Category Archives: Hard Rock

Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Song Reviews

Chateaux – Spirit Of The Chateaux (Song Review)

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“Decaying rooms of once proud people”

Mythical lyrics of lords and kings of a forgotten world on a grimly emotive cult classic metal track… brought to you from a council house in Hull. This is the spirit of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.

Spirit Of The Chateaux is one of many excellent tracks from Chateaux’s 1983 debut album Chained And Desperate. Released on Ebony Records, it was recorded by the Cheltenham band in label owner Darryl Johnston’s council house-cum-recording studio and it’s a raw, gritty affair. But like many of the label’s recordings it is crackling with electricity and overdriven in-your-face guitar.

Spirit Of The Chateaux has a rock steady mid-tempo pace with simple, blocky riffing that leaves space for mesmerising sustained guitar notes and emotive singing. And since their vocalist was the legendary Steve Grimmett (on loan from labelmates Grim Reaper) he really does emote. Like a bastard. Especially on the glorious chorus when his impassioned vocals bleed together with the noisy riffing and lead guitar. The band played down Grimmett’s involvement but his performance here is spellbinding. He’s the star of the show and the not-so-secret ingredient that makes Spririt Of The Chateaux one of my all-time favourite NWOBHM tracks.

Genre, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Classic Rock, NWOBHM, Song Reviews

Diamond Head – Sucking My Love (Song Review)

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“Sweet and timely caress”

No prizes for guessing what Sucking My Love is about. It has been suggested by members of Diamond Head that it’s actually about the music business but I think that’s a rubbish attempt to gloss over the fact that one of the NWOBHM’s prime creative forces wrote a big long song about getting a blowjob.

The centrepiece of Diamond Head’s classic 1980 album Lightning To The Nations (aka The White Album), Sucking My Love is Zeppelin-meets-UFO heavy rock. Brian Tatler’s pentatonic guitar riffs are ingeniously simple, timeless and unforgettable. The track has a wonderful dark atmosphere and, following a cool Maiden-esque quiet section (all harmonics and celestial percussion), builds to a guitar soloing climax akin to UFO’s Love To Love. But the star contribution comes from vocalist Sean Harris, a man with such a tremendously forceful and charismatic voice that he’s even able to imbue the word “tasty” with Percy Plant levels of mythic power.

It’s a magical, evocative track that transports me right to the NWOBHM era every time I listen to it. Although it wasn’t one of the band’s more forward-thinking compositions, Sucking My Love shows that Diamond Head had the rarefied ability, class, and grandeur to compete with metal’s old gods. Tasty.

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow – Snake Charmer (Song Review)

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“Rising like a crazy balloon”

It’s not one of the more celebrated tracks from the Dio era of Rainbow but I really enjoy Snake Charmer from the first album of the era, 1975’s Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow.

A funky, wah-fuelled Hendrix-y rocker, Snake Charmer is no great shakes in terms of riffs and songwriting but it has a joyous energy and wonderful performances. In particular, bassist Craig Gruber excels. There’s a palpable chemistry as his lively, roaming basslines power a dynamic. expressive guitar solo from Blackmore.

At the time I got into Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, I was listening to loads of old Skynyrd and early Whitesnake and songs like Snake Charmer ensured that Rainbow fit right in with that rootsy, sunny mood. The album’s more fantastical and weighty tracks might be the standouts but Snake Charmer is a crucial part of the Rainbow debut’s eclectic and colourful charm.

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, HMO Blog, NWOBHM, Thrash Metal

Vinyl Haul At Veneno

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I knew it was going to be a great shop cause it had Scorpions’ In Trance in the window

The big story round these parts is that I’ve got the vinyl bug back – big time. In February I noticed on Facebook that a new record shop, Veneno Music Store (Spanish for “poison” or “venom”) had opened in Dunfermline. I hadn’t been buying a lot of used vinyl lately so I wasn’t too excited about it. But Dunfermline is a quick drive from where I live and it’s a place I like going to anyway so I decided to visit for a wee nosey. I’ve now been back three times in the last month. Check out what I’ve been buying in the pictures below, it’s like he’s been using my Discogs wish-list to stock his shelves or something.

I’m really chuffed to finally have such a great record shop in my neck of the woods. The chap that runs it is very friendly and he’s getting in great stuff every week. It’s not all rock and metal, there’s quite a range of genres. All the things I’ve bought were conservatively graded, reasonably priced and have played like a dream. If you’re in the area please make sure to pop in. And tell them that HMO sent you.

