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Featuring both ex-WARRANT fighters Thomas Klein and Lothar Wieners, the band MONROXE acted slightly softer than their previous act. With ex-EISEN singer Ingeborg "Inge” Mackenthun (vocals) and Dagmar Dürbaum on guitar they even had 2 girls in their rows and what's closer to think that since both bands, MONROXE and the other female fronted troop WARLOCK, both hailed from Düsseldorf, might either sound the same? They actually did, MONROXE adopted the classic mid 80's WARLOCK sound and Inge Mackenthun's vocals sounded so close to Doro's that sometimes you won't be 100 % aware that it's indeed not Doro Pesch singing. MONROXE started out sometime in the mid 80’s originally as MONROE, right after the classic WARRANT line-up fell apart when both vinyls had been released in 1985, but didn't held high the flag much longer after the 12" was available, as Inge Mackenthun around 1988/89 was already found in the Biker Hardrock band MOON ROSE, where she's to hear on that band's EP as well, though MOON ROSE wasn't as heavy as MONROXE at all. After one more 4 track Demo released in 1988 MONROXE was history. Ralf Bernhardt formed the Thrash combo APOSTASY together with DEATHROW’s Thomas Priebe respectively.

Band-info:

An Elmshorn Thrash brigade, that started as fourpiece in the summer of 1985 by former Fallen Jesus-guitarist Jan Fuhrmann, inspired by Slayer and co. In June '86 the Battery lads recorded a 6 track Demo with raw but standard Thrash tunes featured, whereof 2 trax was used for the Hamburg underground scene compilation "Total Massacre Vol. II". Even for the second tape recorded at the end of January and April right in the next year, these guys wouldn't drop their very Slayer worshipping style at all, even though Sven Peters had already left the band after the first Demo, when guitarist Jan Fuhrmann took over vocal duties by then. Either a third Demo was considered and already recorded in late 1988, but the band slowly started to decay after these recordings and eventually was history in early '89, meaning the 3rd planned Demo would remain unreleased. Battery's sound on this final recording had turned by far more technical and melodic, showing similarities to other german bands like probably Despair. During their active years Battery had shared the stage with lotsa Hamburg Thrash acts like f.e. Erosion, Kilgore or the infamous Torment. Jan Fuhrmann subsequently continued with several Jazz bands like the Free Session Project, Trigonometrica and either had the Cover Kings going from 1988-92, a Metal style cover band for diverse Rock songs. He and Matthias Schühmann also teamed up for several other projects in the future like Turkey Stimulator.
You can download all of Battery’s Demos here (scroll down).

(Thanx to Jan Fuhrmann for band info)

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Elmshorn mid-80's unknowns which included future Battery-guitarist and formative member Jan Fuhrmann. If you have more info, please get in contact.

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Braunschweig unknowns formed by Thorsten Hermes and Thorsten Stephan in the end of 1983, later solidifying the line-up with Jan Behrens and Matthias Mäusler on bass and drums respectively. A live recording was made at the Braunschweig Newcomers-festival in June 1985, from which 10 songs + 4 studio recordings were combined into the one hour long (!) "Demon's Attack" demo. It has been described as slow-to-medium-fast HM just as imaginative as their band name. "The same riff in all 14 songs!" was the most memorable quote from the one review we've found. Last rumours we've come across were them working on a 2nd 4-song studio demo in 1986, as well as replacing Jan with one Hinrich on bass, but we have no confirmation that this recording ever came to conclusion. If you have more info, please get in contact.

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A project that both ex-HOLY MOSES members Rainer Laws and Ulrich “Uli" Kusch (ex-VIOLENT KIDS/MEKONG DELTA/JOKER) had in mind for a longer time and eventually launched early 1990 after leaving HOLY MOSES. We got no clue of the musical direction of this band. Further info is welcome.

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A shortlived Hard Rock band from Düsseldorf, initiated in 1988 by ex-WARLOCK guitarist Rudi Graf after he finished his short intermezzo in RAGE. He started composing own songs and gathered some musicians of the local scene there including in the beginning drummer Jan Yldiral (ex-STEELER/DARXON/AVENGER) and former VIOLENT KIDS/HOLY MOSES drummer Ulrich “Uli" Kusch (MEKONG DELTA), who though already left after the first Demo and got replaced by Rainer Schmitz. The recent MONROXE and later HOLY MOSES bassist Thomas Bremke (aka Tommy Finke) joined the band late '88, who recorded their first Demo early 1989 still with Beate Degen and Xaver Drexler (ex-CAPITAL ROSE/FORCED ENTRY/STS 8 MISSION) sharing vocal parts. The ex-MIDNIGHT DARKNESS/BORNCHILD shouter Jörg Reuter took their part on the second Demo from late '89, but soon the band folded due to line-up problems late 1990. Rainer Schmitz later joined first LIVING DEATH and afterwards STS 8 MISSION. We found info, that at least the second Demo was not for sale at all and featured 8 Heavy Rock trax in typical american manner. Beate Degen there just sung the track "Fool for your love". More info is badly required.
(Picture by Jörg Schnebele)

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Locals from Aachen, that originally formed in the mid 80's as WITCHCRAFT. In 1987 Detlef Müller, the former drummer of Heavy Rockers LIFE (who released a selfproduced EP back in 1983) joined the line-up and the name subsequently was changed to AXE LA CHAPELLE. Their first ALC "Demo '88" was recorded rather quickly then. A second one was released right the next year, both featuring quite melodic, but nevertheless solid mid league Hard Rock/Metal stuff. Around 1990 the ex-HELICON guitarist Volker Marx was added and in the first part of 1992 the new drummer Ulrich “Uli" Kusch (ex-VIOLENT KIDS/HOLY MOSES/MEKONG DELTA/JOKER/MUMBLE-BÄH/GAMMA RAY) helped the guys as well. With the new line up: Harry Krieger (vocals), Ulrich “Uli” Wollgarten (guitar), Volker Marx (guitar), Axel Schillings (bass) and Uli Kusch (drums) the band produced a 3rd Demo in July '92 in the Down Town Studio in Aachen, musically offering the same midpaced Melodic Hard Rock/Metal stuff like before, much influenced by the traditional US American 80’s style, but serious tendencies of the new, heavier acting future AXE LA CHAPELLE was clearly audible on those 4 songs here. After that Demo later in 1992, bassist Uwe Wessel (ex-GALAXY/BULLFROG/STEAMER/NOBLESSE/GAMMA RAY) replaced long time member Axel Schillings, while the guys started working on their much heavier Power Metal album "Grab what you can", released 1994 on the label C&C, but the band split up eventually in 1995.

