Fist have a single 'Name Rank And Serial Number' b/w 'You'll Never Get Me Up' released by Neat Records this weekend.
(Sounds, 12/04/80)
Fist
Name Rank And Serial Number
Neat Records
Baron Barton de Fex-Janniere booted the Chameleons' platter around the office in a pathetic attempt to get this into the SOTW hot seat, but only a little mud on the tracks prevented it from co-starring anyway. Production niggles aside Fist almost live up to their name with a piledriving intro, a redhot verse that's steamier than a Soho sauna, and a nifty instant chorus more catchy than a scholl of salmon, the whole lot embellished with big fleshy lead breaks and coming close to the awesome might of the Sylvester Stallone-led truckers/Cosa Nostra alliance that bulldozered through bosses and blacklegs like in F*I*S*T the movie. Fist, the band, are apparently the first vinylised representatives of the NWOBHM(NED) and mere mention of their name brings floods of blood gushing from the Deaf One's ears.
(Garry Bushell, Sounds, 26/04/80) |
Fist, who've just released their first single called 'Name Rank And Serial Number' on Neat Records, play their debut London gigs at;
Covent Garden Rock Garden May 2
East Ham Ruskin Arms 3
Croydon Crawdaddy 4
Brentwood Hermit Club 5
Fulham Golden Lion 6
(Sounds, 26/04/80)
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Fist/White Spirit/Raven
Newcastle
Now here's a thing. A short time after my NENWOBHM (North-East New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) article sees print three of the bands featured therein appear on the same bill, in a venue that none of them would have a hope in whatsits of filling previously. Quite a coincidence that.
If ever a combo played like they 'meant it' Raven are that band. The standing two-thirds, Mark and John Gallagher, throw themselves so totally into the performance I almost suspect immediately they strap on their axes their psyches are taken over by a colony of devils the better part of the way through an epileptic fit.
There's no edge, no finesse, no guile to what they do. Purely and simply, Raven are all passion.
John's Nooky Broon bottle shattering voice, Mark's hydraulic guitar mauling and their limitless energy are the meat here, making the songs virtually incidental. It's the fire that counts.
Behind me, a couple of White Spirits disagree and reckon that Raven are rather forced. Which, as it turns out, is a bit of the kettle calling the pot black job.
Spirit are a lot more calculated than Raven and a good deal less convincing. Their act is so obviously staged and pose-wise brings to mind Uriah Heep, who I wouldn't have thought would be the most fashionable HM hams to emulate in this day and age.
Vocalist Bruce Ruff can holler well enough but as a presence be doesn't quite make it. It's hard to imagine the short stocky, almost retiring Ruff stirring up a crowd like a Gillan or a Coverdale.
This doesn't stop Spirit from sounding Purply, of course, especially on 'Cheetah', which even to a Philistine like me is so obviously 'Fireball' part two. Otherwise, the numbers are too long and disjointed and SO BLOODY LOUD that everything is painfully distorted.
On the plus side they did go down very well and I was rather impressed with keyboard player Malcolm Pearson. He's easily the best thing about the band, reminding me of Don Airey as he holds everything together. He'll go far but I'll be surprised if it's with White Spirit.
Fist are less reliant on stock heaviness than either Spirit or Raven, don't move around as much, don't try too hard. It's only been a month since I've seen them and in that short space of time they've become tougher, harder, more metallic. Almost as if they've accepted their role as a heavy band even though they aren't really. Still no punching the air or rabble rousing from these lads, though. Their maturity shines through like a laser in a coalshed.
The songs are melodically and lyrically so well constructed that Keith Thatchfield and Dave Irwin have clearly sat down and worked them out rather than just jammed a set together. Consequently, there's more substance to Fist than virtually any other hard rock band at their stage of development I've seen.
They're going to be big. Although if Hiroshima Hill gets any bigger he'll need a reinforced drum stool.
(Ian Ravendale, Sounds, 05/07/80)
Fist will be supporting UFO on their British tour, dates for which were announced last week. The group will e releasing their debut album called 'Turn The Hell On' on MCA at the beginning of October and have a single 'Forever Amber' out next weekend.
(Sounds, 13/09/80)
Fist: "Forever amber" (MCA)
The age old riff brought off the Deep Purple and Cream shelves and dusted off again. The same hoarse vocals and cymbal smashing drumming. Does this have to be the recipe for every HM number? This time the cake has come out plainer than most. (Adele-Marie Cherreson, Sounds 20/09/80) |
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