Sadly, PAUL Di’ANNO, the original singer for heavy metal band Iron Maiden, has died yesterday at the age of 66. As a true pioneer from the genre, here’s our fitting tribute to the legendary vocalist: the first studio album with his band KILLERS, 1992’s “Murder One” in its Deluxe Edition remastered including bonus tracks.
For us, KILLERS, and especially this “Murder One”, represents one of Paul Di’Anno’s finest moments apart of Iron Maiden.
Coming together in 1991, KILLERS was a ‘metal super group’ featuring members from bands including Iron Maiden, Tank, Raven and Battlezone, and they were hailed by the press as the ‘Natural successor to Judas Priest’. Killers represent all that is British Metal at its very best.
“Murder One”, recorded in USA included Paul Di’Anno – vocals, Steve Hopgood – drums, Cliff Evans – guitar, Gavin Cooper – bass guitar, and Nick Burr – guitar, was officially released in 1992. Acclaimed by the press worldwide, the album became a world-wide classic for lovers of traditional metal.
This Metal Mind Records remaster sounds fabulous and includes exclusive bonus tracks.
In 1992, “Murder One” was a welcomed blast of straight-up Judas Priest, Accept style Heavy Metal and really didn’t sound much like Di’Anno’s previous work both as a solo artist or even when he was with Maiden. But it’s metal, real heavy metal.
The first track Impaler begins with a scream and a flurry of wild drumming (almost reminding me of the opening drum part in Hot For Teacher by Van Halen) before exploding into a great riff-driven smoker along the likes of a Painkiller or Saxon – Motorcycle Man type of tempo. Paul’s voice just wails on this track and it sounds awesome. This is probably the best track on the CD and WOW…what a way to open an album!!!
The next track The Beast Arises is another solid midtempo song with some cool guitar hooks and a great driving beat. Children Of The Revolution is a cover of an old T-Rex song and it is given the full-metal treatment with a slow pounding beat and great backing vocals for the choruses.
Another favorite track S&M features a great guitar riff and again the powerful, passionate Di’anno vocal style. This song also has some nice melodic guitar hooks used in the pre-chorus but is a great hard-driving song.
Taking No Prisoners is very much in the vein of Di’Anno previous solo work, and is a solid melodic hard rock song with a huge chorus and some tasty guitar hooks. This song really breaks things up a bit and is an example of where to place a more melodic, less-aggressive tune (i.e. about 4 or 5 songs in!!!). It’s by no means a ballad, but just a more melodic rocker.
Marshall Lockjaw, whose character is featured on the inside booklet, is about a futuristic bounty-hunter and is another smoker. This track really cooks and the opening riff almost has a Motley Crue Live Wire type feel to it. A number full of speed riffing and great shredding leads and is another highlight.
There’s a version of Maiden’s Remember Tomorrow (not bad and a little different sounding…..but certainly not as good as the original) and really fit in with the overall sound and flow of the album.
I think besides Di’anno’s work on Iron Maiden’s first albums, this is his next best work speaking of ‘heavy metal’. His voice simply sounds flawless on KILLERS’s “Murder One”. It doesn’t sound strained at all and at times, I think is some of the best vocal work I’ve ever heard him do.
His voice really clicks with this hard-driving metal sound. If you like late ’80s style metal along the likes of Accept, Priest and Saxon or are a fan of Paul Di’anno you should check out this CD, for years hard to find in its original printing but now this Deluxe Edition is still available, and includes enjoyable bonus tracks.
R.I.P. Paul
01 – Impaler
02 – The Beast Arises
03 – Children of the Revolution
04 – S & M
05 – Takin’ No Prisoners
06 – Marshall Lokjaw
07 – Protector
08 – Dream Keeper
09 – Awakening
10 – Remember Tomorrow
BONUS TRACKS:
11 – Impaler (Live Rehearsal)
12 – The Beast Arises (Live Rehearsal)
13 – Marshall Lokjaw (Live Rehearsal)
14 – Children of the Revolution (Live Rehearsal)
15 – Dream Keeper (Acoustic Version)
Paul Di’Anno – Vocals
Cliff Evans – Guitars
Nick Burr – Guitars, Vocals (backing)
Steve Hopgood – Drums
Gavin Cooper – Bass
KILLERS (Paul Di’Anno) – Murder One [Deluxe Edition remastered +5 bonus] , MP3+FLAC
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