SNOWBLIND - SNOWBLIND (1985, MAUSOLEUM)
Ross Bingham - keyboards, guitars
Andy Simmons - guitars
Kevin Baker - drums
Geoff Gillespie - bass, backing vocals
Tony Mason - vocals

Background
Featuring bassist Geoff Gillespie formerly of NWOBHM hopeful's Sabre and future label head at Majestic Rock Records, it's not difficult to understand why Gillespie would reissue Snowblind's debut which was originally released on Belgium's Mausoleum Records. It was his baby and according to the extensive liner notes, Snowblind had a lot going their way with plenty of press and high profile gigs, but for various reasons failed to hold things together and split up rather quickly after the release of this album.

The Songs
The music of Snowblind is typical 80's melodic rock fare bringing to mind Saracen, Grand Prix and Nightwing. The sound is keyboard heavy with slight progressive rock touches and vocalist Tony Mason does an admirable job, but as the disc wears on I found myself growing tired of his vocal inflections and overall the material doesn't hold up very well. The opening 'Walk the Line', 'Possession' and the Styx influenced 'Now is the Hour' are all very good on their own, but there is a 'sameness' to the disc that I just can't shake no matter how many times I listen to it. These guys had talent; they just needed better songs or perhaps an outside writer that would have given them the edge in what at the time was a rather crowded AOR scene.

In Summary
As with everything to do with Majestic Rock releases, this is a nicely presented reissue with bonus material that fans of 80's pomp should have this in their collections. Let's hope Gillespie and company dig deeper into the Mausoleum vaults in the future as there are a handful of 80's gems collecting dust that cry out for the same treatment afforded Snowblind.

Track Listing:
01 Walk The Line
02 Chasing The Dragon
03 Possession
04 Sierra
05 Now Is The Hour
06 Losing My Place
07 Hold On
08 Possession (reprise)
09 Hold On*
10 Chasing The Dragon*
11 Losing My Place*
12 Walk The Line*
(* BBC session-Bonus Tracks)

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Posted by Eric on June 04, 2006 · 0 Comments · 1687 Reads ·