Thousand Plane Raid – Grin (EP)

Artist: Thousand Plane Raid
Title: Grin (EP)
Year: 1993
Genre: Hard Rock
Category: 6 Track EP
Format: Compact Disc
Label: –
Catalog No: –
CD Matrix: MADE BY DISCTRONICS B ** TPRCD01 ** #02
Comments: –
Collectors Status: Very Rare
Estimated Value: ~$30+ AUD

Track List
01. Today
02. Eagles
03. Magic Woman
04. Time
05. Burning
06. God Save the Queen

Line-Up & Album Credits
Troy Keen (v, ag)
Norm Price (b)
Steve Harding (lg, v)
Trevor Caitens (rg)
Owenman (d, v)

Produced by: Rob Specogna, Troy Keen
Assistant Engineer: Murray Nicholas
Recorded at Main Street Studios
Mastered by: Paul Bryant (All Music Manufacturing)
Tray photo: Barry Smith.

Description
Thousand Plane Raid are a little known hard rock band from Wollongong (aka “The Gong”) in New South Wales. The band released this one off CD titled ‘Grin‘ in 1993.

The Music
At first glance this might appear like a typical 20-minute EP but discounting ‘God Save the Queen‘ – the closing instrumental, the average track length is almost 7 minutes! The constant here seems to be vocalist Troy Keen who is credited on all tracks. Musically this is hard rock with perhaps some progressive influences. Most tracks have a long intro which slowly builds into the climax of the song before an equally lengthy outro. My favourite track, ‘Burning‘ is typical of this approach with the song not reaching it’s peak until more than 2.5 minutes.

Final Comment
While they may be quite unknown, Thousand Plain Raid are obviously a very talented group of musicians and I’m sure that at some point in time, back in the early-mid 90s, the band would have had an enthusiastic fan base in their hometown. As usual I would love to see any promo photos, gig flyers, magazine/newspaper clipping etc.  The Grin EP seems to be a very rare disc and to date I have only ever seen one copy – however don’t let this put you off – it is a must have for Aussie hard rock / progressive hard rock fans.

Wretched Child – Better Late Than Never

Artist: Wretched Child
Title: Better Late Than Never
Year: 1994
Genre: Hard Rock, Glam/Sleaze, Metal
Category: Full Length Album
Format: Compact Disc (Verbatim CD-R)
Label: –
Catalog No: WC01
CD Matrix: –
Comments: –
Collectors Status: Very Rare
Estimated Value: ~$25 – $50 AUD

Track List
01. Now It’s Time
02. Damnation
03. Believe in Me
04. Fantasy Lover
05. Besty Blues
06. Survivor
07. Batter Late Than Never
08. Sweet Lill Sister
09. Nightmares
10. Wretched Child

Line-Up & Album Credits
Grazz (v)
Lefty (b)
Besty (d)
Bart (g)
Campbell (g)
(and the “Chanters From Hell!”)

Credits
• All songs written & performed by “Wretched Child”
• Recorded at – “Soundtrack 919” Ballarat 93-94
• Produced by – Lyndon Kriss & Wretched Child
• Photography – Thani – Jo Flewers (?) – Deborah Wright
• Other Vocals – Karen Fraser – Simone Calaby
• Keyboards & Ass Sound FX – Lyndon Kriss
• Candid Comments – Lefty & Bart
• Layout A.C.B

 

Description
Wretched Child are a little known hard rock band from Ballarat, Victoria who formed in the early 90s (?’92) and released this one off CD titled ‘Better Late Than Never‘ in 1994.  At first glance, this album appears to have a real DIY feel to it.  Maybe it’s the hand-written band logo on the front cover, the scrapbook style rear insert photo (complete with flannelette shirts and cans of VB); or the Printable Inkjet Verbatim CD-R.  Actually it’s probably all of these things combined!  Regardless though, the music here is of a high standard – well performed and nicely produced hard rock.  Of the ten tracks featured on this CD, all are studio recordings from ’93 / ’94 with a variety of hard rock styles on display.

