Year : 1993 (Japan Edition)
Style : Melodic Heavy Metal
Country : United Kingdom
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 105 mb
Bio:
Marshall Law - very heavy and proud of it.This legendary band hailing from Birmingham (the birthplace of OZZY and JUDAS PRIEST amongst others) offers up intense, shredding metal powered by the exceptional talents of vocalist Andy Pyke, twin guitarists Dave Martin and Dave Rothan and bassist Tom Dwyer.Formed by ex-DETROIT, DAMIEN and VIVA vocalist Andy Pyke in 1988, the band benefited in their early days from the enthusiastic management of Birmingham DJ Dave Juste and the seemingly tireless ability to undertake enormous tours, including supports to LITTLE ANGELS and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, building up a loyal fan base along the way. The original line-up featured Andy Pyke on vocals and drums, together with ex-CHINAWHITE and SHADOWLANDS guitarist Dave Martin (who had also been involved with ELECTRIC WARRIOR, an act that featured UFO guitarist Rik Sandford), guitarist Darren Horton and bassist Malcolm Gould. The band later added drummer Alan Kelly who ultimately left to join SHY and was replaced with Mick Donovan. Darren Horton also left to later form SIAM and was replaced by former REALM and IVORY guitarist Andy Southwell. This line-up recorded the demo 'Future Shock' in 1988.Shortly afterwards, the band signed with local label FM Revolver and recorded their first album 'Marshall Law' which was produced by REDBEARDS members Ian Allen and Dave Keates. It was decided at this point to replace bassist Malcolm Gould (who promptly formed LOVE AND WAR) with Roger Davis (previously with ROULETTE) and the band still continued to gig hard. Mick Donovan was then replaced and another record for FM Revolver followed, the mini album 'Power Crazy', which debuted new drummer Lee Morris. Andy Pyke meantime was to contribute guest vocals to CEREBRAL FIX's version of JUDAS PRIEST's hit 'Living After Midnight'.A change of management to the same organisation that handled MAGNUM saw the release of a third album, 'Powergame', with production by ROBIN GEORGE. This saw excellent sales including Japan where over 35,000 copies were shifted in the first few weeks and reached number 6 in the national Rock chart. A thousand copies were also pressed up on the band's own System X label (which they still release material through today) for sale at gigs. A live album was also recorded but was to remain unreleased for some time and the band ultimately chose to take an extended break, playing their last gig at Nottingham Rock City in September 1992. Dave Martin reunited with original drummer Mick Donovan in a new project, Andy Southwell formed an acoustic act, Roger Davis found employment with erstwhile LITTLE ANGELS vocalist TOBY JEPSON and Lee Morris joined high profile Gothic Rock act PARADISE LOST.Directly due to unceasing fan pressure MARSHALL LAW duly reformed in late 1995, signing with Neat Metal Records to issue the well received live album 'Law In The Raw'. Much to the surprise of the band the label's press release for 'Law In The Raw' mistakenly attributed these recordings to a support to JUDAS PRIEST, although the concert was in fact taken from a headline gig. Still essentially a studio project at this stage, the band did manage a brace of local gigs utilising the rhythm section from NOISEGATE. In 1997, the band recorded 'Metal Detector' which once more pulled in worthy reviews with increased sales in Germany and Japan. The band