Customer Reviews

Nightcomers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is simply amazing. While the NWOBHM produced a great many bands (Iron Maiden, Angel Witch, Tygers, Witchfinder, etc., etc.), Holocaust is definately the heaviest and darkest, surpassing Venom by a long shot. Although the band definately had anthematic songs like "Heavy Metal Mania" and "Smokin' Valves", the band was best with their devasting tracks like "Death or Glory", "Mavrock", and "The Nightcomers".

John Mortimer, the leading force behind Holocaust, wanted the band to explore extreme speed (predating the Metal Massacre comps) and slow, grinding metal. Unfortunately, he decided to leave Holocaust while the rest of the band wanted to go commercial (much like Def Leppard did). So, Holocaust became Hologram and the early brutality and experimental nature of Holocaust was never fully realized. Imagine what could have been.

But, thankfully, we do have this Metal Masterpiece, and Holocaust/Mortimer have released some truly experimental and dark albums in the 90's and into today.

So, anyway, for one of the best of the NWOBHM, check this out. At a time when disco and punk were dominating the music scene with lackluster tunes, Holocaust annihilated ear drums and wrecked necks. After all, there's a REASON they're named Holocaust! As Mortimer said about his early days, "It [punk] was about rebellion. And noise. And we thought, 'We'll show ya. You wanna know what NOISE is?'" Check this baby out!

i would wager most modern "metal heads" have never heard Holocaust.hopefully this re-release might change that,as they where indeed an important chapter in the "evolution"(some may say de-volution)of metal.
as other reviewers pointed out,this is indeed proto-thrash with a darn heavy guitar tone.compared with most (metal)bands today,it sounds rather tame.however,with its rock'n'roll sensibilities mixed with that distortion and catchy tunes all one can say is it's FUN.
i kinda lump them in with Motorhead,not that they sound like them but they have that mix of styles and timeless quality

Of course with the numorous must have NWOBHM albums out there from bands like Angel Witch, Saxon, Motorhead, Venom, Raven, Tygers, Tank, Priest, Maiden, Witchfynde, Praying Mantis, White Spirit, Savage etc) where does one start and go for the cream of the crop? Of course Priests' and Motorheads' mid to late 70's classics are the first choices however Holocaust's The Nightcomers should be right up there third or fourth on your list. This group is mainly known for a particular track not found on this package called The Small Hours covered by Metallica in their early days and on Garage Days (a lot of these bands of course gained fame by Metallica's covers and name drops). But this record is pulsating to the brim with prime early era metal some time before Lars and the boys were packing arenas with Master Of Puppets. Smokin Valves, Come On Back, It Don't Matter To Me and the bands utlimate classic Death Or Glory are packed with some of the most mind meltin guitar sounds. The production of course follows what was the quota for most NWOBHM bands, brutal, raw, and loud as hell. The Sabbath inspired riffs on Mavrock along with the more progressive flavored title track show these guys had a little bit more in them than just plain rocking out. Cryin' Shame and the near perfect Heavy Metal Mania offer more than enough hooks and anthemic choruses to balance the record out nicely. To put it simply, there are few albums of the time that are as good as shattering as this one. The 2000 Metal Blade re-issue features 3 bonus tracks (2 non LP singles, and an edit of Heavy Metal Mania) that basically play as part of the record itself. In other words, they're not throwaways in the slightest bit. Holocaust put together the ultimate album here, and metal nor hard rock know as many albums that can stand up with it.

One of the more underappreciated bands from the celebrated New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement, Holocaust still managed to leave quite an impression. They were cold and dark without resorting to Venom-style theatrics, and their 1981 album the Nightcomers stands as one of the more important albums of the NWOBHM scene.

Holocaust was a band that totally captured the quintessential NWOBHM sound. Rather than trying to explain the hard charging guitars, denim and leather wardrobe, gloom and doom lyrics, and punk-like ferocity of the movement, you can just as easily hand someone a Holocaust album and let a song like "Heavy Metal Mania" do the talking. This is a classic heavy metal album, and it's a shame it never received the attention they deserved.

The 2001 Metal Blade reissue of the Nightcomers features digitally remastered sound and three bonus tracks - the single version of Heavy Metal Mania and the b-sides Love's Power and Only as Young as You Feel. There is also a more robust 2-disc version of the album available if you have the extra cash.

This is one of the best metal albums ever.The difference with most NWOBHM albums of the time ,is that this one is much heavier and is actually a proto-thrash lp.No wonder why bands like Metallica , Gamma Ray and even Six feet under(!!!) have covered songs by Holocaust.All the compositions are very energetic and dark while the guitar sound is very raw and distorted.So , just buy it!

Recently purchased this cd and it is really great. Way ahead of its time. The guitarwork of Ed Dudley just awesome. I know he did some work in the nineties. No sure about the name, but the music rocks!