Final Comment
It might look DIY, but the songs are great and this is an album that I’m pleased to finally have in my collection.

Guns of Fire – Shifting Winds

 

Only a fool says in his heart, there is no God
– King David

Artist: Guns of Fire
Title: Shifting Wings
Year: 1990
Genre: Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, AOR, CCM
Category: 10 Track Album
Format: Cassette
Label: DTS Records
Catalog No: GFC001
Comments: J-Card Packaging
Collectors Status: Very Rare
Estimated Value: ~$75+AUD

Track List – Side A
01. Don’t Keep Waiting
02. Born For Love
03. Are You Ready
04. Won By One
05. Bye Bye Baby

Track List – Side B
01. Are You Still On My Side
02. Crossroads
03. No Turning Back
04. Land of No More Tears
05. Take the Reins

Line-Up
Steve Hibbins • Drums
Anthony Hook • Lead Vocals
Tim Bennett • Bass Guitar
Rowland Moye • Keyboards, Saxaphone, Vocals
David Moye • Guitars, Vocals

Credits
• Produced and Engineered by Dave Simpfendorfer
• Mixed by Jeff Todd
• Additional Vocals by Sandra Crocket
• Art and Design by David Moye
• Photography by Photoserv, Chris Gregory
• Recorded at Windwood Studios, March 1990, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia
• “The Guns Club” For concert bookings, information and merchandise: Private Bag 4, Panania NSW 2213 Australia

Here’s a special treat that just arrived in the mail.

Formed in 1989 from various Sydney rock bands including Lightbearer, O1’55, and Frontline; Guns of Fire were an obscure Aussie melodic/hard rock band who released their debut album ‘Shifting Winds‘ on cassette in 1990.  As can be interpreted from the lyrics on this first release, Guns of Fire identify as a Christian band and are known to have had a following in the Aussie CCM music scene of the early 90s alongside bands such as Holy Rite and Rosanna’s Raiders .  Featuring brothers Rowland and David Moye, formerly of Sydney 80s band, Your Fanatics; the musicians involved here showcase their respective talents in a way that might appeal to all fans of melodic/hard rock music, regardless of the CCM influences.  Several tracks from this debut album would re-appear in 1991 on the bands first CD titled ‘Viva the Revolution‘ (to be featured on this blog at a later date along with the bands 1993 CD-EP, ‘2BWITHU‘).  Guns of Fire called it a day in late 1994 with some material yet to be released.

As always, any more information would be greatly appreciated and in particular if you have clippings from any late 80s / early 90s Christian magazines such as ‘Against the Grain‘, I would love to see them.

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.

Surrender – Demo 1990/91

Artist: Surrender
Title: –
Year: 1990/91
Genre: Hard Rock, Melodic Hard Rock
Category: 3 Track Demo
Format: Cassette
Label: –
Catalog No: –
Comments: O-Card Packaging
Collectors Status: Extremely Rare
Estimated Value: ~$1000 AUD

Track List
01. Love it Loose
02. Just Like Love
03. Time Will Tell

Line-Up & Album Credits
Unknown band line-up
Recorded at JMC Studios
Engineered / Produced by Steve Pomfrey
All songs written by Surrender © 90/91

Now this one is a real mystery!  I stumbled upon it recently while looking for something else and decided to pick it up based on the cover art, year of release and the fact that it was advertised as being an Aussie band.

Apart from the minimal details listed on the packaging, there is absolutely no information out there about this band, not even a mention in Chris Spencer’s ‘Who’s Who of Australian Rock‘.  I can only assume from the phone number that the band is from NSW.

Despite its demo like production qualities, the three tracks featured on this cassette are really good examples of everything I love about late 80s / early 90s hard rock.  In particular ‘Time Will Tell’ is an absolute gem of a track and one that easily ranks among my all time favourite obscure Aussie hard rock songs – pure melodic hard rock bliss!

Note that this band has no connection to Aussie metal band Surrender that featured Dave Compton and released a self titled LP in 1984.  I did check with Dave about this and he seemed to recall another Aussie band of this name from around 1989-93.

Any more information about Surrender would be really appreciated.