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Hell was a mysterious Black Metal band that nobody knows much about, though the Demo was heavily spread in tapetrading circles. We found an advertisement in an old Metal Hammer and the band was hailing from Lörrach, at least that's what the address said. Musically these guys offered quite well played raw solid Thrash (like early DESTRUCTION and BATHORY) and the rumours that DESTRUCTION members should be involved here are indeed true, since at least vocals had been done by Schmier himself. Unfortunately the sound of the Demo is of rehearsal room quality so you shouldn't expect too much. If you got more info, please get in touch.

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Braunschweig locals featuring Uwe Golz of the WHITELINES on guitar, who appeared with the songs “Got me believing” and “Rock’n’Roll” on a local compilation album entitled "Pick Up!" in 1986. TOUCH’s sound was noticeably on the Hard Rock side with their typical poppy singalong refrain type of stuff. Alone the B side number “Rock’n’Roll” came up with a riff that’s clearly inspired by BILLY IDOL’s “Dancing with myself”, what ever that means…

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Braunschweig Rock band with an unusual sound who appeared with the tracks “Up to you” and Through the night” on a local compilation, produced at the Whitelines Studio, the band’s own recording studio, that would later get known for producing some albums of wellknown bands of the area. However, imagine CC CATCH on an AOR/Hard Rock trip to imagine WHITELINES’ own sound. Dunno, but those keyboards simply remind of Dieter Bohlen’s stuff in the 80’s! Without the keyboards the bands sound would though be just typical AOR with Hard Rock edge, but also the vocals appear rather weak, like sung by any british New Wave star or something. Guitarist Uwe Golz was also member of hardrockers TOUCH, that also appeared on the same sampler.

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Local, female fronted Lengede/Braunschweig melodic AOR band, that was featured with the songs “I will come to you” and “You’re too young” on the Braunschweig Rock scene compilation "Pick Up!" in 1986. Both songs got a rather keyboard driven edge but Melodic Rock fans will like both no matter what. In late 1987 the band also released a 7” independently, featuring the title track “Nothing is forbidden”, recorded in early ’87 and a live track from September of that year, both in the same style like the previously produced compilation material.

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We guess this unknown Hard Rock outfit was originating most probably from southern Germany. Unfortunately nothing on their LP would seduce anyone into heavier sounds to check them out, as the whole layout rather reminds of Pop/Rock music and so does the bands odd name PARK. Furthermore German sung Rock could easier slip into a Schlager feel than it might attract Hard Rock ears at all. The selftitled album was produced in the Spygel Studios during September ’84 and Peter Garattoni & team did a quite well job, equipping PARK's creations with the needed power sound! The album of the band fell directly into the post NDW peak, so combined with the German titles and the meaningless cover, none of those who might have enjoyed the album in the first, didn't even had been tempted to risk an ear here. But nevermind, despite the guys combined Mainstream Rock with powerful modern 80’s AOR and Hard Rock sounds, the one and another Metal riff is randomly popping up as well. Especially “Fahrstuhlflieger” and "Übrig" should be mentioned here in the first. As for the band itself there's not much known. Just drummer Huschu Haustein was prior to PARK playing in the experimental Punk band PU.MA and recorded an LP with them in 1982.

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Basically the album of LIMERICK from Pirmasens, south of Kaiserslautern, most of the readers might have already seen, as it can be found problemlessly anywhere, though some of you might even don't know that it contains pretty heavier Rock. The 7" of the early 1980 founded group on the other hand is much more difficult to put into paper bags nowadays. After well visited live gigs already in the early phase of the band and even appearing at TV shows, Leico Records produced their debut 7" in October 1980. Both of the trax do feature classic Hard Rock with Kraut Rock edge, while "Hard work" is the song, that makes the single interesting. After a line up change, Roland Lehner (guitar) replaced Michael Prokopeck and keyboarder Joachim Weber joined, the sextet recorded their debut album "on Tour" November '82 in Munich. From the old Kraut Rock there wasn't any influences left anymore, instead Limerick followed their Hard Rock inputs and delivered for 1983 quite modern sounding, german sung Heavy Rock with some NWOBHM leads, plus a dose of melody, that reaches it's peak with the powerful Metal rocker "Gabi". After the album their traces got lost, but out of nowhere the trio Bernd Heß (now as Bernd Hess), Gunnar Henges and Jakel Bossert returned in 1990 on a single of the melodic Hard Rock act ROCKMEN, that in a way seemed to be the follow up pendant to LIMERICK.

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Hard Rock unknowns from northern Germany, hailing from the Kiel/Flensburg area, who had produced a selftitled private 12” EP around 1990, or probably a bit earlier/later, that doesn't contains any band info at all sadly. Musically there's solid basement midtempo Hard Rock of the typical DIY charm to announce, with in places slightly bluesy hints. The most remarkable track surely's the catchy "Light at the top", but honestly, don't expect too much from these lads. The sound’s alright, especially the nasty guitar tone is giving the band a quite heavy touch, but overall they’ve been caught too much in the lower Hard Rock mid league. Obscure...

