Sanctuary/Castle MusicFirst ever CD compilation for this Venom-related NWOBHM band. 25 tracks, on two CDs, including a 1983 demo version of 'Death Valley' & four bonus tracks, 'Dance Of The Immortals', 'Annihilate The Bride', 'No Escape', & 'Atomized'. Castle Music. 2004.
Though they ultimately achieved far less notoriety (both good and bad) than cross-town rivals Venom, Newcastle's Atomkraft were actually formed even earlier than the fearsome black metal pioneers -- way back in 1979, as a matter of fact. Part of the first surge of New Wave of British Heavy Metal bands to arise from the northeast of England, they underwent numerous lineup changes before settling on Tony Dolan (bass/vocals), Rob Matthews (guitar), and former Tyson Dog drummer Ged Wolfe. After working on several demos, this trio eventually signed to Neat Records (who else?) and cut their debut, Future Warriors, in 1985. A fine example of the era's crazed, British-bred speed metal, it fared quite well within the metal underground, subsequently earning them the opening slot for Slayer's first U.K. show at London's Marquee Club. 1986's Queen of Death EP saw Dolan momentarily ousted to make way for Ian Swift (vocals) and D.C. Rage (bass) -- but he soon resumed his four-string duties when the latter departed before the next year's Conductors of Noise LP. Unfortunately, the mini-album only proved that Atomkraft were running out of ideas and, sure enough, they split shortly thereafter. Ironically (and perhaps inevitably), Dolan would become a member of a re-formed Venom in 1989, later finding work as an actor and even briefly reuniting Atomkraft in the early 2000s. ~
Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide.
www.metal-archives.comTRACKS:1. Total Metal
2. Pour the Metal In
3. Foliage
4. Teutonic Pain
5. Funeral Pyre
6. Rich Bitch
7. Starchild
8. Warzone
9. Vision of Belshazzar
10. Burn in Hell
11. Requiem
12. Protector
13. Dead Man's Hand
14. Medley: This Planets Burning/Death Valley
15. Future Warriors
16. Queen of Death
17. Cage
18. Demolition
19. Heat and Pain
20. Mode 3
21. Your Mentor
22. Trial by Deception
23. Demolition Boyz
24. Visions of Belshazzar [Live]
25. Foliage [Live]
26. Annihilate the Bride
27. Dance of the Immortals
28. Total Metal [Demo Version]
29. Death Valley [Demo Version]
MP3@256 Kbps + HQ Covers, [MU]:- PART 1- PART 2- PART 3
