Search - Girlschool :: Demolition

999...EMERGENCY...999...EMERGENCY!!!

David Chris Dalton | Raleigh, NC United States | 09/09/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the 1980 debut from Girlschool.



Not quite as superb as the follow up, the magnificent "Hit and Run" which also just got Sanctuary's reissue treatment, but close.



All the same elements there. Punk-inspired/fuled NWOBHM (let's face it, all the NWOBHM bands really reveal their essential rock 'n' roll qualities 25 years later) with a heavy dose of Motorhead.



The songwriting and production would improve on the next release, but all the spirit, fire, drive and rock 'n' roll attitude is present right here.



A must own!



I pray Sanctuary now reissues 1982's "Screaming Blue Murder" with it's original U.K. mix. That would be the final icing on the cake!!!!



Cheers, you lot!"

Better than the boys

Bloodbath_and_Beyond | usa | 07/13/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Any NWOBHM fan should be aware of Girlschool. In 1980/81 some of the seminal releases in the blooming heavy metal genre came out, though they were and remain to be underground albums, the music still holds up as the early stage of metal, although by todays standards the more basic hard rock and punk roots really show themselves. Whether or not directly inspired by the first ever female rock band the Runaways, Girlshcool offer a similar dose of bone crunching rock n roll. Incredible hooks, dirty guitars, that raw drum sound, and a stand alone dose of infectious energy. Demolition Boys is probably the ultimate classic here, featured in the NWOBHM '79 Revisted compilation released in 1990 by Lars Ulrich and fellow NWOBHM guru Geoff Barton, the whole album contains plenty of key cuts like Race With The Devil, Take It All Away, Midnight Ride, the fast rocking Deadline, and the hooky hard rock anthem Breakdown.



The remastered edition on Castle from 2004 is the one to get, 9 bomus cuts, featuring a few B-sides, a segment from the BBC Friday Rock Show, and 2 demo's. Also a nice booklet inside with a few photos and liner notes. In other words, its a great package for fans of the band and early 80's hard rock mogules in general. There's just something about the time, or era that makes rock music so much better than todays bland scene and Girlschool capture that perfectally. If you've never heard them before, its basically Motorhead only with chicks, with a hint of AC/DC thrown in. This album is a lost classic and sadly Girlschool remains largely unknown with the average rock fan. If you're into the real stuff, get this and the bands second album Hit & Run."