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Not to be confused with the same named Mannheim act, these Pirmasens Hardrockers, originating from even deeper southern Germany far south of Kaiserslautern, must have been founded around 1990 /91. Featuring ex-LIMERICK bassist Gunnar Henges, who in 1990 still released a single with the ROCKMEN, SCARLET ROSE on their selftitled MCD from 1992 acted slightly similar than the ROCKMEN, possibly even a bit heavier, as the keyboard didn’t take in such a dominant part. While other bands are slipping into trouble finding just one female singer, SCARLET ROSE came up with even two of them! Musically the material featured a rather US american influenced pounding melodic Hard Rock/Metal sound comparable to BONFIRE or SAHARA f.e. The band after the CD shortened the name to just SCARLET and released another CD entitled “Wait” right in 1993, delivering exactly the same sound and style, highly recommended for fans of melodic Hard Rock with US Metal edge. Last release of SCARLET would happen in 1997 with the “The rose” Maxi CD, that of course contained much more poppier sounding modern Hard Rock sounds.

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Interesting Hard Rock act from Pirmasens, south of Kaiserslautern in southern Germany, that seems to be kinda the missing link to the abruptly disappeared band LIMERICK, since Bernd Hess (earlier as Bernd Heß), Gunnar Henges and Jackel Bossert previously had been members of exactly these LIMERICK, who formed back in 1980. We can’t explicitly say if ROCKMEN are simply the continuation of LIMERICK or if the trio just formed a new band, but the history of both bands seems to be connected with each other. Armed with keyboarder Achim Dietze and the excellent female singer Christina Lutz, the guys were able to release the single “Don’t turn away” on the Musicolor label, that wasn’t exactly known for putting out this kind of music at all. Nevermind, the single just featured one song, in 2 versions (B-side as instrumental), while “Don’t turn away” delivers melodic Hard Rock above common standards, which due to the keyboard shows slightly AOR approaches, but fans of the genre will be falling in love with it immediately. ROCKMEN on the other hand couldn’t reap the benefits of the single at all and seemed to part ways afterwards. Gunnar Henges reappeared shortly later with the similar sounding SCARLET ROSE.

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Another obscure act hailing from Emden in the upper north of Germany (Ostfriesland), that seems less known nowadays. AMUTHON despite the obscurity of their existence, had been quite fabulous musicians, executing proggy Kraut/Hard Rock in it’s most pure form on their selfproduced album from 1982. The band could have been active since already the late 70’s as it seems, having a steady fanbase at their local gigs, that kept asking for a record. While the AMUTHON members themselves liked the idea and had exactly the same since already mid 1981, they tried to record one of their live shows im Neuen Theater in Emden for that sake, not knowing that the recording machine would stop working from some point during the show. Not giving up the desire for an own record at all, the guys changed plan within a second and with help of Werner Protzner installed the required recording technology in their rehearsal room, where they recorded the album live in March 1982. The result turned out impressive for that method, featuring authentic sounding and skillwise perfectly executed 70’s influenced Art/Prog/Hard Rock songs that here and there even remind slightly of the mighty LED ZEPPELIN. The vinyl was released on their own label Scic Records and nowadays marks a little rarity in collector circles, though their further activities can’t be unveiled anymore.

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We don’t wanna extend this entry of the WILLIE DUNCAN BAND, that operated somewhere in the bavarian area, most probably hailing from Landau/Regensburg. This band marks only a side note, whenalso their first single “Sommerferien” recorded with the line up: China Pit (vocals), Willie Duncan (guitar), Mike Freund (guitar, keyboard), Rudi Hettwer (bass) and Tom Rein (drums) features German sung Hard Rock with a few NWOBHM leads. The better known album from 1985 entitled “Sightseeing tour”, when Willie Duncan (guitar, vocals) had already restructured his combo completely with Otto Meyer (guitar), Kurt Krieger (bass) and Frank Setzer (drums), then acted between all chairs seen by style. From Classic Rock to Hard Rock, hints of R’n’R, everything’s audible on that album, so better be very very careful.

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A local Metal band from Greven, north of Münster. The guys could place the track "Stranger" on their city's underground compilation "Rockszene Rheine". The interesting aspect of this troop was that the later MAD MAX shouter Michael Voss used to be a member of HYDRA and their song "Stranger" even re-appeared in a revised version on MAD MAX's "Rollin' thunder" album. A nice surprise for the early year 1983, "Stranger" offers a quite modern sound and style, rather already sounding more typical for the classic mid 80’s German Metal comparable to bands like the late MAD MAX, TALON, NO TROUBLE or RAILWAY.

(Thanx to lunaboy for the info and recommendation)

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The band BULLET from Bochum formed originally as TEASER 1978, but changed name to BULLET around 1980. With their heavily AC/DC and ACCEPT influenced Hard Rock/Metal combination they hadn't much trouble to score a record deal and got signed by the Polydor. Their debut "Execution" was pressed in several editions, though to be honest the album didn't offer any earthshaking songs at all. The vocals of Klaus Thiel sounded like a mix of Udo Dirkschneider and Brian Johnson either, so confirming BULLET any originality is just an overkill. The sales nevertheless seemed to have been quite neat, so another album was produced at Dieter Dierks studios in 1983, introducing new members Jürgen Graf (guitar) and Fitty Wienhold (bass). This time the guys left out all the annoying AC/DC hints and delivered a very solid rocking Hard Rock influenced Heavy Metal album with again ups and downs, but explicitely heavier and especially up to date to the sign of the times than the lame debut. Thiel quit 1984 and shortly ex-FAITHFUL BREATH guitarist Andy Hönig joined the BULLET crew before he founded his own band ABH (later SPITFIRE). Joe Schmeink took the microphone during BULLET's last stage and Martin Werner (drums) came in to replace Mike Lichtenberg. 1986 the end of BULLET had eventuattly come and both Jürgen Graf plus Martin Werner 1987 subsequently formed the terrible band SIGN.

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Local Mönchengladbach Heavy Rock outfit that contributed a live version of their song "Rebel in paradise" to the underground CD compilation "Durchbruch - Musikszene Mönchengladbach" back in 1992. Usually quite late for that kind of sound, SCANDAL TOWN indeed composed a melodic earworm with remarkable refrain, while vocals do at 1000 % remind of BILLY IDOL, the master himself! So even fans of BILLY IDOL's heavier stuff might enjoy these lads here.

