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The Heavy Metal Box is a four disc set put out by the
Rhino / Wea label available on amazon for $59.99 spanning
just over 20 years (1968-1991) of formative music.The set
is very attractively packaged with each of the four discs
done in black and gray simplistic designs evoking thoughts
of hypnotic guitar riffs, thunderous music, and sweat spattering
performances. The box itself is made to look like an amp
complete with a volume dial maxing out at 11, a nod to Spinal
Tap; very clever and amusing! A booklet is also included
in the set featuring essays from Ronnie James Dio and Lita
Ford, and a intimate history of metal by Mick Wall. ****
The music itself is truly an impressive collection.
In these 70 songs we are given some of the genres greatest
hits, most influential sounds, and even some rare gems like
"White Witch" by the '77 British invasion metal band Angel
Witch who appeared on these shores along with artists who
went on to become icons of the genre they delivered, like
Iron Maiden and Saxon who can also be found in this set.
Angel Witch began under the name Lucifer, and isn't likely
to be instantly recognizable by anyone not devoted to the
genre. Their track found here, "White Witch", is not to
be missed though and is definitely one of those pleasant
surprises one finds on truly unique compilations.****
Some more easily recognizable artists included, like
Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Metallica, or Alice Cooper,
contribute some excellent music. "I'll See the Light, Tonight"
is certainly not Malmsteen's most well known work, but I
love that this set chooses some of the great lesser known
works from these artists. No compilation of early heavy
metal/hard rock would be complete without songs like "In-a-gadda-da-vidda"
(Iron Butterfly even a short-play version as was included
here), "Highway Star" (Deep Purple), "Metal Health" (Quiet
Riot), or "the Number of the Beast" (Iron Maiden). However,
it is when we are also given hidden treasures like "Godzilla"
(Blue Oyster Cult), "To Hell with the Devil"(Stryper), "Watch
the Children Pray"(Metal Church), "A Little Time"(Helloween)
and "Cowboys from Hell"(Pantera), along with a few true
rarities that you know you have just found a heavy metal
horde worthy of even a grandaddy dragon!***
The songs appear more or less in chronological order,
and the choices on each disc actually compliment each other
really well. One of the most difficult thing about a compilation,
especially one that spans such a wide slice of musical history,
is keeping a good flow from song to song; evoking the feel
of a complete work rather than just a random collection
of songs. The Heavy Metal Box is an ironclad chest filled
to the brim with a wealth of shimmering metallic music.
I do feel that some of the genre's best and brightest haven't
been truly represented. AC/DC and Ozzy have apparently been
stashed in some other hoard, and their absence is as glaring
as the odd gem prized from the hilt of an ancient sword.
***
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