what Frank is listening to #54- VARDIS – 100 M.P.H. – (7 Records") – 1980
I had never heard of Vardis before I picked this up but, given the cover art, it was definitely going to be hard rock. It's just a question of what kind?
Vardis are from Wakefield, Yorkshire, in England's north … if you knew that and you were a betting man you would be safe to say they weren't going to be playing quirky art pop.
Yup, they are an English heavy metal trio. Specifically from the "New Wave English Heavy Metal" movement that came out in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the UK and was spearheaded by Iron Maiden, Saxon, Motorhead etc. Known as NWOBHM, apparently. I'm not sure how you pronunce that.
New Metal was less blues based than the 1970s UK hard rock acts (Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Status Quo, Uriah Heap etc) and it also broke away from some of the indulgences of the 70s UK hard rock scene … ie: extended solos to nowhere, obsessions with pixies and piccolos, Stonehenge, and "Lord of the Rings". A lot of (well, some of) New Metal could have passed for punk if it wasn't for the usual metal chord progressions and slavish obedience to a (bad) dress code.
Metal of course had been around in the UK for some time and despite all the hype around "Britpop" and media interest (at the time) in "dance music" metal was always (and still is) popular with the kids in the sticks, especially as live music. And despite punk's credentials, the blue collar ethos of UK metal is just as valid, if not more so. I don't think there were any diplomat's sons in any metal bands, for instance. That doesn't make the music more palatable (to me) but it is interesting by way of sociological comment. Given all the above, it is also not surprising, then, that Vardis are from the industrial working class north.
The cover proudly proclaims "Guaranteed No Overdubs".
That is not a lie.
These are all live recordings from July 1980 at Slough College and London Electric ballroom. There is minimal production.
Now look, I admit, this type of hard rock I am not into by and large. The surprising thing about Vardis is they are largely "not dumb" like a lot of other metal bands. The songs are played with gusto and are mainly shortish (a la punk) and, more surprisingly, it does not fall into the same traps and black holes of repetition like a lot of other metal of the time (for that alone I am thankful).The lead singer vocalist Steve Zodiac is the bands driving force. His guitar and vocal delivery certainly do reference punk and the lyrics seem to be a touch above the normal subjects. Over the course of the LP there are punk, rock 'n' roll, blues boogie, glam, and Detroit moments – all subsumed within the metal but undeniably there. It was only a hop, skip, and a jump to the speed metal which came out a few years later and to bands like Metallica and Megadeath. It's a lot more honest than say, The Darkness (who aren't particularly funny either if that's what they are trying to be) and it's a lot more proficient then the poodle bands that came out of the US slightly thereafter. And, at the end of the day, it's fun to bang your head – isn't it?
Apparently Zodiac and the band have been name checked by Metallica if that means anything to anyone.
The best tracks:
- Situation Negative – as close to punk as metal can get.
- Destiny – a Status Quo type rocker – Vardis where originally called "Quo Vardis".
- The Loser – a frenzied workout with guitar pyrotechnics.
- Living out of Touch – classic rock 'n' roll styling …. the best track on the album for me and a potential cover for a young whippersnapper.
- 100MPH – exactly what is says.
- Dirty Money – a fast metal blues boogie.
- If I were King – a metal track in the style of Iron Maiden.
I'll keep a couple of tracks and sell this.
Sounds:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdXPa6QVHU0
Studio not LP:
Bio:
(originally posted: 28/06/2009)
