Wolfsbane. A band with a mighty New Wave of British Heavy Metal connection having formed in the mid-1980s and released their debut album in 1989.
Earlier this year they re-recorded that debut album reissuing it as Live Faster and it’s proper, proper stuff indeed.
They’ve been busy touring recently though have found time to now release a remastered version of their mini-album/EP originally from 1990 – All Hell’s Breaking Loose Down at Little Kathy Wilson’s Place.
1990 was a big year for Wolfsbane. The 1989 debut album had sold well and edged in to the top 50. The mini-album/EP did the same and Wolfsbane bagged the support slot to Iron Maiden on their No Prayer on the Road UK tour.
And we all know, don’t we, that a few years later in 1994, Blaze Bayley would replace Bruce Dickinson in Maiden for a stint which saw the breakup of Wolfsbane for a long while.
This 2025 remaster of All Hell’s Breaking Loose Down at Little Kathy Wilson’s Place has been handled by guitarist Jase Edwards and he’s done a fine job. It’s fresh and bristling with that typical Wolfsbane energy and sense of fun.
Steel is brutal. What a riff biting and cutting. So hard, so heavy, so powerful. Jase slams in a frantic solo and you’ll be shouting along with Blaze during the “tough as steel” chorus. Magic. Here it is:
Paint the Town Red is a fine up tempo hard rocker with another shout along chorus and a catchy hook to go along with the power.
Loco is crazy. Such fun as it doesn’t take itself too seriously and I think that’s the point. More frantic fretwork from Jase.
Hey Babe is the Wolfsbane attempt at a bit of a power ballad. Pretty average until they hit back with the riotous Totally Nude which has something of a Van Halen feel to it as Jase goes EVH.
Then to close we have Kathy Wilson. It’s based on the old 1950s sci-fi B-Movie Invaders from Mars. Has a slightly weird feel to it though it does work with Blaze voicing some lines from the film along the way.
So good to have both this remaster and the re-recorded debut album this year.
If you want them – physical versions from Wolfsbane’s web site and digital versions from their BandCamp page:
https://www.wolfsbaneband.com/webshop/
https://wolfsbanehms.bandcamp.com/
Please support the site and buy me a coffee.
https://buymeacoffee.com/nwobhm
As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.