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Visit product page →. Special Deluxe Collector's Edition
. Fully remastered sound shaped from 24 BIT digital technology
. Produced by Tony Platt (AC/DC) / Contains 'Long Stick Goes Boom', 'Bad Boys Rag Dolls' and 'American Woman'
. 16 page full colour booklet ' 3,500 word essay, enhanced artwork, rare photos and band involvement.
There comes a tipping point in every artist's career where years of hard work and paying dues suddenly turn into an avalanche of praise and success. Krokus reached this point with the release of 'One Vice At A Time, a supremely crafted album, boasting a clutch of tracks that elevated their appeal far beyond anything previously conceived or, indeed, achieved.
Co-produced in London by former AC/DC engineer Tony Platt and issued in 1982, the band made a concerted effort to refine their sound and ambition by bringing their trade mark style fully into focus. Sure, certain accusations that that their riff hungry approach was uncomfortably similar to that of AC/DC had been banded about but their distinctively European charm and quirky lyrical approach helped to ameliorate such criticism.
Jam packed with a number of raucous tracks such as 'Bad Boys Rag Dolls', 'To The Top', 'American Woman' (a cover of the Guess Who classic) and perhaps their best known song 'Long Stick Goes Boom', there is room enough for the band to drill down deep yet retain a sense of composure befitting a band safe in the knowledge that they were about to reap the rewards of years of hard work. Look out for an appearance by Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who provides backing vocals on the track 'I'm On The Run'
1. Long Stick Goes Boom2. Bad Boys Rag Dolls3. Playin' The Outlaw4. To The Top; Down The Drain5. American Woman6. I'm On The Run7. Save Me8. Rock 'N' Roll -
Visit product page →. Special Deluxe Collector's Edition
. Fully remastered sound shaped from 24 BIT digital technology
. Contains 'Easy Rocker', 'Smelly Nelly' and 'Mr 69'
. 16 page full colour booklet ' 3,500 word essay, enhanced artwork, rare photos and band involvement.
It's fair to say that the Swiss music scene hadn't exactly set the world on fire but with Krokus that situation was rapidly reversed. The band's fourth album 'Metal Rendez-vous' became a surprise success, not only in their home country (sales rocketing to three times Platinum) but also globally where they secured a strong foothold in the charts and on the live front. The band's no-nonsense brand of tough-guy hard rock found favour in a market that was wide open for that revolution.
'Hardware', therefore, was released into the arms of an eager fan base feeding off the energy of their previous album and it didn't disappoint them. Issued in 1981, the record picks up where the band left off, laying down some serious riffage on songs that display a cheeky lyrical charm; an unexpected side-effect of their Swiss/Maltese heritage. Engineered by British studio master Mark Dearnley (AC/DC, Def Leppard) and recorded in London, the album makes full use of their powerful armoury, led by the ripping two guitar attack of Fernando von Arb and Tommy Keefer.Heavy but memorable, the album contains a superb selection of tracks, including the in-concert favourites 'Easy Rocker', 'Mr 69', 'Smelly Nelly' and 'Mad Racket', songs blessed with a swish and swagger that made it clear the Scorpions weren't the only band in Europe with big potential.
1. Celebration2. Easy Rocker3. Smelly Nelly4. Mr. 695. She's Got Everything6. Burning Bones7. Rock City8. Winning Man9. Mad Racket -
Visit product page →. Special Deluxe Collector's Edition
. Fully remastered sound shaped from 24 BIT digital technology
. Contains 'Heatstrokes', 'Bedside Radio' and 'Tokyo Nights'
. 16 page full colour booklet ' 3,500 word essay, enhanced artwork, rare photos and band involvement.
You can count the amount of internationally successful European hard rock bands on one hand; Swiss based Krokus are one of only a few acts that can be included on that list. With roots reaching back to 1975, the band spent several years experimenting with various line-up changes and recording three albums, before settling on a unique style that came fully into focus with the appointment of Maltese born frontman Marc Storace, formerly of Swiss heavy progressive rockers Tea.
It was this formation that signed to German record label Ariola and cut 'Metal Rendez-vous', an invigorating example of explosive four-to-the floor hard rock, big on hooks and jam-packed with hell raising riffs. Chief amongst their selling points was Storace's signature voice and his ability to punch home some incredibly well constructed songs. In addition, guitarists Tommy Kiefer and Fernando von Arb were no slouches either, peeling out a series of ripping solos and laying down tough as nails musical support in a manner befitting the times.
Originally issued in 1980 and co-produced with the band in Switzerland by English producer Martin Pearson, the album contains a number of classic Krokus tracks including 'Heatstrokes', 'Bedside Radio', 'Streamer' and 'Tokyo Nights', some of which still remain in the band's live set to this very day.
1. Heatstrokes2. Bedside Radio3. Come On4. Streamer5. Shy Kid6. Tokyo Nights7. Lady Double Dealer8. Fire9. No Way10. Back-Seat Rock 'N' Roll