The best Yngwie album
Worth it just for the cover surely?
OK, not vinyl but new/sealed for just £30. A must buy.
Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

Motörhead – Deaf Forever (Song Review)

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“Worm crawling on your cold, white face”

Deaf Forever is an iconic Motörhead song title, acting as a motto or a badge of honour for anyone who’s ever shared a hall with the notoriously loud rockers. But, rather than an ode to his volume-addled fans, Lemmy’s ingenious lyrics refer instead to a corpse on a battlefield: deaf forever to the din of the battle. And Motörhead’s short-lived Wizzö/ Würzel/Gill lineup create a considerable din of their own to soundtrack the sombre topic. Deaf Forever gets 1986’s superb Orgasmatron off to a thumping start with a robotic, marching main riff that opens into thunderous chords for a triumphant, anthemic chorus. It’s Motörhead at the top of their game musically and lyrically, with one of their best production jobs to boot. An inspired headbanger that’s guaranteed to put a big grin on your face. Rictus or otherwise.

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Song Reviews

KISS – Hooligan (Song Review)

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“I mean, you know how cool I am”

It might seem odd to use a song he’s not particularly known for, and didn’t write or sing, to salute original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley. But Hooligan is a great example of Frehley as a team player and how his impeccable, instinctive and characterful guitar playing elevated any song he played on. The 1977 Peter Criss vehicle probably isn’t a song that rides high in anyone’s ranking of KISS’s greatest work but I’ve always had a big soft spot for it. Criss’ hollering is infectious, I love the old-timey rock ‘n’ roll vibe and I’m a sucker for Paul Stanley’s use of capos for rhythm guitar parts. But, best of all, Space Ace wrings out a memorable and effortlessly cool guitar solo that crackles with electricity. And his soaring guitar part over the song’s climatic chords is one of KISS’ most joyous and euphoric moments. Ace, who has sadly left the planet aged 74, inspired legions of people to pick up guitars (including me) but there will never be anyone quite like this beloved, otherworldly legend ever again.

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Song Reviews

Tommy Bolin – Teaser (Song Review)

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“Yeah, she’ll tempt ya ‘til ya fall”

Backed by an array of talented guests and session musicians, Tommy Bolin works through a dazzling array of musical styles and moods on his 1975 debut solo album Teaser. But on the album’s title track he gets down to the business of some straight-up, groovy hard rock. The bluesy main riff that kicks things off is one of those “why didn’t anyone come up with this before?” classic riffs, the chorus’s crashing chords and stabbing bends have a Hendrix-y flash and excitement and Bolin colours the whole song with all manner of jazzy licks, tasty slide and spacey Echoplex effects. As well as being a guitar masterclass, Bolin’s singing also has a under-achieving cool charisma too. Teaser is a class track from one of my most cherished, most listened-to albums and I never get tired of hearing it. His role in the demise of 70s Deep Purple tarnished his reputation and his drug-related death cut his career tragically short but Teaser (both the song and album) is the work of a young guy with more maturity, talent and flair than many musicians manage to access in their entire lives.

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Song Reviews

Fist – Name, Rank & Serial Number (Song Review)

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“Now tell me the positions of your guns and armoured forces”

The debut single from South Tyneside’s Fist, this darkly amusing track depicts a military interrogation from the point of view of a stymied torturer who, despite his best efforts, can only obtain his captive’s Name, Rank & Serial Number. It’s a fantastically vibrant and catchy track. In particular, Keith Satchfield (who sadly passed away in early 2025) deserves a medal for his infectious, rhythmic vocals and inventive lyrics. Fist’s recording career ended up all too brief but in that short run they released some of the best tracks of the whole NWOBHM era. On Name, Rank & Serial Number, Fist managed the rare feat of being classic and definitive while also being startlingly original.

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Song Reviews

Alice Cooper – It’s Hot Tonight (Song Review)

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“Damn Hot Tonight”

1977’s Lace And Whiskey is not one of my favourite Coop albums by any means but the album opener It’s Hot Tonight is one of my most beloved tracks of his. It’s got an extremely ballsy opening riff and a ton of swagger, coming across every bit as scorched and steamy as the title suggests. Maybe it’s just because of the album title and artwork but I always get a hot city noir vibe from it too. The first time I ever saw Cooper live was in Glasgow on an unusually hot night and I was thrilled when he launched into this. Seeing the great man strut his way through a huge-sounding version of this in a packed, sweaty Barrowlands was just brilliant, a peak concert-going moment for me.

Classic Rock, Genre, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, NWOBHM, Song Reviews

Gillan – No Easy Way (Song Review)

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“You are so lovely, you are so beautiful”

There’s no easy way to shake off sorrow but listening to this classic Gillan tune, from 1980’s thumping Glory Road album, is guaranteed to blow away the blues. Gillan were a monster band and on No Easy Way they are at their boisterous, swaggering best. Guitarist Bernie Tormé runs riot all over this, unleashing a chaotic torrent of guitar to kick things off and then livening up the whole track with all sorts of howling bends and bombs. “Let it all pass by” is a bit of classic Ian Gillan life philosophy and he’s on brilliant rock ‘n’ rolling form here too. The sweet way he sings the quiet middle section is a wonderfully heartwarming bit of emotional connection.