Krokus
Headhunter

THE REVIEW

There's an Italian, an Englishman, and a Frenchman....
Or; there's an Italian, a Frenchman, and a German....
Rarely does Swiss enter everyday conversations.
Yet in the '80s, Metal had its fair share of Swiss-crossed red.
Like Krokus. What a Band....

Founded by Chris Von Rohr, drummer, then singer, and later bassist.
And it's fortunate they weren't an orchestra, otherwise, they would have played all the brass and wind instruments.
In succession, he leaves the drums to let Stefano Pace sit on the stool.
Then he grabs the Shure SM58, and soon after, Marc Storace silences him by screaming in his ears "IA-DANTA" (Headhunter).
At this point, he convinces Remo Spadino to step aside and he starts playing the bass.

Let me open a parenthesis on the legendary Remo Spadino.
Remo Spadino did his best for the recording of Krokus's first album.
Especially for the first song "Majale," the opening track of their debut record.
He talked to everyone about this song, a track recorded on 64 tracks with 58 dedicated to Spadino.
Recordings, overdubs, cuts, additions, attacks, bars, riffs, raffs, and much more.
Remo Spadino never wanted to erase anything in his first song.
So much so that he left the band because "nothing is discarded from Majale".

Summing up, by the recording of their sixth studio album, we find the eclectic Von Rohr, Pace, and Storace. To which Vor Arb and Kholer on guitars were added, just because a Metal band also needs rhythm and lead Guitars.

Ready, set, go with this highly anticipated Headhunter.
Behind the mixer, we have the producer of Judas Priest and Def Leppard, whose name I could mention, but it's not important for the purposes of this review.
The first track is stratospheric, "Headhunter" is a true Metal bomb worthy of the early NWOBHM.
The lyrics remain mediocre and lack unforgettable peaks, it would suffice to quote the phrase "Sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll are my cup of tea" and thank goodness they're not the toilet bowl.

The rest of the album blends well and always stays at the top.
I enjoy listening to "Night Wolf" very Accept-like.
And I discover in the piece "Ready to Burn" a cameo of Rob Halfors on the chorus.

Platinum record in the USA, Canada, and Switzerland.
In 1983 I also bought it.
And I did well.
I'll post a photo of the back of the record, much nicer than the cover.