The gloriously mis-spelled Wikkyd Vikker become another of the “lost” New Wave of British Heavy Metal era bands to have various demos etc. from back then re-discovered and out on CD via Cult Metal Classics. And great stuff it is too.
The band were not around for long and had just a solitary single to their name – the excellent of the Night – and contributed one song – Super Rokker – to a relatively obscure compilation album.
Then that was about it and they faded away. Such a shame as on the evidence here the band certainly had the talent to make it.
The booklet is an interesting read. Plenty of Spinal Tap style anecdotes involving iffy tour busses, mishaps with pyrotechnics, home-made backdrops and name changes. Entertaining stuff.
Anyway – the music. Top drawer indeed.
Black of the Night an instant classic. So well put together and arranged. Excellent riff, changes of pace, blazing guitar coming in at all the right times and some tasty melodic/harmony vocals all building up to the big ending. What a song!
Much more to Wikkyd Vikker’s talents and ability to write songs which punch hard in different styles.
Take Stonehenge for example (two versions of that song on the CD). A faster paced affair a little spacey and a little proggy as it belts along. Take it From Me a tasty straight ahead melodic rocker then comes Super Rokker which is just that – a monster bit of heaviness and more of the fine guitar work to the fore.
Phoenix is the atmospheric, brooding, slow burning epic. Gentle strumming, moody vocals, hypnotic, simple drumming with all the while waiting for the big finish which must surely come – and it does. A glorious track. Not unlike something Rush might have done on Caress of Steel perhaps.
Release, Rock Sure and On the Streets an excellent trio of heavy melodicness in which one can hear bits of UFO/Thin Lizzy in there.
Then it closes out with a riotous, breathless live version of Wild Child.
Much to enjoy here from a NWOBHM-era band who (as many did back then) had talent but not the breaks. Top marks to Cult Metal Classics to getting the CD out there.
As is usual with these releases, it’s a limited run of 500. Act fast to get yourself one – try Sonic Age records (link below). I got mine from them and as I type this review they are showing availability.
Wikkyd Vikker on Sonic Age Records: https://www.sonicagerecords.com