‘Headhunter’ marked the end of Krokus’ boogie era, which had lasted for four albums since 1978, and saw them take their one real shot at traditional heavy metal.
Written by: Dangerzone
ARTIST: Krokus
ALBUM: Headhunter
LABEL: Arista
SERIAL: 205 255 (UK), 9623 (USA)
YEAR: 1983
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Switzerland
LINEUP: Marc Storace – vocals * Fernando Von Arb – guitars * Mark Kohler – guitars * Chris Von Rohr – bass * Steve Pace – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Headhunter * 02 Eat The Rich * 03 Screaming In The Night * 04 Ready To Burn * 05 Night Wolf * 06 Stayed Awake All Night * 07 Stand And Be Counted * 08 White Din * 09 Russian Winter
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
‘Headhunter’ marked the end of Krokus’ boogie era, which had lasted for four albums since 1978, and saw them take their one real shot at traditional heavy metal. It was a good shot.
‘Headhunter’ was the best metal album of 1983, surpassing the dozens of classics that year by artists like Iron Maiden and Saxon among throngs of others. ‘Headhunter’ finally broke Krokus in the US and elevated them to arena status and became their only platinum record. It remains one of the most energetic, exciting metal albums to this day. Not boogie nor hard rock.
The Songs
You know you’re in for a treat from the opening few bars of the title cut. Pounding drums from Pace followed by truly brutal riffing far removed from the memorable AC/DC‘ ish efforts of yesteryear.
It moves at top speed, Storace abandoning his Bon Scott voice and adopting the full pitch approach. Perhaps one of the greatest openers ever. ‘Eat The Rich’ builds it’s heaviness as it goes, brooding riffs equalled by Storace’s ultra cool vocals.
‘Screaming In The Night’ is the best known cut, a metal ballad supposedly, but gathers steam as it progresses through it’s six plus minutes. A tour de force effort from Storace and the closest to an AOR chorus you’ll get here.
The tandem of Von Arb and Kohler tear it up on ‘Ready To Burn’, the unified riffs a solid wall of noise. Rob Halford (Judas Priest) is heard on backing vocals on the classic chanted chorus. ‘Night Wolf’ is an anthem and a class in perfect heavy metal. It’s fast, has the riffs, the vocals, subject matter, everything. The bottom line in perfection in this genre.
‘Stayed Awake All Night’ is Krokus’ then obligatory cover, this one of course is the old Bachman Turner Overdrive classic, made Krokus’ own by this updated rendition. ‘Stand And Be Counted’ is an ‘us against them’ anthem, melodic metal genius with brilliant lyrics like ‘battle axe ready, in the danger zone’.
‘White Din’ is a quick instrumental which leads into ‘Russian Winter’, with it’s galloping riffs and harsh subject matter relaying an authentic atmosphere of such a climate.
In Summary
Krokus moved back to hard rock for 1984’s ‘The Blitz’ and never really attempted such an assault again. Krokus peaked with ‘Headhunter’ commercially and it erased the worn notion that they were simply AC/DC clones. It was music AC/DC never tried.
Storace staked his claim here as an all time great. His power took new life under the new sound, and he owned the band with his charisma and cool. Krokus have long been a source of dismay for ponce journalists: I think they are one of the best bands ever. The force of ‘Headhunter’ is authentic; truly the heaviest metal you will ever hear.
Krokus on Video
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