Compilation with bands signed to German label Noise Records.
Noise 1998 - In The Year Of The TigerEvery year Chinese philosophy has the name of an animal as a symbol for the entire year. From now on we will present a sampler in the same way to sum up the musical developments at Noise for that year and to give you an idea of what will happen during the year after. 1998 was The Year Of The Tiger and in Chinese philosophy the tiger is the symbol for power and courage and is the highest/strongest/mightiest most powerful for the Chinese.
The outstanding new album of Virgin Steele, 'Invictus', was therefore perfect for the Year of the Tiger. With this album the New York based band has proved once again that they are all-conquering. The European tour following the release of the album also served to underline this face (even if a few fans did leave the venues with slightly damaged hearing...).
The Year of the Tiger is never calm (or, ahem, 'never quiet') and is always full of surprises. January 1998 started with a bang as we released the debut albums of two very promising newcomers, Pissing Razors, with their self-titled album and Stigmata IV 'Solumn Mente Infirmis'. Pissing Razors are never calm and certainly never quiet, and not only did they convince on record, but also live as support to Pro-Pain on a massive European tour. One or two people may have mocked the rather unorthodox name of these Mexican-Americans from El Paso, Texas, but it also made for some great feature headlines (our favourite was "Wee Will Rock You!").
Stigmata IV also received good reviews everywhere, although directly after the release of the album (released as Stigmata) the band ran into legal problems with their name which led to the addition of the IV. Despite this legal crap they returned to the studio and already in October 1998 we have released their second album, 'The Court of Eternity', which demonstrates a big musical development. Stigmata IV are without doubt one of the most promising and talented new acts of Noise.
The Tiger is also a symbol of determination and thirst for action. Putting the latter into practice, Kamelot and Elegy went on a European tour together directly after the release of their new albums in the autumn. Kamelot's new singer Roy Khan (who many of you may remember as the frontman of Conception) made his debut on 'Siege Perilous'; before he was accepted into the group, however, he was forced to do a skydive together with the other band members. Needless to say he came through this ordeal with flying colours, cool as a cucumber.
Elegy decided to strike again, too. And that's what they did. Ignoring all trends and moods they stood for what they were and still are. "Manifestation of Fear" came up with high quality metal performed by outrageous musicians. The album showed what good guitar playing and song writing is all about. The great production did the rest. Cool stuff. Cool as the tiger.
Stratovarius totally followed the symbol of the Tiger in 1998: with a lust for action and absolutely powerful they started their fight against all the forces of the world, accepting the might of their own destiny. They began the year with the release of the double live album, 'Visions of Europe', in June recieved their first gold record for the Finnish sales of their previous studio album 'Visions', and then immediately entered the Finnvox Studios in Helsinki to record the best Stratovarius album ever, 'Destiny', which entered the charts in serveral countries straight after it's release in October. Prior to it's release the single "S.O.S." and accompanying video clip also created a great deal of interest. In addition to all this, Stratovarius played nearly every important festival in Europe in 1998. During the Gods of Metal festival in Italy Timo Tolkki not only smashed his guitar in front of 25.000 fans, but the band also caused a commotion by doing an in-store in a tent, which was subsequently torn down by hundreds of fans! A European tour is scheduled for late 1998/early 1999... expected similar levels of mayhem!
Tura Satana once again showed themselves to be full of fighting spirit and eager for action. In April they released the UK only single 'Venus Diablo' to coincide with a sell-out 14 date tour in that territory and in the autumn won the 'Spirit of Independence' prize at the Kerrang! Awards ceremony. As the Tiger symbolizes not only action and courage, but also indicates catastrophes of any kind, perhaps it was inevitable that we would part company with Turat Satana in September! At the time of release of this sampler rumours are circulating that the band have actually split.
The Tiger is also a symbol of audacity and daring, and Superior is surely a good example of this attitude. With the release of their second album, 'Younique', in late August, they undoubtedly surprised many listeners with the sheer scope and quality of their music, daring to mix various disparate musical genres with no littly style. Expressing their own, er, unique vision, they couldn't have cared less for the commercial prospects of their new songs, but 'Younique' was a great musical and artistic success.
Headstone Epitaph has a good start with the release of their album, 'Wings of Eternity'. They label colleuges Elegy headlined the Psycho FEstival in Italy and Headstone Epitaph supported them, getting a great reception from the audience. Watch out for more good news from the band in the next year: The year of the Cat.
The guys from Iron Savior are also fully into the rhythm of the Chinese horoscope. Following a headlining of 1998 they entered the studio again to record their second album 'Unification', to be released in January 1999, preceded by the single 'Coming Home' (released in October 1998). The Iron Savior story will go on with the next album: the courageous Iron Savior is returning to Earth. 1999 is symbolized by the Cat and this symbol stands forcommunication. Does this mean that Iron Savior and human beings will communicate and find a solution to overcome their problems? I guess we will find out in January...
The year of the Tiger was also a perfect year to release the rebellius and powerful album of the US outfit Wicked Angel, entitled 'Heads Will Roll'. The album and the video were issued in late June and helped make the summer a lot hotter! Without pausing for breath, they went on a European tour in October as support to Iced Earth and Sentenced, following which they will enter the studio again to record their next album.
We, the Noise team hope that you too had a good Year of the Tiger. With your numerous letters and e-mails and your VMD traffic on our website you give not only us, but also all our bands. The feedback and the support we need to go on. We are looking forward to the new year with you in 1999 - The Year of the Cat.
Even without looking very far into the year, we will see not only a great and long tour by Stratovarius, but also the release of new albums such as:
Iron Savior - Unification (January) plus a German tour with Grave Digger
Ivanhoe - Truth To Promises (January)
Gamma Ray - Powerplant (Spring 1999)
Virgin Steele - Their First Rock Opera (Autumn 1999). The opera will be performed in theatres in Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Trierand and Memmingen in early summer 1999.
There will also be new album releases by Headstone Epitaph, Pissing Razors, Mindset, Wicked Angel and many more during the next year. There are already songs from the new albums by Mindset and Iron Saviour on this CD. Let us know what you think of them! and we hope you also enjoy the other music on this sampler.
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![Noise Records [GER]](/images/tags/noiserec.png "Noise Records [GER]")
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