KROKUS — Headhunter (review)

Album · 1983 · Heavy Metal

5/5 · 2018-04-07
Unitron

Swiss heavy metal band Krokus has a bit of a similar history to their German neighbors The Scorpions. Both bands had their beginnings in the 70's as heavy progressive rock bands, though Krokus didn't have the Krautrock influence that the Scorpions had in their early days. They rather mainly took influence from bands such as Yes and Uriah Heep. Both bands changed their sound pretty quickly, and both adapted a more traditional hard rock sound, with Scorpions quickly joining in on the blossoming heavy metal scene in the late 70's with the classic Taken By Force. Krokus took a bit more time to bring in the heavy metal, starting with 1980's Metal Rendezvous before fully taking form on what many consider to be the band's magnum opus, Headhunter.

Headhunter just blasts right through the gates with the blistering title track that brings to mind the early speed metal of Accept. Speaking of Accept, both bands were criticized back in the day for sounding too much like AC/DC. Let me just say, those criticisms are mostly bullshit. The only slight comparison that can be made, is that Marc Storace's vocals have that scratchy rasp that Bon Scott had. They don't sound much alike though, they just have a similar vocal style. In fact, if I had to compare Krokus to any band, it would probably be Saxon. Even then, Krokus has a unique sound of their own.

Headhunter's status as the band's magnum opus is well-deserved, as every song is classic heavy metal at its very best. There's really no picking highlights on this album, there's a perfect mix of high-octane heavy metal, hard rock swagger, and more majestic and epic moments. The classic "Screaming in the Night" is the best known on the album, and represents the majesty of 80's metal at it's best. Fernando Von Arb and Mark Kohler shine through with beautiful melodies, while also bringing in some unique riffing during the bridge that I'm assuming is some sort of pick-scratching. Whatever it is, it sounds really damn cool on both the aforementioned song as well as the intro instrumental to the last song, "White Din". It's also impossible to not sing-along to the fantastic chorus. The finale "Russian Winter" ends the album with a classic 80's guitar gallop blended with an epic atmosphere. This is the kind of music that plays as Valkyries march into Valhalla.

Okay, I know I said there's really no picking highlights, but there is one that stands out as one of the greatest damn songs ever written and that is "Ready to Burn". With the one and only Rob Halford guesting on backing vocals, you've got to know this is going to be a treat. With a fist pumping bullet of a main riff and an infectiously catchy chorus that you can't help but scream along to, it's just so bloody fun. If you can't immediately start rocking out to this song, you better "hit the road, jack!". That masterpiece of a song is followed up perfectly by the almost equally fantastic "Night Wolf". It keeps your headbanging from the last track, the guitars just shred like there's no tomorrow, and try not to scream along to 'NIGHT WOLF, NIGHT WOLF'. "Stand and Be Counted" continues with a driving drill of a riff, while "Eat the Rich" brings in a bit of hard rock swagger.

Steve Pace gets some time to shine on the drums during the bridge of "Stayed Awake All Night", which brings to mind the somewhat psychedelic bridge of Led Zeppelin's classic "Whole Lotta Love". Chris Von Rohr's bass is consistently audible and keeps a pumping rhythm. Tom Allom is at the helm as producer, who Judas Priest fans will know as being the one who produced the legendary Priest classics of the 80's, and you can hear it on this record.

After a few listens, this album has cemented itself as what I think is one of the greatest classic heavy metal albums of the 80's. It deserves to be mentioned alongside the Priest, Saxon, and Accept classics as some of the greatest albums that the 80's had to offer. If you're a fan of all things old school metal and you've never given Krokus the time of day, give a listen to the masterful metal might that is Headhunter.

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more than 2 years ago
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Unitron wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Thanks, I honestly haven't heard a whole lot of their stuff past Headhunter. I've heard The Blitz and Stampede, which I think both are pretty good but nowhere near the level of greatness this album is. I'd say their second best out of what I've heard is Metal Rendezvous.

666sharon666 wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Reviewer's Challenge Points: 3

siLLy puPPy wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Great review! This is Krokus' finest moment although i find the album sags a bit at the end. They lost me on the next album and i'm not at all interested in hearing anything after. The vocals on this one are excellent!