We've had alot of forrays into the gritty world of Japanese hardcore of the '80s, but we haven't heard much metal from the realm. Let's change that with Crowley, and their 1986 album Whisper of the Evil. Crowley offer up some pretty standard, but fun, traditional metal with a distinctively Japanese flair provided by a vocalist named "Hawkhead Sean." Over most of six tracks, almost every device of proper metal is employed, there are guitar solos, fast picking, songs (in Japanese) about evil, the night, madness...however, the standout track is the obligatory ballad "Woman in a Black Cape" which ventures into some pretty Candlemassy doom territory on occasion. Crowley probably won't have you scrambling to hear more Japanese heavy metal, but this album is not without merit or charm.
I still think highly of Jurassic Jade's first Lp.....something wicked about it....
ReplyDeleteCrowley never gets old for me...epic band!...this is probably one of their better albums...
ReplyDeleteLong live 80s metal, no matter what region it is from!
ReplyDeleteThis album is fucking awesome. Serious Judas Priest worship in the best possible way. More!
ReplyDeleteAnimetal (speed) and Galneryus (power) are other worth-while metal acts. Galneryus is one of the few power metal bands I actually still enjoy, at all.
ReplyDeleteNow listening to Crowley's two tracks from the 'Electric Lady Land' compilation. Always keen to hear '80s J-metal. Others I'd recommend are Jesus, Breeze Least & Tabbasa.
ReplyDeletethat is some seriously tasty cover art.
ReplyDelete'80's Japanese metal is so fun! thanks
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