Shivai – Beelzebub’s in Heaven (EP)

 

Artist: Shivai
Title: Beelzebub’s in Heaven (EP)
Year: 1994
Genre: Hard Rock
Category: 4 Track EP
Format: Compact Disc
Label: –
Catalog No: –
CD Matrix: MADE BY DISCTRONICS B ** SHIVAI ** #02
Comments: –
Collectors Status: Very Rare
Estimated Value: ~$30+ AUD

Track List
01. Beelzebub’s in Heaven
02. Om Namy Haya
03. Shivai
04. Foxy Lady (Jimi Hendrix cover)

Line-Up
Skye Patricks (v) (Serpentine, Future Native)
Zakk Zedras (g) (Serpentine, Roxus, Dragonfly)
Rexx Fernandez (b) (Serpentine, Nude + toured with Christine Anu, James Reyne, Mark Seymour and Joe Camilleri)
Greg Aldridge (d) (Final Outcome, Jimi the Human, Josie Jason and the Argonauts, Fester Fanatics, The Tourers)
Clint Roach (b) (Serpentine)

Album Credits
Produced by Shivai
Mixed by D.O.
Engineered by Sam Pulley
Recorded at Belair Studios
All songs written by Shivai, except Foxy Lady by Jimi Hendrix
Photo by Jim Kellam
CD Graphics by HiX
Cover by Thunder Publishing
Logo Design by Amanda Bansgrove
Didgeredoo: Michael Redman
Drums by Trina

Description
Featuring several past members of cult Aussie melodic hard rock group, Serpentine (reformed as Serpentine Sky in 2014/15); Melbourne hard rockers Shivai released this four track EP titled ‘Beelzebub’s in heaven‘in 1994.  Sometimes compared to New Jersey hard rockers Skid Row, Shivai have really grown on me over time and this EP is now among my all time favourite Aussie hard rock releases.  There are certainly some alternative rock influences here (Soundgarden come to mind) though the four songs featured on this EP (including a Jimi Hendrix cover) absolutely kick ass!  A killer EP and one well worth getting your hands on.  It appears there may have been a self titled EP as well – I would be very keen to hear it!

Just a bit of background on Serpentine:

“Originally founded in 1989 by Patrick Creamer, Zakk Zedras, Rexx Fernandez, Clinton Roche and Craig Whitelock, Serpentine Sky made an immediate impact on audiences with their energetic live show combining shredding guitars, three part harmonies, huge melodic choruses and the best rhythm section around. In the early nineties, the band was tipped as ‘the next big thing’ by Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum and showered with major record label deals.

As fate would have it, everything came to an abrupt end in 1991. Drummer Craig Whitelock suffered a motorbike accident which put him out of action for a year. The band tried to carry on with another drummer, but relationships became strained and the magic was lost.

Reuniting almost 25 years later, the band played at the tribute show for dearly departed friend and former White Widow drummer George Kristy. After the show the band committed to record a full length album of the best songs with producer / engineer Ricki Rae. The band changed their name to Serpentine Sky in 2015 and the new album will be Available soon”.

© MelodicRock Records, 2015

As a side note, I had no idea what a ‘Beelzebub’ was, but among a dozen different descriptions on google I came across this:

“The name of Beelzebub was inspired by the Hebrew demon Beelzebub, which means “Lord of the Flies”. He is established as the Lord of the Flies and a high-ranking demon, and his flies carry souls down to the Abyss. Beelzebub is also believed to be a bastardized version of the Canaanite god Baal or an alternate form of Satan. He is also associated with the sin of gluttony”.

As always, any further information is greatly appreciated.

PS if anyone has a copy of the self titled Shivai EP or the original two track Serpentine promo-cassette ‘Whole Lotta Love‘, I would certainly be interested to hear from you.