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The guys of BRAVE NEW WORLD on the pic honestly doesn't look like being connected with Hard Rock at all, but they more or less are exactly that. This Mönchengladbach unit appeared with 2 live cuts of their material on the "Durchbruch - Musikszene Mönchengladbach" compilation in 1992, being "Sex" and "Today you could be free". Musically a mixed miracle bag, because of their ability to perform a rather undefinable style of Blues, Hard and Heavy Rock, especially on "Sex", while the second number "Today you could be free" belongs rather to the latter two categories, despite looking like a Pop band.

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Thrashers from Passau who was active from August '89 till 1993, when they eventually quit playing due to the global lack of interest in Thrash. The VORACIOUS SOULS was created by the ex-BRONX guitarist Stefan Vitek, who firstly started an attempt to form a heavier band during 1986, while still being in BRONX, together with Andy Greul on guitar and Volker Kilian on drums. But since that wouldn't work out, the idea was buried until the second attempt started during 1988, this time with Christofer Steffek (vocals) and his BRONX mate Günter Scheuchl behind the drums. The early song „Nightmare“ was written at that time, that would later end up on the first Demo of the band, which in August '89 got named VORACIOUS SOULS, when finally building up a working line up featuring Christofer Steffek (vocals), Andy Greul (guitar), Stefan Vitek (guitar), Bernd Deragisch (bass) and Volker Kilian (drums) at this point. They quickly recorded their first Demo "No way out for you", released in September '89 and afterwards would risk the adventure in producing their debut album "No Tribute No Thanx Fuck Off" independently by themselves, pressed on vinyl in a limited edition of 1000 copies in May 1990. Not so bad stuff to be honest, solid Thrash with well audible american Bay Area style influences. Take a bit of DEATH ANGEL, DEFIANCE, ATROPHY and GOTHIC SLAM and you'll get a moshing faultless Thrash album that compared to other typically german albums sounds completely different. After the album Andy Greul left the VORACIOUS SOULS, who operated as fourpiece until 1991, before also Stefan Vitek quit the band. He got replaced by new guitarist Alfons Kellner, with whom the lads produced the Demo "Fear" during 1991. After this last recording the guys continued during a part of 1993 with Christofer Steffek (vocals), Alfons Kellner (guitar), ex-BRONX Dietmar Koller (bass) and Volker Kilian on drums, but would split up shortly later though. In early 2025 all releases were professionally remastered and reissued on cassette and CD. Some of the guys also played in a glammy party band called WET 'N' WILD, that Stefan Vitek had formed in 1991, shortly before his departure.

(Thanx to Volker Kilian for additional info!)

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A locally well known band from Passau, formed by Christian Bachmeier in 1985, who played an US Power Metal influenced style with JUDAS PRIEST touch. Since 1986 the line up of the band looked like: Christian Bachmeier (guitar), Stefan Vitek (guitar), Dietmar Koller (bass, vocals) and Günter Scheuchl (drums). Despite still being BRONX member, Stefan Vitek decided several times between 1986 and '88 to form a heavier band, but all attempts failed. After the 6-song Demo "Sign of Krypton", recorded in PAN Studios in 1988 Demo was recorded, Vitek once again started a new attempt to form a Thrash band, which eventually succeeded during the summer of ’89, when the VORACIOUS SOULS was born. Christian Bachmeier continued with BRONX till 1991, without further recordings though, before he called it quits.

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WET 'N' WILD was a new but relatively shortlived project started by ex-BRONX/VORACIOUS SOULS guitarist Stefan Vitek in 1991, who’s been fed up with the current Thrash scene and connected behaviour of certain fans. Therefore he tried to form a rather commercial Sleaze/Party Hard Rock combo inspired by bands such as GUNS 'N ROSES or LOVE/HATE. Since to recruit members for this undertaking went much more difficult than expected, he asked his old VORACIOUS SOULS bandmates Christofer Steffek, Bernd Deragisch and Volker Kilian to support him live and furing recording for the time being. In the end the session went a bit heavier than you might imagine at this point, since if you want Thrashers to play Sleaze Rock you can't expect another GUNS 'N ROSES at all. Basically it's the same kind of Hard Rock with R'n'R edge that made these US Sleaze bands big back in the day. There was another recording session in July '91 featuring 11 more trax of the same kind before Vitek quit both WET 'N' WILD and VORACIOUS SOULS still within the same year.

(Thanx to Volker Kilian for additional info!)

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The Bonn garage-act DÜNNSCHISS consisting of Hansi Hilmer (vocals, guitar), Frank "Blackie" Hellwig (bass) and Altöl (drums) changed their name to TEMPLERS shortly after releasing their "alcoholic garage noise terror"-sounding "Dreck Metal" Demo in 1986. No studio recordings where made under this monicker, and Hans Hilmer went on to form BURIED FAITH later the same year.

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DÜNNSCHISS were Bonn beer-drenched garage-Thrashers who released a demo in 1986 to little fanfare. The band name translates to 'diarrhea', the Demo to 'shit metal' and vocalist/guitarist Hans Hilmer describes it as "alcoholic garage noise terror", so go figure... Changed their name to TEMPLERS shortly after releasing the demo, and Hans later went on to/formed (?) BURIED FAITH in 1988.

