Samson’s 1979 debut was one of the first albums to come from the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. But the hasty Londoners weren’t quite studio ready yet and Survivors was a half-decent effort at best. Bassist Chris Aylmer and vocalist Bruce Bruce are pictured on the cover but weren’t actually in the band when Survivors was recorded so guitarist Paul Samson handled vocals and Gillan’s John McCoy added some heavy help: playing bass as well as co-writing and producing. And the album is at its strongest when it picks up some of that gonzo Gillan-esque edge. It’s Not As Easy As It Seems, Big Brother, Koz and Six Foot Under are all boisterous highlights. But the rest of the album is dated and forgettable and Samson and McCoy both fall short in their vocal and production roles. Still, for all its faults, it has an ordinary Joe charm that captures the spirit of the emerging movement. Later, with Aylmer and Bruce onboard, Samson would power up and hit the NWOBHM head on. With biceps of steel.
(Buyer note: Most reissues add alternative versions with improved sound and Bruce Bruce on vocals. Essential!)
HEAVY METAL OVERLOAD 
Whoa! Amateur hour right here, but in a very good way. I love it when a band’s vision rubs right up against their ability – I think that’s the place where most of the good stuff comes from.
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Yep. Can’t beat a bit of incompetence!
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That’s what I told my boss at my last appraisal.
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I have one of those essential reissues, and I agree with your rating for sure.
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It’s much better with the extra tracks. The Bruce versions are just better across the board… not just the vocals.
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I aim to have an ordinary Joe charm in classes – still working on the biceps of steel though!
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Nicely-unreconstructed riffs and one of the best/worst album covers ever…
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Bit bold for a debut cover! Usually bands are at least 2 or 3 albums in before they get to ‘atop a pile of bodies’ stage.
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It’s a CARTOON! Real metal would have had real bodies.
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You’re such a sicko!
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Thank you!
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Bruce Bruce!
I bought decades ago a Samson compilation on cassette tape. That featured two albums one on each side of the tape..man I cannot remember what albums they were…
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Was it stuff with Bruce? Head On and Shock Tactics maybe?
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yes I believe it was those two..names sound familiar..
Definitely Shock Tactics…
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Bruce Bruce. What a great name. Greatness that’s matched only by that album cover.
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Strewth!
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