Album review : CHATEAUX – Spirit Of The Chateau (3 CD Reissue)

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

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