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The Kürnach residing Thrashers PARADOX previously operated under different monickers since 1981 with Charly Steinhauer and Axel Blaha being the only constant of all the previous formations like OVERKILL, MANIAC or WARHEAD and since February 1986 eventually as PARADOX, with Markus Spyth and Roland Stahl as additional members. Due to their track "Pray to the godz of wrath" taken from the first Demo 1986, which was featured on the Roadrunner compilation "Teutonic Invasion" and their second Demo "Mystery" 1987, that came with more professional sound than the debut, Roadrunner signed the troop and in May '87 "Product of imagination" was recorded at the Karo studio, to be released in October. 1988 Roland Stahl had to quit due to the army needing his services and Matthias "Katze" Schmitt replaced him. During the recordings of the second album "Heresy", which was originally planned under the title “The burning” btw., in January '89 Markus Spyth quit as well and Dieter Roth helped out on guitars. Due to an infection of Steinhauer's larynx, the band was forced to hire a new vocalist and therefore the vocal parts was sung by ex-ANGEL DUST Shelko Topalovic but coz he joined SCANNER instead, his vocal trax was deleted and Steinhauer finished the vocal parts himself just months later in summer. When Schmitt left in 1989, Armin Donderer (ex-ARKHAM/MARK TERRY) joined, but Roth quit also when "Heresy" was available in November '89 and got replaced by Kai Pasemann. Due to the neverending problems with getting a stable line up together, the guys disbanded PARADOX in 1991. The sound of PARADOX was often compared with METALLICA, though it's not exactly correct. Indeed their technical Speed'n'Thrash was kinda unique in the german scene, with own identity, but influences of early ANGEL DUST and TESTAMENT as well as certain ANTHRAX influences on the "Heresy" album would describe their style way more real. 1991 Steinhauer and Blaha revived PARADOX again and had a bit more luck since then, released several albums and played live again with different musicians.

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Underground Thrashers from Heidelberg with a quite listenable Demo (recorded Dec. '87) that suffers a bit by the low sound. I guess with a more powerful production the result would have become more attractive. But the guys acted solid with a for that time typical Thrash, perhaps reminding me a bit of Sodom's "Persecution mania". As far as I know they quit in 1990, but nowadays reformed again.

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Not to be taken too serious by the Metal faction should be this Classic Rock outfit from Schwalmstadt, between Marburg and Kassel, that was led by Gerold “Barbarossa” Stiebeling and founded around 1979/80. Gerold, the brain and leading force of the band, was working with several musicians of the area throughout all those decades that band was existing, while he himself was active as musician since already the 1960’s. Let’s take this an obscure Hard Rock marginalia since on their 1989 album "Good time, bad time" you’ll get to hear exactly this, a quite interesting mix of Blues Rock, AOR and Hard Rock. The song “Are you sure” either reminds of a classic Joe Cocker tune, while even Stiebelings vocals are so close to Cockers that you need to check twice that it’s indeed not Cocker singing there. BARBAROSSA already had issued a number independently produced singles on his own label Sun/Zun Records prior to the album, but those all had been sung in German tongue until the “Nobody does it better” single, when the band seems to have turned away from the German Rock tunes and focussed rather on English songs. After “Good times, bad times”, BARBAROSSA released another private AOR MCD called “Only for you” in 1993, this time with Richard Maciossek (ex-MADAM I’M ADAM) and Dieter Bornschlegel (ex-ATLANTIS, GURU GURU, RAMESH, TOUCH), another 1960’s and 70’s Krautrock pioneer on guitars. BARBAROSSA released still various CD’s until 2023, so feel free to check em out yourself if interested.

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We’re not 100 % sure that this Melodic Metal troop named CROSSFIRE from Marburg was indeed the continuation of a band formerly known as IRON AGE (those on "German Metal Fighters No. I" compilation), but the fact that IRON AGE’s Dieter “Cossy" Gary, Roland “Ronny” Mouka and Andreas “Andy" Herchen are found in CROSSFIRE, while IRON AGE "disappeared" during the late 80’s, speaks for itself, isn't it? Nevermind, the style of IRON AGE and CROSSFIRE wasn’t much similar sounding. CROSSFIRE’s sound was rather comparable to late 80's German Metal newcomers like VIOLENT TOUCH or WISHES BURN, having an intentional melodic touch overall, and therefore we’d rather date their super scarce "Just a lie" single being released around 1989/90. The band’s keyboarder Dirk Jordans was previously busy in a Rock band called DAUERSTRESS until around 1988, before surfacing in CROSSFIRE’s line up. So the hints are getting more serious that CROSSFIRE operated only in the fall of the 80’s, with any fact that’s coming up additionally. But however, the band info remains rare nevertheless. Roland Mouka, Dieter Gary, Andreas Herchen and Dirk Jordans reappeared during the beginning of the 90’s as MASTER OF DISASTER once again together with ex-SOFTEIS/ANABIS Werner Eismann on bass and keyboarder Armin Holten (ex-SOFTEIS).

