Certif1ed
Exposer were far more a Hard Rock outfit than true NWoBHM... but what's true NWoBHM anyway?
Rock Japan, the opener to this EP (or single, depending on which version you manage to track down) is a competent enough song, strong in melody, interesting in arrangement, thick with JCM gain and comfortable in tempo.
The next two songs don't have titles apart from "Untitled1 and Untitled2", but the chorus suggests that the first could be called "Nowhere to Hide" or possibly "No Place Left To Run" - and it's a quickish song with some nice twin lead lines, and infectious, driving beat.
The second of the two mystery songs is much heavier fayre than we've had so far, with angular riffs segueing suddely into something like chicken-pickin'. The half time bridge section is particularly atmospheric, and the band build back out of it nicely. It's a bit like early Budgie without the helium vocals of Burke Shelley or the solo pyromania of Tony Bourge - although that doesn't sell the song nearly as well as it deserves!
Rounding off the EP (and, indeed, the two-track version) is the uptempo "On My Knees" which doesn't flow quite as nicely as the other compositions and doesn't really get the fists clenched or the heads banging - although there's still plenty to like, particularly in the incediary tones achieved in the guitar solo. Never mind the notes, fire is everything, and this is burnin'
In summary, a good EP from Exposer, firmly in the hard rock vein of the NWoBHM goldmine and well worth a listen.