Power Games [Red & Silver Vinyl]

Having gradually built a following in the U.K. and continental Europe, Bristol's finally found a home at specialist label , which released the band's explosive debut in the summer of 1983. Falling somewhere between the driving pummeling of and the over the top proto- of (largely due to drummer 's lightning-fast footwork), the album was rife with the typical cliches, often relying on sheer energy to get by. Frenetic opener (which made no sense to anyone not aware of the band's rabid following in that country) and ensuing amphetamine-driven gems like and help make this one of the most balls-out, rapid-fire romps ever to emerge from the genre. The pace only slackens somewhat for the group's mandatory attempt at delivering a power , in this case, the still quite intense Still, for all the raucous energy and good intent, experts will quickly recognize that 's music borrows heavily from more expressive members of the community, most notably . (The 1998 CD reissue of concludes with three pre-album tracks, including the hilariously excessive ) ~ Eduardo Rivadavia