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SOFTEIS (Soft Ice Cream) is a truly bizarre name for a Rock band. But no one was immune to the effects of hallucinogenic mushrooms on the minds of some people in the 70s. This Marburg Prog Rock act formed in the middle of the 70s and right in 1978, with Werner Eismann (vocals, bass), Gerhard Eismann (guitar), Gerald Schwarz (guitar), Eleonore Wittekindt (keyboard), and Klaus Nass (drums) as line-up was able to produce their debut album "The colours of a rainbow" independently. Unfortunately, at that time, the whole thing still fell under the umbrella term “Krautrock,” but that was to change with the band's second album immediately. However, drummer Klaus Nass left in 1979 to join local rivals SCRIFIS, and you will soon realize that the SOFTEIS musicians had a good reputation in the Marburg music scene, as there was a constant exchange or temporary replacements between the individual bands in the area. Among other things, he also played on the 1981 PELL MELL album. Michael Walter by then joined as the new drummer, and when Gerhard Schwarz left to hook up with STEELYARD shortly before the recording of “Eiskalt” in 1980, he had to be replaced by Robert L. Langstroff on guitar. And so, in December 1980 and January '81, the musicians began recording their second LP, “Eiskalt,” with the new line-up featuring Werner Eismann (vocals, bass), Robert L. Langstroff (guitar, vocals), Gerhard Eismann (guitar), Eleonore Wittekindt (keyboard), and Michael Walter (drums). In contrast to “The colors of a rainbow,” this album was unconditionally oriented toward the 70’s Hard Rock of DEEP PURPLE, without completely suppressing the Prog Rock approaches of SOFTEIS' early phase. The result was a heavy sounding progressive Hard Rock album that connoisseurs of the genre know how to appreciate. Unfortunately, instead of producing more albums, the band went quiet from then on, although they did not actually break up. The individual musicians seemed to devote themselves to other projects, and everything from that time on appears confusing. It seems that something changed in the band in the mid 80’s. Eleonore Wittekindt, who married Werner Eismann, left SOFTEIS around 1986/87 and from then on played with Werner Eismann in another Marburg Prog Rock band called ANABIS. Armin Holten took over the keyboards for SOFTEIS. At the same time, Gerhard Eismann released various Pop/Rock stuff with MIRAGE, which apparently became ESCAPADE, and his other band LAST SONG. Meanwhile, Werner Eismann, his brother, gravitated toward a heavier sound and joined IRON AGE in the late 80s, which became MASTER OF DISASTER in the early 90s, reinforced by SOFTEIS drummer Michael Walter, among others. In 1997, SOFTEIS, tried once again to release an album, “Never Enough...”, on CD, which could now be classified as elementary melodic Hard Rock. Werner Eismann (bass), Gerhard Eismann (guitar), Michael Walter (drums), Ralf Klose on keyboard, and Ronny Moucka (ex-IRON AGE/CROSSFIRE/MASTER OF DISASTER) on vocals now formed the core of the band. Two more selfproduced albums were released in 2006 (“Totem Pole” under the name SOFTICE) and 2013 (“Get a taste of Softeis”). However, several SOFTEIS members had already joined forces in the 2000’s to form the DEEP PURPLE cover band PURPLE (more or less the same line-up as MASTER OF DISASTER). Both bands existed parallel to each other it seems though. As already mentioned above, the band structures were/are very confusing...

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These guys originated from Coelbe/Marburg, not to be confused with the IRON AGE lads from the Stuttgart area, that later became ARAYA. 1985 they already released a 3 track Demo with additional live trax, that at least according to the description of the Metal Hammer review should fit to the style of the two trax on the later German Metal Fighter 1 compilation feature of the band. "Born infor gotton" (Obviously a sort of typo as on Demo 3 the song’s called “Born and forgotten”!) has got an heavy ACCEPT impact, though they tried to do it their own way, but "Bringing it back" clearly is US Glam influenced and sounds like early CRÜE. The same ACCEPT-ish touched Metal you’ll get to hear on IRON AGE’s second Demo recorded in 1986, that featured 6 more songs in that typical mid 80’s pounding german style with raw sound, just like on ”Demo III” from ’87. When Jürgen Badouin left during the later 80’s, SOFTEIS and ANABIS bassist Werner Eismann helped them out. It’s not 100 % sure how the later path of IRON AGE exactly went, but it’s almost confirmed that the band most probably changed name. Dieter Gary (guitar), Roland Mouka (vocals) and Andreas Herchen (drums) recorded a single together with 2 other guys as CROSSFIRE. While the same trio reappeared during the beginning of the 90’s as MASTER OF DISASTER together with Werner Eismann on bass and keyboarder Armin Holten (ex-SOFTEIS) plus Dirk Jordans, formerly of CROSSFIRE fame as well on keyboards.

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This band from Marburg with the ultra strange name MADAM I'M ADAM was a AOR/Melodic Rock band that released 3 albums till 1990 which contained poppy mainstream AOR like a mix of ASIA, MR. MISTER and SURVIVOR. Unfortunately the band live on stage sounded way harder than on the pimped albums. But Melodic Rock/AOR fans will surely make a discovery here. Their drummer Klaus Nass was formerly playing in the bands SOFTEIS (70’s), SCRIFIS and PELL MELL. Richard Maciossek and Arwed Fischer (ex-SCRIFIS) in the other hand had BARBAROSSA running, prior to MADAM I'M ADAM and beyond.

Check out MADAM I'M ADAM Live

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It's somewhat "refreshing" sometimes that there are still early german Metal bands to discover, who didn't try to copy ACCEPT or AC/DC and to this category belong the STEELYARD boys from Marburg, a band that featured an old veteran of the Marburg rock scene, Gerald Schwarz, who already had released 2 albums with proggy hardrockers SOFTEIS since the late 70's. STEELYARD's privately produced album seriously doesn't turn up often, but it's worth waiting, coz even though it's been recorded in May '82 already, if someone would sell it to be from 1985 f.e. nobody would recognize at all. May it be the sound or their style, they have been a bit ahead of their time for at least 3 years compared to other german bands who recorded albums around 1981/82. For some strange reason I always feel reminded of swedish Metal gods HEAVY LOAD when listening to "1982". The way STEELYARD composed their songs and the whole album sound just doesn't let come any other band to my mind. The LP comes with an insert.

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Even though this Hardcore band from Nagold, west of Tübingen in the wider southern Stuttgart area, gave free rein to their displeasure with the attitude of Heavy Metal fans on their debut LP “Selling out!” with songs like “H. M. sucks,” it must be noted that they also drew heavily on the sound of various Thrash bands. But that's just a side note. The SKEEZICKS were founded in February 1985 as a quartet, with Jürgen “Sunny” Findlinger (vocals), Carsten Bauer (guitar), Armin Hofmann (bass), and Andreas Hofmann (drums) on board from the start. By June of the same year, they had already recorded their first demo, "We make noise... “ and traveled to Amsterdam in April '86 to record their first 7” EP “There's a Charlie Brown in everyone of us,” which was released on bassist Armin's label X-Mist Records. A year later, in April 1987, they recorded their debut album “Selling out!”, this time reinforced by Marc Helber on second guitar. “Selling out!” is highly recommended to all Crossover fans, as SKEEZICKS broke completely away from the conventional German mold with their strongly American-influenced Hard ‘n’ Thrashcore, resulting in a fast-paced album that still sounds heart-wrenchingly fresh and timeless even 40 years later. Just how popular and appreciated the band was during their creative period is confirmed by what feels like 1000 sampler contributions by the guys, which would be too much to list here. Unfortunately, the band must have split up again after the album. Their split LP with the SPERMBIRDS and WALTER ELF only contained the tracks from the single. “No Second Chance,” released in 1991 on Lost And Found Records, was unfortunately also just a farewell compilation with older recordings.

