First official CD Release with 2 unreleased Bonustracks and 12 page Booklet with Lyrics!!
The contingent of the NWOBHM that was tied to the non-English/Celtic Fringe regions were something of a different beast. Whether the contrast arose from a variation in culture or the terrain of the respective region, it wasn't hard to spot the bands that weren't from England versus those that were. Among the small contingent hailing from Wales was a fairly short-lived and later to the game quintet in Rankelson that were definitely on a different vibe relative to what was going on at the time, let alone earlier in the 80s. Their specific take on the blend of older rock and nascent metal tendencies that defined the movement stood in contrast to the gritty and dark character of the likes of Holocaust, as well as the porto-thrashing innovations of Sweet Savage, but relative to the keyboard-drenched AOR sound of the mid-80s spearheaded by Saxon and a few others, what Rankelson brought to the table when their debut LP first hit shelves in 1986 was a fair bit closer to the former two, with some obvious caveats.
Though sporting a getup that would get them lumped in with the likes of Motley Crue circa
Shout At The Devil and their darker and edgier rivals W.A.S.P., this outfit and their first studio excursion
Hungry For Blood is not American in demeanor, let alone that of the sleaze-driven stylings of the Sunset Strip. At first glance, the generally cleaner cut below of lead vocalist Colin Sergeant (R.I.P.) and the employment of a full time keyboardist in Tim Ranson would seem to put this along the lines of what Hammer (formerly Holland) put forth a year earlier, but when accounting for the rawer and nastier guitar tone that Steve Wilson sports and the punchy rhythm section bolstering his crunchy riffs, this mid-80s sort of airy quality is tempered with more of a 1982 sense of grit. It's an odd combination to be sure, especially for Ebony Records, but barring a somewhat uneven mix that favors the keys and guitars and results in a distant sounding bass and drums it works quite well.
The songwriting situation is a bit mixed in terms of style, though the quality factor is generally consistent and sees a band taking an arrangement that one normally associates with the likes of Alcatrazz and Rainbow and presents it in more of a working class fashion. The weaker end of things is occupied by a pair of standard rock anthems in "Can't Stop Rocking" and "Sex Slave" that tread a bit closer to the LA sound, but are reasonably solid and see Wilson throwing together some decent guitar moments. The picture gets considerably brighter when things go closer to a melodic, Iron Maiden-like vibe as on the ultra-catchy opener "Break The Chains" (which is preceded by a dense synthesizer prelude that could have been lifted off the OST of Scarface) and the driving cruiser "Abuser", which is chock full of shredding solos and infectious hooks. Though Ranson's keyboard parts are arguably the most consequential part of the instrumentation, Wilson's six-string surgical strikes often steal the show, and the speed-infused explosion of flash and flair that is "Hot Tonite" underscores his ability to rival the Vivian Campbells and the Brian Tatlers of the world.
Albeit a tad syrupy at times due to the incessant input of the keyboards, which only really relents from saturating the arrangement when Ranson opts for a rock organ timbre on the aforementioned "Hot Tonite" banger, by 1986 standards this is a solid entry in a time when the NWOBHM was getting light enough to be frequently mistaken for the likes of Starship and Journey. It may hold a fair amount of appeal for old guard power metal enthusiasts who go for the archaic sounds of Jack Starr's Burning Star and Stormwitch, largely due to the interesting friction that is accomplished by the dueling sense of smoothness and jagged-edged metallic fervor that it possesses. It's hampered a bit by a production that is more in line with a 1982 release rather than one in 1986, but this is a fun listen from start to finish. Audiences might have been perplexed by the contrast between the band's look and sound, but those hearing this for the first time aren't likely to suffer under such an unusual disposition, if only for all of the bizarre fashion choices bands would make in the subsequent 37 years.
Sample:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCgqd59Jn9I&t=333s
