Album
Soviet Invasion!
1982 · Rock
Rare pressing on Gatefold
Soviet Invasion! is a Rock album by Witchfinder General, originally released in 1982. On Gatefold: 5 pressings tracked.
About
What makes this Witchfinder General EP such an awesome treasure in the realm of doom metal is that it contains the band’s only known live recording—at least, that was true until some of the band members revealed that the live version of “R.I.P.” was a fake. At the request of Heavy Metal Records’ label head, Paul Birch, samples of enthusiastic fans were overdubbed in the studio to create a live effect. Curiously, once this fact was revealed, it made the <i>Soviet Invasion</i> EP twice as collectable (hence the 2004 and 2007 reissues of the EP). Originally recorded in 1982 with a limited pressing on 12-inch vinyl, the EP presented a title track inspired by Cold War tensions. That song opens pensively with acoustic guitar fingerpicking before detonating into leaden Sabbathesque sludge, as frontman Zeeb Parkes croons about fears of the U.S.S.R. instigating a third world war. This melding of early-'70s proto-metal with early-'80s lyrics that were topical at the time of hair metal’s heyday has somehow aged well, with an interesting contrast. The harder-driving “Rabies” is equally brutal and harmonious.
via Apple Music
The Clerk says
The Clerk knows this whole record — the pressing quirks, the credits, the take.
Tracklist
Side A
- ASoviet Invasion!
Side B
- B1Rabies
- B2R.I.P. (Live)
Sound DNA
- Rock
Notes from the original pressing. Later editions may differ.
Track B2 is not a real live recording. It's a studio production with crowd effects over-dubbed.
The fake live recording was done at the request of Paul Birch, head of Heavy Metal Records.
P & C 1982 Andersong/Heavy Metal Music
Credits
The people behind it.
Performers
- Phil CopeGUITAR
- Steve KinsellDRUMS
- Toss McCreadyBASS
- Zeeb ParkesVOCALS
Rare pressing on Gatefold · 5 pressings tracked on Gatefold
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