ERA [EPA] from Bulgaria

[IronBloodBlasphemy]

So who can tell me a bit about this band? I've seen the myspace tribute page. How difficult is it these days to find their releases? Best one?

thanx

[metalmaster]

So who can tell me a bit about this band? I've seen the myspace tribute page. How difficult is it these days to find their releases? Best one?

thanx

I'm almost sure I have one lp of them, a spit. If I have it then I will upload it

[DaN]

I think I read somewhere that the ERA/CONCURRENT split LP was made in the same amount of copies as the AHAT LP, yet the spit is much easier to track down and shouldn't cost more than 20-25 euros. It's a great album, but the ER MALAK lp is a Masterpiece! Truly original (in an "Eastern" sort of way) Metal and a must in every collection. Both the original LP and CD (w/ bonus tracks I think) should be quite easy to find. Rainer K might still have copies.

[Stormspell]

ERA had two different periods:

1. With Liubo Malkovski on guitars/vocals, who later went to form ER MALAK - this ERA was very cool thrash, quite techincal. The Split LP is from that period, but like everything from that period was recorded, mixed, and mastered at the Bulgarian Radio and Television studios, which did not have any clue how to record metal, so the production sux utterly.

2. After Malkovski and Adrian Ivanov took off, ERA became a trio (later expanded to quartet), playing aggressive thrash. They even boldly cropped the last 3 letters from the original PANTERA logo and used it as their own, which can give you indication in what direction they were headed. They got some nice musicians coming and going through the band, most notably a drummer which later went to CRASH (very cool 80s thrash, Destruction meets Morbid Saint).

3. Before first ERA line-up disbanded they recorded another LP, with Milena (the famous female singer from the cult 80s band REVIEW) which was called ERA & MILENA - Ha-Ha LP. Which was private pressed in 500 copies and very hard to come by even back in the day. This LP was supposed to be ORION & MILENA actually, but when on tour in Germany in 1989 one night ORION decided to immigrate and silently left the motel in the middle of the night leaving MILENA alone in the middle of the tour (they played SAN REMO on that tour, believe it or not)

Later Milena re-recorded the same material with her own band in 1994 for CD release (somewhat easier to find)

You can buy ER MALAK LP, CDs, and DVD directly from Adrian Ivanov through their gayspace page. He can take paypal so everyone can order it, if he still has available copies that is.

Adrian Ivanov, or Adri, was keyboard player in ORION, ERA, and ER MALAK - he was in Orion when they took off on Milena in Germany, but later returned to Bulgaria and made ammends with her (he actually was already in ERA when Milena returned (she obviously took her time in Germany too, haha) so he helped her to hook with them and record the Ha-Ha LP).

MILENA later had her revenge, coz she re-released Ha-Ha in 1994 wihtout giving credit nor to ORION, nor to ERA for the songs. The re-release went big and sold over 200,000 copies, which for Bulgaria is double platinum I think.

And last, but not least: you can check the "secret" page I've put for MILENA - Ha-Ha LP to see cover scans and hear some mp3 samples:

http://www.stormspell.com/eng/bgmetal/milena.html

[Stormspell]

I think I read somewhere that the ERA/CONCURRENT split LP was made in the same amount of copies as the AHAT LP, yet the spit is much easier to track down and shouldn't cost more than 20-25 euros.

That's correct, both pressings were pressed in 4,000 copies (some sources cite 10,000 but I've spoken to a person who used to work in Balkanton at that period and he told me 4,000 was the "usual" amount so it seems most probable than 10,000)

It's a great album, but the ER MALAK lp is a Masterpiece! Truly original (in an "Eastern" sort of way) Metal and a must in every collection. Both the original LP and CD (w/ bonus tracks I think) should be quite easy to find. Rainer K might still have copies.

ER MALAK LP was a private deal between the band and Balkanton. It was pressed in 500 copies: 100 copies given to the band as way of payment, 400 copies sold by Balkanton.

Still, ER MALAK LP is cheaper to get than AHAT

[metalmaster]

I'm uploading the split of Era / Concurrent. I will pass the link later

[IronBloodBlasphemy]

thanx for the infoz
looking forward to that upload(s)

[metalmaster]

link at poisonoise