Brocas Helm - Defender of the Crown (Eigenproduktion)
By Michael Ballue
July 28, 2004

It's been way too long since Brocas Helm's last LP 1988's Black Death. It and it's predecessor Into Battle are true metal classics from the days of yore. It's with good reason that these boys are highly valued by collectors, mentioned in the same breath as Manilla Road, and treated as conquering heros in parts of Europe. The Bay Area has long been a hot bed of support for the truly unique in metal from thrash's infancy to Blind Illusion to Lord Weird Slough Feg (who I think may have been a little influenced by Brocas Helm), so it's no surprise that this is where these guy's unique and twisted take on true metal hails from.

Defender of the Crown won't dissappoint the old fans either. With three tunes ("Drink and Drive", "Blood Machine" and "Helm's Deep") resurrected from 1989's Black Death demo and the new ones standing up well ("Skullfucker" and "Ghost Story" are great fully metal rockers and the title track is one of the best ever by this band), there's no let down anywhere on this disc. Those pounding charging metal rhythms, unique clear and true vocals and those glorious melodic "solo like riffing" guitars (done well by so few bands, Slough Feg and Maiden being a couple of others) up front.

The only possible complaint would be the production. And I say possible because despite it's musty and claustrophobic nature it has almost become a calling card for the band, and fits the weird haunted vibe of the material very well. I find myself caught between wondering what they could do with a full, powerful production and hoping they never change the sound.

It may not be for everyone, but if you love true metal, you need all this bands material, including this one. Where else can you get 15 tracks of non-stop, high quality old school head banging true metal that is blazingly unique and wonderfully familiar all at once?

Purchase Defender of the Crown at the Hellride Music Superstore

Visit the Brocas Helm website at www.brocashelm.com

theminio

Teh gig Brocas Helm gave in Athens was probably the worst gig I've ever been to. I am still not sure which was worse, the band or the audience.

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http://www.paganaltartemplars.com/

Heavy Metal re mounia!

Mike

Wow! I'm stunned and amazed by that. I saw them in Frisco back in 88 and they were awesome. Maybe it doesn't work as well as a three piece as it did back then as a four piece. What was wrong with the band? the audience?

Kevin

Another fine mess o' verbiage from Grandmaster Mike. What's your take on this, Greg F?

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Now wait a minute, I can't change attitudes!

theminio

I saw them in their first appearance in Greece on November 2001. So it's quite a big time interval since you saw them in Frisco. The sound was horrible, the band looked like they had not rehearsed for years.
About the audience, in Greece there is an unofficial circle of true epic metal fans, for which every band with battle/epic lyrics or influenced by Manowar enjoys God like status, wether it's a good band like Brocas Helm or Manilla Road, or clone bands that have no talent at all. All you need is a demo cover with a barbaric image of Conan and you become instantly a great cult band. So Iwas there watching Brocas Helm screw their own songs by their poor performance, but this made no difference to the audience, they could play "London Bridge is Falling Down" and the reactions would be the same. And this annoys me big time.

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http://www.paganaltartemplars.com/

Heavy Metal re mounia!

Mike

Hmmmm, I really hope these guys get some rehearsal time in then. Their material is awesome and they're great guys. I got to interview them back in the 80's and they were extremely cool and hospitible. Not only that but they used to run The Record Vault in San Francisco, which back in the mid 80's rivaled Shades as the coolest record store on the planet.

Greg

I didn't know they owned The Record Vault. I used to dream about making a trip out west to hang out there. I learn something new everyday. As always, thanks the info Mike.

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"My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable..."

brocas

Ok, let's clear up a few things.

We did not own the record vault, I used to work there - and it was a great store. Possibly the greatest I've ever known; all the locals mourned it's passing.

On practice: We practiced 3 hours a day, 4-5 days a week before the Athens gig. We were ready.

However, the day of the show, I had to drag both Bob and Jack off of their deathbeds to play, both were puking their guts out. So they need a little slack.

But if I played poorly, I did it all on my own, because I wasn't sick. And although we've done much much better in the past, I still don't feel it was quite as bad as you say it was....

Jim Schumacher

benhogg

I had the "Into Battle" cassette. I'm so fuckin cult. And old.

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go to www.beatenbacktopure.com and buy some fuckin merch

ISEN TORR

Well I think Theminio's opinions are full of shit to be honest. Sounds like a bunch of fucking sour grapes. BROCAS HELM are simply incredible, and as for you accusations of "The unnofficial circle of true epic metal fans" in Greece, well, i know alot of those guys and I think they are dedicated fans of the band and of that classic metal sound. If you hated it that much you should have left the fucking building.

Oh, and you can do better musically, then please, do so. Put your money where your mouth is neighbour instead of talking shit.

merlot brougham

Themis gave his opinion and whether you like it or not he is entitled to do so. As a matter of fact on this site we encourage it. He was there, you weren't and even a band member confirmed that they had an off night. So if you want to be a dick and get personal fuck off we don't want you here.

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If you don’t see the humor in metal, then you should just move your ass to Norway and start burning churches and shit.

ISEN TORR

Sorry, but by your tone I can gather you know absolutely everything about me......or something. Well, I was there actually. And what a great show it was. Worth every damn penny I spent getting there. The general tone was in Therminio's post exceptionally derisive both to Brocas Helm and the Greek underground scene. His lack of reply by himself at this moment speaks volumes.

And as for opinions, I'm entitled to mine whether YOU like it or not. If you have a problem with that, then bury your head in the sand and pretend people like me don't exist. Until any of you actually pick up a guitar and go through the hard work a band like BH has, then you are purely armchair critics. Whether Jim says they were below par or not, they are still musically superior to 99.999% of all known bands. Live with it.

Norway? Yeah. Right. The intelligence and wit of that comment was biblical in proportion. Well done. No, really, well done......................

Cripbast

I bought the Brocas Helm demo at the Record Vault in the 80's along with Death Angel's Ultraviolence demo and a bunch of killer shirts like: Satan - Court In the Act, Oz-Fire In the Brain etc. I'm one of those ultra cult old fuckers too.

Chris

To be fair, Themis is on holiday for two weeks. He's not one to run from argument.