recorded the follow up 'Warning From History' in early 1999 which included guest contributions from Steve Grimmett of GRIM REAPER and LIONSHEART and MAGNUM's Tony Clarkin. This outing saw the band's first release in South America with Rock Brigade Records in Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Shortly after recording the band dispensed with their existing rhythm section pulling in ex-RECKLESS DAUGHTER, SHOCK TACTICS and SIAM bassist Andy Faulkner and former BENEDICTION and WHITE TRASH drummer Paul Brookes. To promote the album the band put in a show at the 'Bang Your Head' Festival in southern Germany sharing a bill with DEEP PURPLE, W.A.S.P. and MOTRHEAD as well as a performance at the Wacken Festival playing to over 30,000 people.During 2000 the band recorded a version of SLADE's 'We'll Bring The House Down' with a guesting Bev Bevan of BLACK SABBATH on drums. Although the track was produced by the esteemed Terry Thomas of BAD COMPANY repute, it would remain consigned to the vaults until it emerged as a bonus track on the 2002 Sanctuary Records compilation 'Power Crazy - The Best Of Marshall Law'. The band again decided at this point to take extended leave and during this period Andy Pyke hooked up with former MARSHALL LAW and PARADISE LOST drummer Lee Morris, EXCALIBUR and HARDWARE guitarist Paul Solynskyj and ex-SLAMMER guitarist Milo Zavenic to tour Holland in a METALLICA tribute band DAMAGE INC. Some of Andy Pyke's earlier recordings also surfaced with the release of a vintage live DAMIEN album.Late in 2004, the band were yet again swamped with requests from fans to reform permanently and by April 2005 had recruited bassist Tom Dwyer, a scene veteran holding credentials with BARDICHE, HEAT, SCREAMING DEMON and IRON SKULL. Again utilising NOISEGATE's Chris Green on drums, the band played several UK shows supporting ZODIAC MINDWARP and SHY. By October the band had completed demos for a new album before taking a winter break, ready to enter the studio in early 2006. However, drummer Chris Green decided to leave the band early in 2006 and was promptly replaced with Pete Hunt, a veteran of DRAGONFORCE and GEARED 4. Prior to entering the studio though, the band suffered a major blow in February when guitarist Andy Southwell, a band mainstay since 1988, exited amicably to pursue other interests. Within days his replacement had been revealed as being SEVEN WITCHES guitarist Jack Frost, an American scene veteran having high profile experience with SAVATAGE, METALIUM, THE BRONX CASKET CO., SPEEED and FROSTBITE. However, conflicts between the schedules of both the band and Jack Frost could not be adequately balanced and he exited in June. His replacement, announced in mid-July, was Dave Rothan, previously of DIRTY MINDS, the GRAHAM BONNET band and 80s covers act ROCK$TAR. Pete Hunt also left the band in November 2006 to concentrate on other projects and the band are currently looking at potential replacements.With a very successful headlining UK tour recently completed and the band's rousing performance as mainstage openers at this year's BLOODSTOCK UK METALFEST, the band are going from strength to strength and are quickly re-establishing themselves as one of Europe's premier metal bands. The 'Powergame' album is about to be re-released worldwide via Majestic Records and a new album is scheduled for completion by the end of 2006 with a planned release early in 2007. The band will also be embarking on a larger tour in 2007 which will see them in Europe, the US and Japan.
