchased my copy directly from them here:
https://www.progaor.com
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