X-CALIBER - 'Fire'/'Dark Stranger' 7" 1981

daniel · Post by **daniel** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:00 am

Ohio band. I actually had the B-side as an MP3 for years not knowing for sure what it was. This rip of mine is better quality though.
The A-side is quite straightforward, a good enough 'rocker' but nothing special. The B-side however is excellent, a mist-engulfed hymn for the ages!

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BZP1SD96

nightsblood · Post by **nightsblood** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 3:06 am

Cool, is this the single that was mentioned in the rare US Metal 7" thread awhile back?

Khnud · Post by **Khnud** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:24 am

Been looking for this! Thanks.

daniel · Post by **daniel** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 9:57 am

Yes it's the same single. My first copy really seems to have gone missing in the post, along with two other separate parcels(3+ months, possible how?), so I got another one.

nightsblood · Post by **nightsblood** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:42 pm

Yeah, the A-side is ok, nothing special, but the B-side...!!!!! Sweet chicken biscuit, but that's a good song! Catchy, moody, and energetic all at once! LOVE IT!

BTW, is this the same band that did the 'warriors of the night' LP (1986)?

Keir · Post by **Keir** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:03 pm

No, different band. Does the B-side remind anyone else of Kiss' "Black Diamond"?

BTW, Waykoolrecords still has this single for sale, but he's raised the price from $12 to $20.

daniel · Post by **daniel** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:31 pm

'Warriors of the Night' is one of those records I'd buy at a good price, but it really isn't very good, 3 or 4 good songs.

'Dark Stranger' doesn't remind me of Kiss much no, but what does is Baker Gurvitz Army's 'People'!

nightsblood · Post by **nightsblood** » Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:58 pm

Yeah, I thought KISS the 2nd time I played the song

Might have to pick a copy up

The Sentinel · Post by **The Sentinel** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:46 pm

daniel wrote:'Warriors of the Night' is one of those records I'd buy at a good price, but it really isn't very good, 3 or 4 good songs.

Only the title track is very good imo.

daniel · Post by **daniel** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 7:17 pm

Could be, last time I listened I didn't think much of the whole album at all. Can't see how anyone think it's some masterpiece(do they?).

nightsblood · Post by **nightsblood** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:25 pm

I don't remember it being very good, but I only heard it once several years ago

daniel · Post by **daniel** » Tue Mar 23, 2010 10:37 pm

In the cellar of a mountaintop castle?

Stormspell · Post by **Stormspell** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:38 am

daniel wrote:Could be, last time I listened I didn't think much of the whole album at all. Can't see how anyone think it's some masterpiece(do they?).

Definitely not a masterpiece, but it is a decent 80s obscure melodic hard rock / AOR. I think a lot of people are misjudging it for the artwork - there's nothing "Epic" in it regardless what M-A.com sez.

I have no idea why the vinyl is so sought after, but it is a good thing since I'm in tentative talks with the band (very preliminary) for a possible cd release. It should appeal to melodic metal/aor fans and is worth resurrecting, even only for Side A of the album.

hload · Post by **hload** » Wed Mar 24, 2010 11:48 am

stormspell wrote:
daniel wrote:Could be, last time I listened I didn't think much of the whole album at all. Can't see how anyone think it's some masterpiece(do they?).
Definitely not a masterpiece, but it is a decent 80s obscure melodic hard rock / AOR. I think a lot of people are misjudging it for the artwork - there's nothing "Epic" in it regardless what M-A.com sez.

I have no idea why the vinyl is so sought after, but it is a good thing since I'm in tentative talks with the band (very preliminary) for a possible cd release. It should appeal to melodic metal/aor fans and is worth resurrecting, even only for Side A of the album.

sorry but i don't believe this line of your post: "i have no idea why the vinyl is so sought after".

dford · Post by **dford** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 5:01 am

THanks, i love this single, had it for years but never got the chance to do a proper rip of it.