Album:
Poor ol' Marshall Law. These guys are truly the classic example of a band in the wrong place at the wrong time. A few years after their fun, memorable self-titled debut, the group went through a short hiatus and slight line-up change. In 1992 they put out "Power Game", their 2nd full-length. But in the rising (and unwarranted) success of guys like Nirvana or Pantera, "Power Game", despite the album's half attempt at being more "relevant", was sadly destined to die at the starting gate. But how is "Power Game" in of itself? Let's just say the guys were probably kicking more than a few different ideas around during the writing process.The band this time around is, in all fairness, tighter and heavier, but ultimately the guys seem less energetic and more focused on something more...I dunno, serious? Andy Pyke almost totally changes up his vocal style; unlike his quasi Halford meets NWOBHM melodic howling of the debut, here he goes for some meaner and more attacking howling, though the melody in his voice is not totally lost. In addition, he tries some moments of honest to science singing (more on that later) and even some evil junkyard dog growls to start off "Dead Zone". The guitar duo of Dave Martin and Andy Southwell make for a fine team up still certainly, but their work overall is a bit more lackluster and less fiery than the debut. But again in all fairness they still spit out some nice riffs and solos if pressed hard enough. The drumming of new boy Lee Morris is pretty generic; thumping steady and workmanlike but nothing to write home about. Lastly, on the other hand, the bass on other new guy Roger Davis is a treat. His work is notably loud in the mix and shows of some fills, mini-solos and an attacking rhythm that would make Steve Harris do a double take. It's little wonder he was recruited for the next two albums after.It seems to me the guys in Marshall Law, at the time, wanted to stay relevant yet not throw out their heavy metal elements entirely. It's clear in the production, which sounds meatier and meaner than the thinner reverb-filled work on the debut. Not to mention to more mid-paced aesthetics of the songs this time around and groovier guitar lines; the added heaviness and slower tempos were probably a decision to satiate fanboys of Pantera, Rage Against The Machine or Machine Head; yet also the songs manage to sound superficially like true metal at the end of the day, comparable the works of Metal Church, 80's Hexx or even the heavier moments of Iron Maiden, albeit less technical. But THEN, in some songs it sounds like they wanted to potentially appeal to partakers of hard rock and rock ballads! Take the true full-blooded ballad on here, "No Justice". It sounds like a fucking Michael Bolton song with a guitar tone. Well, maybe that's too harsh but, despite the lyrics, this sucker has "sappy early 90's love ballad" written all over it. Or how about the chorus of opener "Chain of Youth", slowing down a fairly fast and riffy song for that Poison by way of Skid Row chorus. Other hard rocky moments abound in forgettable but passable numbers like the melody-tinged title track or the slightly harder "Psychodrama", which also totes out the vague groove elements.Well, is there anything on "Power Game" that sits better? Well like I said, aside from the chorus, "Chain of Youth" is pretty good. "Naked Aggression" is a pretty fearsome and memorable heavy-hitter with some searing vocals and one of the album's more memorable choruses, an aspect prevalent on the debut sorely missed on here. "Searching For Paradise" has balladic elements but is ultimately more pleasing in terms of heaviness and riffage than "No Justice" by a mile. Interestingly the record's best two songs were saved for last. First we have my favorite on here, the attacking "Dead Zone" with it's catchy blues scale NWOBHM riffage and some coolly harsh backing vocals. Second we have "Leviathan", which nicely mixes mood with a deadly half-thrash idea about it, making for of the album's heavier and more memorable cuts.Overall, "Power Game" is certainly an interesting album. The fun atmosphere, memorable choruses and scorching solos of the debut are ultimately pushed aside in order to sort of keep up with the times, yet also staying true the ol' heavy metal roots. The bandmates' work is passable (though the bass is a solid highlight), but really missing the energy of the first album. There are a few cuts on here I like to revisit now and again (namely "Naked Aggression", "Leviathan" and "Dead Zone"), but the entriety of the album as a whole I can't totally recommend.
Line Up:
Andy Pyke - Vocals (1987-1992, 1995-2010) - See also: ex-Damien, ex-Detroit, ex-Vicious Nature, ex-Viva, ex-Damage, Inc., ex-Hurt, ex-The Hood
Dave Martin - Guitars (1987-1992, 1995-2010) - See also: ex-ShadowLands
Andy Southwell - Guitars
Roger Davis - Bass
Lee Morris - Drums
Production:
Published By – Peers Southern
Published By – SGO Music Management
Recorded At – Dangerous Music Studio, Salop, UK
Artwork – David Galbraith
Engineer – Kaz Chandler, Robin George
Liner Notes [Lyrics Translation] – 中村美夏*
Producer – Robin George
Tracklist:
01. Chain of Youth 04:18
02. Another Generation 03:25
03. Searching for Paradise 04:49
04. Naked Aggression 04:30
05. No Justice 05:02
06. Power Game 04:35
07. Edge of the World 04:44
08. Psychodrama 04:15
09. Dead Zone 03:22
10. Leviathan 04:15
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