A couple of recent additions to the vinyl collection and some observations.
The first is another of the Ebony compilations which I'm actively collecting. Metal Warriors is EBON 11 (1983), the fourth of their compilations (as stated on the cover). Once again it has around a dozen tracks of varying style but based around the NWOBHM sound that Ebony liked. It has the trademark Ebony studio timbre - not ridiculously trebley this time but there's something about the sound, particularly the vocals, that you'd recognise anywhere. (I think it may be Daryl Johnston's natural reverb chamber which he was very proud of.)
It has the feel of a bunch of bands getting their first break which is an appealing thing to me. Some of the bands did go on to bigger things, in particular Shy who appear on side one track one. I have to say that this is probably the Ebony compilation that I have enjoyed the most on first listen, there are some really good tracks.
I think this album is most notable for its excellent artwork - the best artwork of all of these compilations I think - I mean look at this... look at it!
According to Discogs, it was re-released on CD in 2002. I don't know whether it was remastered at all. My record plays really well though and I have a really good quality rip from it.
Bought at the same time (because one UK seller happened to have two albums from my wantlist at the right quality and price) is Product of Imagination by Paradox (1987). They're not a band I was familiar with, although I may at one time have seen this cover while browsing the secondhand traders in Norwich. They're a German thrash metal band that remind me of Megadeth. It's a good listen, I feel that it will grow on me.
