50SHR #10: Fortnox (Georgia)

50 STATES OF HARD ROCK #10: GEORGIA

 

Band: Fortnox
Release: Fortnox
Year: 1982
Line-up: Joel Shipp (vocals, bass), Rick Fowler (guitar), Nathan De Foor (drums)

Track Listing:

01 - On The Prowl 02 - Storm Inside My Head 03 - Running From Yourself 04 - The Beast In Me 05 - Rock n Roll City 06 - What About Me 07 - Lucifer's Eyes 08 - Rockin' In America 09 - Another Lady 10 - Don't Scratch The Surface 11 - Hyperock

Fletchanator's comment: Out of Atlanta, Georgia came short-lived trio Fortnox, who released just the one album of tunes that range from AOR-tinged rock to southern rock to melodic heavy metal (albeit at the softer end of that genre). Their song Storm Inside My Head went to number 44 on the US AOR charts and the video got airtime on MTV, but Fortnox were unable to capitalise on it and soon broke up.
Talented axeman Rick Fowler went on to become one of his home state's most renowned blues guitarists, playing in side projects of members of high-profile bands like REM, Government Mule and Traffic, as well as playing in a string of bands like Bombay and The Lonely White Boys. Singer Joel Shipp apparently gave up music and became a school teacher.
Recommended for fans of bands like Axe, Blackfoot, KISS and Thin Lizzy.

 

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Black Angels - Hellmachine (1982)

Country: Switzerland
Year: 1982
Line-up: Clive Murray (vocals), Mark Egg (guitars), Andy McKay (guitars), Walt Lion (bass), Brian Irving (drums), Harry Stone (keyboards)

Track Listing:

Side A
1.	Hellmachine	04:43
2.	Midnight Rider	03:19
3.	Seamer Station	04:25
4.	Amsterdam	03:00
5.	Rock It	03:50
Side B
6.	Over the Limit	03:53
7.	Juvenile Delinquent	03:35
8.	Tell Me Why	04:04
9.	Problem Child	03:52
10.	Don't Look Back	03:54

Fletchanator's comment: This one is a bit of a departure from the usual stuff that I post on this blog, but I ripped it from vinyl for my own purposes and figured I would share it anyway. It's not glammy, it's not sleazy, but it is hard rock. Black Angels are a Swiss band that play a brand of 1970s-ish keyboard-laden hard rock reminiscent of Deep Purple, with some NWOBHM thrown into the mix. This album, their first, was recorded in the studio owned by their Swiss compatriots Krokus.

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