 

Outlands – Take it Down

 

Artist: Outlands
Title: Take it Down
Year: 1989
Genre: Hard Rock, Melodic Metal
Category: 4 Track Demo
Format: Cassette
Label: –
Catalog No: –
Comments: J-Card Packaging
Collectors Status: Extremely Rare
Estimated Value: ~$1000 AUD

Track List – Side A
01. Highway to Freedom
02. Good Times (Love For Sale)

Track List – Side B
01. Winter of Our Love
02. Tell Me

Line-Up
Steve Shotton • Lead Vocals
Dave Powell • Guitars, Guitar Synthesizer, Backing Vocals
Glen Purkiss • Guitars, Guitar Synthesizer, Backing Vocals
Gary Synnerdahl • Drums, Backing Vocals (Wrecking Crew, Mother Hubbard)
Neil Brown • Bass, Backing Vocals

Credits
• Recorded January 1989 at Sound Barrier Studios, Sydney, Australia
• Produced by John Hresc & Outlands
• Engineered by John Hresc
• Photography by Calvin’s Studio
• Layout & Graphics : Introspec
• Management : Hot Rock Management

Just before I get back to the CDs, here’s another cassette worth taking a look at.

Outlands are yet another obscure Aussie hard rock band from Sydney, probably most notable for featuring drummer Gary Synnerdahl in the line-up. Synnerdahl was not only a member of the great Aussie hard rock band ‘Wrecking Crew‘ (a personal favourite of mine) but in the mid 90s he was a member of another Sydney band called Mother Hubbard that featured Alex Wasiliev – better known by most Australians as Alex Lloyd.

Though despite this somewhat famous connection, little else is known about Outlands or this obscure demo tape.  It is apparent however that this demo was recorded at the same Sydney studio as the Wicked ‘Out on Bail‘ demo tape that I posted here on the blog recently.  These two demos were also produced / engineered by the same person – John Hresc.  This does make me wonder how many other Aussie hard rock bands recorded demos at Sound Barrier Studios and if John Hresc was involved with those as well.  According to a google search, in the mid 80s John Hresc worked in many of Australia’s most iconic recording studios and has engineered almost 100 albums and singles.

Musically I was a little surprised by this one as I had expected to hear some typical late 80s hard rock but instead this is a touch heavier than some, bordering on melodic metal at times.  Great songs nonetheless!

As always, any more information would be greatly appreciated.

Wicked – Out on Bail

 

Artist: Wicked
Title: Out on Bail
Year: 1989
Genre: Hard Rock, Glam-Sleaze
Category: 5 Track Demo / EP
Format: Cassette
Label: –
Catalog No: –
Comments: J-Card Packaging
Collectors Status: Extremely Rare
Estimated Value: ~$1000 AUD

Track List – Side A
01. Sweet Talk
02. Animal

Track List – Side B
01. Young & Crazy
02. Love Poison
03. Dining at the Y

Line-Up
Darren (Ace) Jonson • Lead Vocals
Tris Black • Lead Guitar
Brian (Grunt) McLean • Bass Guitar
Lindsay Jones • Drums

 

Credits
• Recorded May 1989 at Sound Barrier Studio, Sydney, Australia
• Produced by John Hresc & Wicked
• Engineered by John Hresc
• Photography & Sleeve Layout: Calvin’s Studio, Sydney
• Management: Hot Rock Management

While I’ve got the cassette case out, here’s another obscure Aussie hard rock gem. This time from Wicked – a four piece band from Sydney who released this five track demo / EP titled ‘Out on Bail’ in 1989.

As with many of the independent Aussie hard rock tapes of this era, details are minimal and apart from those listed on the J-Card there seems to be little else out there.

Musically (if the band photo hasn’t given it away) this is hard rock, typical of that which was being produced out of L.A. in 1989.  ‘Sweet Talk’ is my pick of the bunch though all tracks here are quite strong and really make you wonder why Wicked didn’t leave us with more.

As always, any more information about the band would be greatly appreciated.