Album Notes

Check out more Retroactive Records metal releases at: www.cdbaby.com/all/brutalplanet



http://www.tollbooth.org/2006/reviews/stairway.html
This one is METAL baby, pure metal. Yeah! I’m loving it. Retroactive Records continues its fine series of re-issues with this classic molten metal release from British power metal rockers Stairway. Originally this CD was released only in Japan, and its arrival on these shores is a matter of rejoicing for metal-heads everywhere.

This is the real thing – melodic, hard rocking metal with melody and some very choice guitar playing. _No Rest – No Mercy_ features British flavored power metal in the style of Helloween, Iron Maiden, Barren Cross, and some of the classic Christian metal rockers of days of yore. The CD sounds very good – punchy and rocking hard in all the right places.

Wrapping up this bit of metal magic is a cool old-school apocalyptic cover by Rodney Matthews. Lyrics are included. Remember those cool rocking Christian end-times metal CDs with great covers that you used to share with all of your friends? This should have been one of them!

Sadly, I was unaware of Stairway before checking the CD out. Apparently the boys are still together and rocking mightily. Check out their web site for details:

DJ Barry


http://thewhippingpost.tripod.com/
Wow, what a blast from the past this is. Not that I remember it from my past, but it sounds like so many other bands I used to listen to back in the early '90's. This British power metal band originally released this album in 1993, but it was available only in Japan before making it's way to Europe. Only now on this digitally remastered re-release by Retroactive Records is this available in the U.S.

The album opens up with a nice acoustic intro, before the guitars rip in full force. One look at the band pictures in the CD and you know your getting set to hear some old school metal. Fans of Helloween, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and even Saint will be sure to find some stuff to like here. In fact, the second song "Spirit of Guilt" sounds like it probably could've fit nicely on one of Saint's earlier albums. The album is completely full of straight-forward, guns-a-blazin' power metal with tons of soaring guitar solos, bombastic drumming, and gruffly sung clean vocals. The band does a solid job musically whether playing mid-paced metal or ripping into some speed, complete with tons of double bass action. They even do the ol' ballad that you were always sure to hear from bands in their day. If I had to pick one weak spot on the album it's the vocals. While they are decent for this style of music, and actually quite typical, they really don't stand out from any other bands out there.

While this is not close to being the best this genre has ever seen, it's a pretty good listen and should definitely appeal to fans of old school power metal.

Review By: Matt Morrow

Label: Retroactive Records

Total Songs: 13

Total Time: 49:45

Tracklisting: 1. Battle of Heaven, 2. Spirit of Guilt, 3. Bondage, 4. Meet the Maker, 5. Fly With the Spirit, 6. Sweetest Song, 7. The Great Whore of Babylon, 8. Walk Away, 9. Black Be the Night, 10. Keep the Fires Burning, 11. Souls of Zion, 12. The Great Whore of Babylon (Revisited), 13. Anybody There? (Japanese Bonus Track).

Best Songs: 3, 7, 8, & 10.

Band Lineup: Graeme Leslie - Vocals/Guitar, Peter Jennens - Guitar/Backing Vocals, Andy Edwards - Drums/Backing Vocals, Robert Jennens - Bass/Backing Vocals.