169)Special Guitars -- Big theme of rock(1989,lp on Black Rock Records)this band is nothing else but(italian) Firehouse under a false name,this lp is an instrumental one but do not expect excessive guitar virtuosity,it's a good melodic album(side A is a mix of AOR and Pomp metal in the vein of Giuffria and Prophet,side B is more heavy and aggressive),if there had been a singer it would be a great lp(imo

);3.000 copies were made,but because of distribution problems only a few hundred(no more than 200 or 300) have really circulated.
170)Sphinx -- Here we are(1981,lp on Peak records,with the subtitle of "Rock made in Italy" -- maybe a different 1981 pressing exists on Aurophon records) --- reissued in 1985 (surely on Mausoleum Records with the title of "Burning Light",and maybe on Camel records)with a different cover artwork,the songs are the same but with a different tracking list;this was a german based bands formed by italian emigrants,the music suffered the heritage of the 70's(Purple,Uriah Heep etc.)but also had dark influences a là Black Sabbath and Witchfinder General;if anyone has some news about Aurophon and Camel pressings,please let me know
171)Spitfire -- Blade Runner/A quiet man(1984,7" on Minotauro records)very good metal band from Verona,influenced by NWOBHM,this 7" is very hard to find(40/50 euro or more);Minotauro/Markuee reissued it in 2008 on vinyl(it'is almost impossible to distinguish the original from the reissue,they are perfectly identical,of course the reissue looks "younger"

).
172)Spock -- Same(1981,lp on Edi Pan Records),Roma based band,musically the did not have a clear line(some tracks reminds of the Ac/Dc's hard/Boogie,a couple seems inspired by early Van Halen stuff and some others sounds like Rush/Saga);very hard to find,70/80 euro or more.
173)Station Rail Road -- Lochness/Evening Star(1981,7" on Belgravia Records)power trio from Varese(in the deep north of Italy),side A is inspired by Thin Lizzy(the riff is irish/folk influenced,with a good guitar wall of sound),side B is more Dark/NWOBHM influenced;almost impossible to find,80/100 euro.
Solo i morti hanno visto la fine della guerra.