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.
7 Wishes 