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For this promising Wolfsburg Speed/Thrash Metal act it was very sad that no label picked them up. INZEST contained several members of other Wolfsburg acts like STEELTOWER, DEATH ATTACK or STEELHUNTER and delivered a lethal speed driven Thrash style with quite outstanding guitars partly a bit sounding like early VENDETTA, Swiss CARRION and a dose of SLAYER. The band was formed in autumn 1987 by drummer Peter Schulz and ex-STEELHUNTER guitarist Andrè “Ace” Borawski, who both came from local thrashers DEATH ATTACK, who had been active since already 1985 btw., which was the official precursor for INZEST, since DEATH ATTACK simply changed name back in 1987. Second guitarist Kai “Archie” Achilles was a former STEELTOWER member as well and no one need to introduce Martin Missy (ex-SPITFIRE/GOLGOTHA) we guess, who fronted DEATH ATTACK before joining the PROTECTOR camp after about a year and that's how ex-SIN CITY Gero “Geronimo" Lutkemuller became the new INZEST frontman later on. The guys recorded their first demo right in Dezember 1987, followed by “Shot by shot" in 1988. Both Demos sounded somewhat professional, that it's indeed a mystery that not even Noise Records gave em the chance for an album. Definitely amoung the most promising and essential Demos in the 80's german Thrash underground. INZEST was also featured on a local compilation tape called "KaschpaSound Compilation" that featured bands playing live there. Lutkemuller and Borawski would later play together in another legendary Wolfsburg band STEELHUNTER, that would become SHOOTING GALLERY.

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GRANDEE formed in October '79, the foursome wanted to focuss on straight Rock music, while being not that happy in their former bands. It didn't take that long and the guys could record 5 trax at the Dieter Dierks Studios for the Rockstudio in April '80, while 3 of them was used to appear on the "Rock Studio 2" Split LP and either GRANDEE was invited to perform at the WDR Rockkonzert in August 1980. Nevertheless, the band's material just barely meets our requirements. Their unspectacular late 70's Boogie Hard/Kraut Rock with STATUS QUO edge can't really surprise. Alone "Night like this" offers Hard Rock sounds. The bands active phase didn't last that long either, Holger "Schmock" George (later known as Holly George) turned up in the AXE VICTIMS line up 2 years later and also Kay Floor (as Kay Flohr) resurfaced once again with well known hardrockers MAMA.

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A melodic Heavy Metal band from Wuppertal founded 1985 by AXE VICTIMS and DARXON members.Thomas "Tom" Bohn (ex-AXE VICTIMS) already left a year later and ex-NIGHTMARE/HARD 'N HEART guitarist Reinhold Durand joined in. Holger “Holly” George had lotsa experience in his former bands GRANDEE and AXE VICTIMS, while guitarist Wolfgang "Wolla" Böhm was previously playing in a number of Metal bands like SNAKEBITE/WHITE WITCH/STORMWIND and DARXON, and would appear in the line up of Udo Dirkschneider’s U.D.O. project as well. In 1988 a first 7" was ready and after a tour through eastern Europe and a Demotape, they started recording the debut album "Bad child" in 1990. It took 2 years till the album got finally released and UNIVERSE already started recordings for the "Waiting for" MCD. They got the support act for RUNNING WILD's 1993 european tour and then the carousel of mannig started turning. The band produced some more albums later and is still active nowadays. Musically they could be seen as an equivalent of late 80's BONFIRE, with "Bad child" sounding pretty much contemporary when it was recorded, though it was released 2 years too late for that kind of music.

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The AXE VICTIMS began to play heavy music already in early 1982, when the band formed in Wuppertal. Holger “Holly” George came from GRANDEE. The young group got great feedback by even international mags for their Demo tapes, that was recorded entirely inside their rehearsal room. The band played a Hard Rock inspired style, that reminds abit of the early NO TROUBLE Demos, slightly influenced by british bands of that time. Seems to have been enough for Mausoleum Records, who signed the band immediately and published "Another victim" some months later during 1984. "Shoot from the stars" opens the album in great speedy NWOBHM manner, but then the lads had already used up all one's energies at once and fell back into the commercial QUIET RIOT style Hard Rock, that was already featured on the previous Demo. Mausoleum produced even a second AXE VICTIMS album with the title "Hypnotized", planned to be released for 1985. But it never came to that anymore. Thomas "Tom" Bohn and Holger George founded UNIVERSE during that year, together with ex-STORMWIND Wolfgang Böhm and DARXON's Ingo Plas, while Roland Hag joined STEELER later during 1988.

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Formed in 1985 in Braunschweig, south of Wolfsburg, the band apparently released 2 lesser known demos before their more familiar "Spider on the wall.." tape from 1988, though so far we don't have any significant info on them. Gero ("Geronimo") formerly sang in SIN CITY and INZEST, but Andre ("Ace") is the member w/ the longest history in the local scene, having taken part in both DEATH ATTACK and INZEST and was part of a late STEELTOWER line-up. On the aforementioned "Spider.." tape we're presented with manic and spikey, proggish Power Metal at times reminding of TERRAHSPHERE or FLAMINF ANGER, with DiAnno-like vocals + early MAIDEN-harmonies sprinkled about. Shortly after the release of this tape, the band changed their name to SHOOTING GALLERY. If you have more info, please get in contact.

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Local obscure Heavy Metal band from Seggebruch between Bielefeld and Hannover, that was active during 1984. There should be at least 1 Demo available. Further info is needed.

