Angel Witch - Two bootlegs [1981, 2009]

I'm back, fuckers! I thought that this would be a delightful way to return - you all know how much I love Angel Witch; in my eyes, they're the best of the NWOBHM bunch (yes, including Maiden). It brings me 'great pleasure', therefore, to present these two little rarities, which I believe were originally sourced from Lockjaw or Strappado, but I can't be sure. Anyway, this archive includes both the 1981 bootleg 'Live At Norbreck Castle, Blackpool', and the 2009 bootleg 'Burn The White Witch - Live In London'. There is artwork attached to the files so you won't have to go through the hassle of locating bootleg artwork (I know all too well the pain associated with that), and they're both reasonable quality, possibly both soundboard recordings - I know the former of the two certainly is.

Both 320 kbps

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No Mediafire due to the file being bigger than 200MB. But seriously, Zippyshare is much better anyway.

Re-upload: Hell - Human Remains [2011]

So this was initially taken off Megaupload a while back - due to crappy internet and a large file size, it's taken longer than expected to get it back up. But put quite simply, this is one of the albums of the year - NWOBHM done in 2011 is rarely done well, but this, my friends, is a tour de force of excellence in the style. Although Hell may have lost their original vocalist to the clutches of death (christ, I should be a literary critic) a while back, this reunion, inspired by Andy Sneap, is more worthwhile than anything else he has caused - including Sabbat.

Re-upload notes 2: This had gone even before the purge but it's such a great album I will upload it until the cows come home.

320 kbps

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Re-upload: Satan - Court In The Act [1983]

Satan's debut is where this blog got its name from, and is rightly a cult NWOBHM classic. Some may find the vocals a little hard to acclimatize to, but once you manage that, this is truly a gem, and a fantastic album. This is also clearly influenced by the proto-thrash which had then been around for a while - one can hear faint touches of Kill 'Em All and early Exciter. The unusual technicality for a NWOBHM album may fluster some, but the album is nigh on perfect in my eyes.

320 kbps

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Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith [1984]

This, I believe, is the last of the 'classic' era Priest albums for me to post (although I'm aware I haven't yet posted Rocka Rolla, and to me, that's an excellent album too). I'll get it in the air: the last two tracks suck. Blended into one, they use one riff and essentially end the album on a stadium-rock-esque low note. That said, the rest of the album is fan-bloody-tastic (repeat, it is a classic era Judas Priest album) - the tunes that Judas Priest are known for, and no low notes in the middle like British Steel.

192 kbps

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Iron Maiden - Powerslave [1984]

Prime-era Iron Maiden is essentially like a premium steak cooked rare. In other words, tastes delicious, seems pretty sophisticated for what it is, but still has enough bite to it to make it an absolute fucking feast. Enough with the analogies already. Powerslave isn't Maiden's best album - it's got some filler in it ('Losfer Words', 'The Duellists'), but is still an absolute corker of an album. Seek it down instantly. Or better still, download it below.

128 kbps

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Judas Priest - British Steel [1980]

Despite the pretty poor likes of tracks on here like 'Living After Midnight' and 'Breaking The Law', this is still yet another Priest classic. People say not to fuck with the Priest, and I'm more than tempted to concur. 'Metal Gods' indeed.

128 kbps

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Iron Maiden - The Soundhouse Tapes demo [1979]

So yeah, Iron Maiden are probably the best-known heavy metal band that hasn't done a collaboration with Lou Reed. This is their first 'official' demo (you will see why I use the inverted commas in a future post), and it's interesting, if not strictly good. Personally, not being a fan of the self-titled, I was unlikely to ever really click with this, but it's certainly good as a piece of metal history.

192 kbps

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Heaven And Hell - The Devil You Know [2009]

I'm adding the tag of 'Black Sabbath' to this one, for one reason - this essentially is Black Sabbath. Evidently not wanting to get caught up in legal wrangling upon the reunion of the other classic Sabbath line-up, this doesn't quite stand up to the level of Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules, but as modern heavy metal goes, it does a damn fine job. It was also, I believe, Ronnie James Dio's last studio output before his untimely demise, and a damn fine performance it is too.

192 kbps

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Hell - Save Us From Those Who Would Save Us (single) [1983]

This 7" from Hell's former incarnation features on vocals the now-unfortunately-deceased Greg Halliday. This made it on to their debut Human Remains from this year, and frankly it's an astounding song. The B-side isn't too shabby either. Worth it for fans of the band - certainly to hear a bit of Hell history.

192 kbps

Link taken down. Comment to see a reupload!

Angel Witch - Demo 1979 [1979]

N.B. In case you hadn't guessed, this is not official artwork, of which there is none.

Angel Witch's demo is interesting as a piece of history - they've since come to more interest to the metal community as a whole, but it's their 1980 self titled which everyone likes. Although the demo tracks are available on re-releases of said album, they are remasters. Unfortunately, my mp3s have a horrid hiss over them on this, and I can't find decent versions.

160 kbps

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Hell - Human Remains [2011]

Well, this one is, as we say up in Yorkshire, 'fucking sweet'. A NWOBHM band who only released a handful of demos and a single before splitting up due to the death of Dave Halliday, they've returned to release this, which is one of the albums of 2011. It has everything that one could desire from such an album - it's laden with hooks, has unique vocals and is epic.

320 kbps

Link was taken down. Comment on this if you would like to see a reupload.

Angel Witch - Angel Witch [1980]

This is one of the, if not the, best albums of the NWOBHM movement. Although not as well known as Maiden, Saxon or even Diamond Head, this is now finally beginning to receive the attention it deserves.

N.B. The file is big because of the bonus tracks.

320 kbps

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Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son [1988]

It is no disrespect to 'Powerslave' et al that I have chosen not to upload them at this moment - I made my selection of four (yes, there is one coming) from Maiden's excellent albums arbitrarily. Indeed, this is yet another excellent album of Maiden's.

320 kbps

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Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind [1983]

I read somewhere that no band has ever released more than three great albums - Maiden are living contradiction to that, with 6 or 7. This is the home of live staple and absolute metal hallmark 'The Trooper'.

128 kbps

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Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast [1982]

Iron Maiden are one of the biggest metal bands ever, but unlike Metallica, they didn't reach their success by compromise. This, possibly their most successful, and their best, album, features the key singles of their ascension - 'Run To The Hills' and the title track.

128 kbps

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Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations [1980]

This is a classic of the NWOBHM era - given publicity when Metallica covered 'Am I Evil?'. Despite that, it is an excellent album, and every song on here is fantastic in its own right, from epics like 'Sucking My Love' to the title track.

~155 kbps VBR

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Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell [1980]

Black Sabbath's first album with Ronnie James Dio, and it's one of their best. This marked a solid move away from doomy sounds and more into the area of classic heavy metal; this is still much loved today.

192 kbps

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Judas Priest - Painkiller [1990]

Judas Priest's other truly great album, although this came 14 years after 'Sad Wings...', the Priest was truly on top form. The title track is one of the most famous metal songs of all time, and certainly better than their other famous one, the tedious 'Breaking The Law'.

320 kbps

DMCA came calling.

Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny [1976]

Judas Priest are naturally legends of the metal genre, and this is their best album. This arguably started the NWOBHM. There isn't much to say about this one that hasn't already been said, so just go for it.

128 kbps

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Venom - Black Metal [1982]

Arguably the album that started the black metal genre, if not by nature, then certainly by name, and it's a cracker. Aged well like champagne, yet infused with piss and vinegar, each song on this is memorable. Hark back to the days when metal bands wrote songs.

192 kbps

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