Grim Reaper - Fear No Evil (1985)

For the second year in a row I hosted a new year's gathering, dubbed, 'Joe's Non-Stop to Midnight Metal Massacre,' which basically means a night of copious alcohol consumption, food, video games and random stupidity, chatter and falling over while blasting heavy metal music with my friends. Although larger in size and fun, this year's playlist fell short because I took the 'massacre' part of my title and added too much not so party-ish music to the playlist. Therefore, 363 days until the next party I've already decided to start assembling a playlist that will not disappoint anyone. Grim Reaper will definitely be included! And yes, I am slightly buzzed as I write this. I will continue to drink as we go along here too... :P

Anyway, formed in 1979 in Droitwich, England, by guitarist Nick Bowcott, Grim Reaper is another one of those bands I've known for ages, but never bothered to check out until a few months ago when I quite randomly came across this used LP for $6 and figured I'd give it a go. Musically this is fairly straightforward 80's NWOBHM style with the powerful yet still high pitched lead vocals of Steve Grimmett, the mighty head bobbing riffs and impressive solo work of guitarist Mr. Bowcott and enough fist pumping, silly sing-a-long lyrics and catchiness to keep any partygoer, going!

'Rock & Roll Tonight' is an insanely fun memorable song, which puts a smile on my face with each listen and it just seems to invite a drunken karaoke session even if you don't even know the song that well or at all, while, 'Let the Thunder Roar' invokes similar feelings. 'Matter of Time' is classic 80's metal in my eyes, just killer, while I believe the title track, 'Fear No Evil' was the subject of ridicule from Beavis & Butthead back in the day. Also the talking sequence before, 'Final Scream' is just weird and creepy, but... Fun, fun, fucking fun either way!

It's a shame this band never really took off, but then again I can see exactly why they didn't either. With a lot of similarities to the mid-80's material from Dio, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metal Church and Black Sabbath I guess it just didn't hit home the same with the bigger names at the time. Nevertheless I maintain the fact that, 'Fear No Evil' is fantastic and I refuse to think differently.

Collectively Grim Reaper released three albums in the 80's, but broke up in '88 after legal troubles with their old label, Ebony, as well a lack of interest in the NWOBHM style in the late 80's. Nick as well as bassist, Dave Wanklin and drummer, Mark Simon called it a career after the final Grim Reaper album, unfortunately, although Steve went onto to play with UK thrashers, Onslaught and nowadays fronts a touring version of Grim Reaper with an entirely different line-up from the 80's.

Now I begin my hunt for the other two Grim Reaper records, because metal this amusing must be heard!

Oh, and as a side note. If you're ever assembling a playlist for your own metal shindig, lay off the primitive black & death metal as your guests might not approve of it all. Go with the reaper instead!