Way back in the good old days when the New Wave of British Heavy Metal was everywhere, a band named Stormtrooper tried to make their mark. They were a bit different from most of their NWOBHM counterparts with definite proggy leanings not unlike Rush were up to at the time.
In recent years, Stormtrooper’s excellent stuff from back then has seen the light of day with Pride Before a Fall and Every Now and Then. Both superb albums and highly recommended. Do check them out.
Stormtrooper had a fine, fine guitarist – Bob Starling. Now then, Bob got in touch a few days ago to tell me about a new project he’s involved with. The band is Stormhunters and features Andy Milsom who guested on Every Now and Then.
Here’s an overview from Bob as to how Stormhunters came to be:
“After the demise of Stormtrooper I still wanted to make music and had very limited options, trying to form a band with good like minded musicians and no prospects is an impossible task. So I decided to just write and record some songs.
With myself a founder member of Bristol bands Stormtrooper and Hunted and Andy Milsom Founder member and vocalist with Hunted and guest vocalist on “Every Now And Then” I Started to write some new material.
I wanted some organ on one song so I asked John Genge an old bandmate to provide some keyboards for it and he said he have soo much fun that if I needed more he would be happy to do it. So when I thought they were needed I just asked.
I have done more playing wise, production wise and design than anything else in my musical career and I feel proud at the way it’s turned out.”
Bob sent the songs to me and I have to say they are superb. Proper songs with a classic rock feel to them with traces of the Stormtrooper style about them. Particularly the use of the keyboard flourishes which does hark back to Stormtrooper.
All very well written and performed and thoroughly enjoyable. Lots of variation too. Each song is different. Some chunky melodic hard rockers. Sometimes a bit bluesy, sometimes a bit funky. Always refined and professional. Top quality.
Stormhunters deserves a release. If any record labels are reading this and may be interested in considering signing Stormhunters with a view to releasing Eye of the Storm, please send a message and I’ll hook you up with Bob.