Spurred on by the epiphanic New Wave of British Heavy Metal, heavy music exploded in the United States during the early 1980s with literally thousands of bands spawning across the country. Taking obvious influence from seminal acts such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motörhead, and Dio-era Black Sabbath, US heavy metal managed to acquire a character and life of its own, manifesting in some cases in a more muscular sound while others pursued more progressive or melodic leanings.
Of special note however were a certain kind of weirdo acts who forged their own idiosyncratic modes of expression and remain largely without either precedents or successors. Emerging from San Francisco’s underground music scene in the early 1980s, Brocas Helm started out as a quartet but soon settled into the established three-piece format as heard on their debut album Into Battle. A somewhat unusual constellation for a traditional eighties heavy metal band, the band somehow worked in a subtle influence of Motörhead and 1970s heavy/prog rock power trios in addition to the expected NWOBHM-isms.
Unlike for example Manowar, Cirith Ungol, Manilla Road, or Warlord, which are some of the more likely choices of comparison given the fantastical themes and battle-epic streak permeating the music, Brocas Helm sounds less stricken by typical 1980s pomposity and more at home in the then still recent past of the 1970s. More specifically, they come across as a strange melange of fantasy-themed yet gritty biker heavy metal, progressive rock-influenced song structuring and quasi-medievalist folk melodies, topped off with the attitude and addictive speed of punk rock, with a loose, slightly jazzy approach to instrumental handling.
As might be gathered from the above description, the resulting music carries a certain mercurial character that does not always translate into solid gold (“Here to Rock” being the most obvious misstep, although not bad for a simple rocker), but when the seemingly disparate parts align properly (as in “Dark Rider”, “Night Siege” or “Into Battle”), the results are pure heavy metal magic.
Tags: brocas helm, Heavy Metal
I have a soft spot for old heavy metal bands like this, really get the blood pumping, but I never seem to listen to them on a regular basis.
Hey Fist Christ, you seem a very knowledgeable fisting and insertion artist, I have a question for you:
My wife took too many dicks before the accident and she is now loose as a cow, and since I don’t longer feel anything (at least I’m not the only one now, you damn bitch!) I had the following idea: After I put my dick in her asshole (also very loose), I put my hand up her cunt duck-bill style, and then I start rubbing my penile tube with my hand inside her. Do you think that’s a good idea, or could it be better?
As a fisting expert, I can’t recommend this practice at all. You are doing all the work! No, what you need is to bend your wife over like an animal, fist her in both nether orifices, and then have a young twink catboy to sodomize so you can feel the tightness of real mangina while still pleasuring your wife sexually. If you can swap turds between the partners, even better!
Heavy metal is a dinosaur these days. Why do we dig up the endless past, when the future is right in front of us — oh yeh I guess it is just more Brazil-style dystopia with mischling overlords ruling from the CIA and New York Times.
It’s about time this album got a proper review, nailed the best songs. I downloaded this album here almost 20 years ago, it’s fucking sweet!
It seems to be one of the less hysterical medieval heavy metal albums. Would mix well with WASP and Candlemass.
I don’t get it. With which WASP album exactly?
Inside the Electric Circus and The Crimson Idol. Might throw on some Cirith Ungol too.
Nah, WASP is playing in pure rock’n’roll mode. I’m almost amazed how they managed to create music that bland and featureless. Brocas on the other hand are more genuine, they are clearly striving for something more than rock. They tried to capture metal spirit through the actual music, but were held back by stupid rock mannerisms.
Some good riffs and all but the vocals are weak. Blackie on vocals would be sick
This record deserves the limelight, as the author says, it is pure metal magic. ‘Here to Rock’ sucks, the rest is beautiful. Atmospheric, submerged in a fantasy like world,thematic, mysterious, great songs! I got this one when it came out and it passed the test of time. All songs are great, but in my mind, ‘Ravenwreck’ keeps popping up.