Cherry Red [Release date : 21.06.24]

CD1: Chained And Desperate (1983)
CD2: Firepower (1984)
CD3: Highly Strung (1985)

Led by guitarist, Tim Broughton, English metal band Chateau signed to Ebony Records, a NWOBHM startup label, in 1981.

The band (previously known as Stealer) brought the relatively unknown vocalist, Steve (Grim Reaper) Grimmett onboard to beef up the vocals on their debut, Chained And Desperate.

It’s a mixed bag of an album, Broughton wrenches dirty, rustbucket riffs from the heavy metal depths on standout tracks ‘Burn Out At Dawn’ and ‘Chained And Desperate’, the title track, complemented (if that’s the right word) by Grimmett’s skyscraper vocals.

It’s only when ambition overtakes the album’s endearingly primitive production values that songs like the epic ‘Spirit Of The Chateau’ and ‘Shine On Forever’ don’t quite make the dramatic leap intended, but Grimmett’s primal power just about takes us there.

By Firepower, album no.2, Grimmett had gone back to Grim Reaper full time. Shame, studio time and money had been spent on this one.

In reality, the songs suffered a bit from “six months to write the second album” syndrome, so they needed all the studio help they could get.

New singer, Krys Mason wasn’t Grimmett, but he knew how to nail down a tune in an animated and appealing manner.

The adrenaline rush of ‘Rock And Roll Thunder’ and Broughton’s armour plated riff on ‘Eyes Of Stone’ make an instant impression. There are no pretensions here. Lyrically, the same is true throughout the album, sometimes to the point of superficiality.

Still, even overused song titles like ‘Hero’ and ‘Run In The Night’ revealed a couple of not half bad NWOBHM afterthoughts.
Great cover artwork too.

Highly Strung, the third album, finds it difficult to gain traction.

There are only so many times a band can roll out the same formula, and although, in NWOBHM terms (which is what we’re talking about here), the cranked up, frenzied metal of ‘Turn It On’ and ‘Through The Fire’ deliver what was ordered, the record buying public was beginning to look for more. Times change.

Chateau kept the NWOBHM flame alive as the genre’s attraction gradually diminished through the eighties.

It was good while it lasted, and there’s a lot to be said for that. ***

Review by Brian McGowan

---

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

---

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

---

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

---

---

Popular (last 10 days)

---