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Rating: 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.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Headhunter (04:30)
Aaahhh
I am the animal
My god, I am the beast
I love to see you bleed
So welcome to my feast
We're serving human flesh
To keep you satisfied
With every bloody bite you eat
Another's going to die
Aaahhh
Don't give me politics
Don't give me public schools
Just keep the cops and t.v. police
From breaking all the rules
I am the raging bull
No fear, No Sympathy
Sex and drugs and rock and roll
That's my cup of tea
Ooohhh
Feel the heat
Throw your bodies into the fire
Time to feed
Headhunter
Headhunter
Headhunter
Headhunter aahh
My axe is clean and soft
and blade is shining bright
She's hungry for her midnight snack
And heads will roll tonight
I am the hunter
Not easy to please
Stand in line, she cures their lust
Victims on their knees aahh
Chorus
Headhunter
Headhunter
Headhunter
Headhunter
Headhunter
Aaaaaahhhhhh
Headhunter
02 Eat the Rich (04:14)
I've been down, I've been beat
I've been tossed into the street
Beggin' nickels, beggin' dimes
Just to get my bottle of wine
Some say life she's a lady
Kinda soft, kinda shady
I can tell you life is rich
She's no lady, she's a bitch
They suck my body out
But friend there is no doubt
I'm gonna pay the devil his dues
Cause I'm sick of being abused
Eat the rich, eat the rich
Don't you know life is a bitch
Eat the rich, eat the rich
Out of the palace and into the ditch
Steal my money, steal my car
Took my woman and my old guitar
Runnin' crazy, runnin' wild
Blind alley in my mind
Just can't fight the temptation
It's become my inspiration
Gonna get myself an axe
Break some heads, break some backs
They suck my body out
But friend there is no doubt
I'm gonna pay the devil his dues
Cause I'm sick of being abused
Eat the rich, eat the rich
Don't you know life is a bitch
Eat the rich, eat the rich
Out of the palace and into the ditch
Don't stop me
Eat the rich, eat the rich
Don't you know life is a bitch
Eat the rich, eat the rich
Out of the palace and into the ditch
Eat the rich, eat the rich
Don't you know life is a bitch
Eat the rich, eat the rich
Out of the palace and into the ditch
Out of the palace and into the ditch
They suck my body out
03 Screaming in the Night (06:28)
Sons of vengeance, can you rescue me
They got me tied up to a woe tree
They had me screamin' and alone in the night
I'm beginning to see what's wrong and what is right
What is wrong and what is right, oh, what is wrong and what is right
The gates was gettin' rusty, as we sailed into the dark
The stars were out and shinin' against the moonlit hour
The wolves were out and howlin', most of the time
And I was cold and shiverin' and bleedin' in the night
Bleedin' in the night, oh, bleedin' in the night
Screaming in the night, fighting for my life, I'd die for you
I knew it all along, headed for the sun, our love was true (our love was true)
Screaming in the night, fighting for my life, I'd die for you
I knew it all along, headed for the sun, our love was true, oh
In the corner of the valley, we took him by surprise
The sound of steel rang loud, above the battle cries
I found her lying lifeless, dagger through her heart
I picked her up, and held her high, and I swore to be avenged
Swore to be avenged, oh swore to be avenged, oh
Screaming in the night, fighting for my life, I'd die for you
I knew it all along, headed for the sun, our love was true (our love was true)
Screaming in the night, fighting for my life, I'd die for you
I knew it all along, headed for the sun, our love was true, oh
Screaming in the night, fighting for my life, I'd die for you, oh
I knew it all along, headed for the sun, our love was true (our love)
Screaming in the night, fighting for my life, I'd die for you, oh
I knew it all along, headed for the sun, our love was true, oh
04 Ready to Burn (03:55)
It's gettin' so late now, I'm headin' for the city
I've got a date and she's so pretty
Jump in my car and no hitchin' for a ride
Goin' to hit that high speed all the time
Aaaahhhh
Are you ready to burn
Ready to burn
Are you ready to burn
Ready to burn
Aaaahhhh
Are you ready to burn
Ready to burn
Are you ready to burn
Ready to burn
She's got chrome wire wheels, bucketseats made of leather
She's as tough as steel and light as a feather
You feel the power as you touch the petal
She's hot as hell, she's real heavy metal
Chorus
She's got plenty of power, she feels real good
Well put together for the neighborhood
Aaaahhhh
Are you ready to burn
Ready to burn
Are you ready to burn
Ready to burn
Are you ready to burn
Ready to burn
Are you ready to burn
Ready to burn
Aaaahhhh
Are you ready to burn
Ready to burn
Are you ready to burn
Ready to burn
Aaaahhhh
Hit the road Jack
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By lordofcerume
Krokus silence many criticisms: the CD is actually more aggressive than the previous ones; closer to the style of Judas Priest or Saxon.
'Eat The Rich' is the most similar to the AC/DC style: a catchy riff, chorus that stays in your head all day.