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TANKARD originally formed as VORTEX 1982 in Frankfurt/Main, with founding members being Andreas Geremia (bass), Oliver Werner (drums), Frank Thorwarth (vocals), Axel Katzmann (guitar) and Bernhard Rapprich (guitar), but soon changed name to AVENGER just to switch to TANKARD during March ’83, musically dwelling under the spell of almighty VENOM. Geremia and Thorwarth changed positions and Andreas Bulgaropoulos replaced Rapprich. And this was the birth of the classic TANKARD line up and all of the important albums got recorded with. After 2 more or less average sounding Demos they got signed by Noise International and started a career that would made them one of Germany's biggest Thrash acts. The Corroseum honestly doesn't expect that we still need to introduce this band to anyone of the readers at all. For further info please check out the Tankard Homepage

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The Bruchköbel (Frankfurt/Main area) based STEAM, formed in late 1983, had its origin in another Frankfurt band called OVERLORD, but plenty of members were exchanged in their early years and few survived until their first vinyl appearance, the track "I don't know" on the "Rockactive I" sampler from 1983. The same song was also featured again on their one and only in November 1984 released album "Can't get enough" and by now all old OVERLORD members were gone. It was produced for Vip Records by ex-SCHLOSS drummer Willy Waid 1984 and while the LP wasn't any revelation in terms of heavyness, there are some trax featured like "Keep rockin'" that indeed used to animate the listener to nod satisfied. STEAM did not fully try to revive 70's sounds (except of 2 hard boogieing trax) or copying ACCEPT, but instead focussed on their style of melodic Heavy Metal/Hard Rock, reminding even of Spanish ANGELES DEL INFIERNO on "Bad guys", though "Can't get enough" remained their last sign of existence. Prior to the vinyl appearances the band already debuted with 2 Demos, one 5 song tape and another 4 song tape from 1983.

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RAINDANCER from Nuremberg was kinda the band REVOLVER under a different monicker, with the only difference being that Mary B. Thompson and Wilfried Schnieker wasn't in the band anymore and the latter got replaced by Evert Fraterman. After a longer silence REVOLVER returned in late summer 1984 once again with their second album, that was meant to be released on Bellaphon this time. But because of whatever reason the guys changed name to RAINDANCER, who either wasn't blessed with bigger success, and released the second album under that new monicker. This next adventure just lasted for one more album recorded in summer 1984, though it's not really bad stuff if you might think that was the reason for their off. "A little bit confused" offers a colored mix of Hard Rock, AOR and even lighty hints of Heavy Metal, everything highly melodic and pompish with the featured musicians are showing that they wasn't any bloody amateurs. What's the reason they gave up so early I can't tell, but seen by the more than average quality of the album a second one would have been deserved. For heavy AOR fans thumbs up. A bit later on (or between the REVOLVER/RAINDANCER showdown?) Dieter Roth, Mary B. Thompson and Wilfried Schneiker returned with the band TOUCH and recorded a selfproduced 7", but either this band disappeared unheard. Jürgen Kühnlein on the other hand reappeared during the later 80’s with melodic hardrockers NUMBER NINE.

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A Hard Rock band from Nuremberg/Würzburg featuring the black female vocalist Mary B. Thompson plus former SKIN members Dieter Roth and Friedel Amon, who already released the album “Hot skin" with that band in 1979. REVOLVER started in 1980 and got produced by Dieter Dirks who tried to make them the next big Hard Rock thing besides the SCORPIONS in Germany. The album just lacked of hits and didn't really feature anything new besides well produced, but average Hard Rock with AC/DC and Boogie edge. The band’s second album originally should have been available much earlier right in 1982, but their record company Polydor refused to release that album, that their producer had recorded together with the band in their rehearsal room back in the day. After a longer silence REVOLVER returned in late summer 1984 once again with their second album, that was meant to be released on Bellaphon this time. But because of whatever reason the guys changed name to RAINDANCER, who either wasn't blessed with bigger success, and released the second album under that new monicker. A bit later on Dieter Roth, Mary B. Thompson and Wilfried Schneiker returned with the band TOUCH and recorded a selfproduced 7", but either this band disappeared unheard. Jürgen Kühnlein on the other hand reappeared during the later 80’s with Melodic Hardrockers NUMBER NINE.

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A Heavy Metal trio from Solingen who changed name to KNIGHT WARRIOR in early 1985. In old adverts the band suscribed themselves as the “new Solingen Heavy Metal sensation”, while at the same time a cassette tape with live cuts of the band of a 1984 UK tour (!) was announced to be available in February ’85. If you got more info, please get in touch.

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Not to be confused with the Mannheim act STAINED CLASS,these lads operated at the same time around 1984/85, but rather in the Duisburg area. They claimed their style as fast Heavy Metal but no Speed Metal at all. Further info is welcome.

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Local Neuss Heavy Metal group that formed during 1984, but hadn’t had a steady line-up found yet in early 1985 at all. How long ARMAGEDDON did last so far, is yet unknown, but in July '86 their drummer Michael Voss was founding member of the Neuss Heavy Metal act JUSTNESS.

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Originally the Hegerfeldt brothers started playing their instruments already in 1983, though they didn't start rehearsing properly until July '86, when Burkhard Hegerfeldt and Michael Voss (ex-ARMAGEDDON) officially founded the Heavy Metal troop JUSTNESS in the city of Neuss. Im autumn 1986 Joachim Lanzendorf joined the band on the second guitar and also handled the bass. A first Demo entitled “Sense of life" was eventually recorded and found it’s way to certain undereground magazines. Until January '87 JUSTNESS had written 14 own songs and soon released an 8 song Reh/Demo called "Never surrender". Lanzendorf already quit in spring '87, while Oliver Weiser (bass) and vocalist Volker Riedel joined. With this new line up a second 7 track Demo was recorded still in October '87. While JUSTNESS received an offer for an album production, Burkhard Hegerfeldt instead also decided to leave the band in January '88, which threw the other lads back to start as they couldn't find replacement for him anymore and after a last gig in February that year the band JUSTNESS was history. Musically they've been caught in midtempo fields, yet slightly limited by their own limited instrumental skills. You can listen to Justness here: here

(Thanx to Rumblefist for the link)