Catalyst - Paradise [1990]

Country: USA

Year: 1990

Line-up: Unknown

TRACK LISTING

1. Crackdown/Breakdown

2. Dropout Loser

3. I Wanna Live

4. Break My Heart Again

5. You Can't Please Everybody

6. Time

7. Fire in Her Eyes

8. Shelter of your Heart

9. Hold on to your Love

10. Paradise

11. Burning in the Fire

12. Trash Before you Crash

Fletchanator's comment: This is one of those rare occasions when I actually don't know much about the band. I got this album off the internet and can't even find a listing for the band members. All I know is this is Catalyst's only album. It's melodic hard rock, bordering on AOR for some songs, rockier on others. Nothing great, but listenable.

Download (NEW LINK NOV 2015)

YLD - Fools in Paradise

Country: France

Year: 1989

Line-up: Kevin Mellenbruch (vocals), James Bengson (guitar), Sam Lee (bass), Brian Eads (drums)

TRACK LISTING

1. Wild Girls

2. Good Times Bad Times

3. I Need

4. Simple But True

5. The Distance

6. Music Music

7. So Cute

8. Wounded in Action

9. Writing in the Sand

10. Let It Go

Fletchanator's comment: This is the one and only album released by French four-piece YLD. It's straight-forward hard rock with a good beat and average vocals (probably the weakest part of their effort, IMO). Still, how many French hair metal bands do you know of?

Download (NEW LINK JULY 2016)

Sweet Savage - Archives [2003]

Country: USA

Year: 2003

Line-up: Joey C Jones (vocals), Chris Sheridan (guitar), Laine Sheridan (bass), Randy St John (drums)

TRACK LISTING

1. On the Rocks

2. Do Ya

3. Fox on the Run

4. Head over Heels

5. Breakaway

6. Summer Song

7. Desert Rose

8. Love You Hate You

9. Cut it Out

10. Deja Vu

11. Picture Yourself

12. Prisoner of Paradise

13. Crank It Up

Fletchanator's comment: Archives is the belated CD release of material produced between 1984 and 1989 by one of Hollywood hair metal's best bands you've probably never heard of. In the mid-80s, Sweet Savage were big on the Sunset Strip scene, particularly in Europe, but sadly they split in 89, just when it seemed they were on the verge of breaking out. The lead singer sounds like early Vince Neil and the sound is pure Hollywood glam. The first five songs are studio cuts, the rest are live bootlegs, but it's all good stuff and a must have for serious hair metal fans.

Download (NEW LINK NOV 2015)

Wicked Lester - The Original Wicked Lester Session [1972]

Country: USA

Year: 1972

Line-up: Stanley Eisen (vocals), Steve Coronel (guitar), Gene Klein (bass), Tony Zerella (drums), Brooke Ostlander (keyboards)

TRACK LISTING

1. What Happens in the Darkness

2. She

3. Sweet Ophelia

4. When the Bell Rings

5. Simple Type

6. Love Her All I Can

7. Keep Me Waiting

8. We Want To (Shout It Out Loud)

9. Long, Long Road

Fletchanator's comment: Yesterday I uploaded a taste of Pantera before they were big, and now it's KISS before they were KISS. Well, half of the original KISS anyway, and the guys who've kept the band going all these years. Stanley Eisen became Paul Stanley, and Gene Klein became Gene Simmons. This is a bootleg, not an official album, since none was ever released by Wicked Lester. The sound is raw and even more simplistic than the subsequent KISS material, but is a must have for any fans of the make up-wearing glam legends.

Download (NEW LINK NOV 2015)

Pantera - Metal Magic [1983]

Country: USA

Year: 1983

Line-up: Tony Lee Glaze (vocals), Darrell Abbott (guitar), Rex Brown (bass), Vinnie Paul (drums)

TRACK LISTING

1. Ride My Rocket

2. I'll Be Alright

3. Tell Me If You Want It

4. Latest Lover

5. Biggest Part Of Me

6. Metal Magic

7. Widowmaker

8. Nothin' On (But The Radio)

9. Sad Lover

10. Rock Out!

Fletchanator's comment: Before they were one of the biggest groove metal bands of the 1990s, Pantera were an unknown glam band from Texas. This is their small-time debut, with second vocalist Glaze, who would give way to Phil Anselmo when the band changed to a more heavy sound. It's almost hard to believe this is Pantera, but Darrell "Dime Bag" Abbott (RIP) is at his blistering best, shredding up the fret board. You can hear various influences, including Van Halen and KISS, and there's a hint of NWOBHM in there as well. Definitely check this one out!

Download (NEW LINK NOV 2015)

Joker - Joker [1990]

Country: USA

Year: 1990

Line-up: Tony Ingala (vocals), Nick Sikich (guitar), Joe Miro (guitar / keyboards), Brian Smolar (bass), Mike Stone (drums)

Track Listing:
1. I Want Love
2. Say Yeah
3. Lorraine
4. Party For Your Life
5. Somewhere In Time
6. She Wants Vengeance
7. Pledge An Allegiance
8. Remember
9. Change
10. Hey Salesman

Request of: Mike

Fletchanator's comment: There's nothing unique about Joker, but the first of two albums they put in the early 90s (followed up by 1992's Cool Deal) is a good effort. The sound is tight party rock, with a vocalist who reminds me of TNT's Tony Harnell. There's some rough edges around the singing, but the guitars are very good. Definitely worth checking out.

Download (NEW LINK NOV 2015)

Dirty Looks - Gasoline [2007]

Country: USA

Year: 2007

Line-up: Henrik Ostergaard (vocals/guitar), Paul Lidel (guitar), Trevor Huster (bass), Bruce Rivers (drums)

Track List: 1. Doesn't Count The Juice
2. 2nd Chance (Didn't Take It)
3. See You In The Morning
4. Through Your Eyes
5. If The World Stopped Spinning
6. Over Me
7. Stick Around
8. "I Am That I Am"
9. Everythings Gonna Be Alright
10. New White Naked
11. Trick Of The Moon

Fletchanator's comment: I don't usually upload such recent albums, but I was so pumped about Dirty Looks putting out a new album last year, I thought I'd share it. After an absence of 9 years, Henrik and the boys returned with a classic slice of West Coast sleaze rock. While Gasoline doesn't quite measure up to the classics Cool from the Wire and Turn of the Screw, it's a great album. These boys haven't lost anything over the years, and most importantly haven't compromised their sound. The best song is "If the World Stopped Spinning", which is classic Dirty Looks and wouldn't have been out of place on Cool from the Wire. Recommended.

Download (NEW LINK NOV 2015)