CHALLENGER — So Sure Of Yourself (review)

CHALLENGER — So Sure Of Yourself album cover Demo · 1981 · NWoBHM Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Certif1ed
NWoBHM with keys can't help but sound like 1970s hard rock sometimes, and the A side of this single from Challenger is no exception.

The main differences are the heightened energy that the NWoBHM brought with it, and the stripped-down feel to the production - which is a great enhancement.

"So Sure of Yourself" is a real foot-tapper, a catchy slice of poppy rock with a shot of NWoBHM attitude and energy. The keyboard solo isn't exactly Jon Lord, but it's more than capable, and does what it's supposed to, which is to provide dark-flavoured entertainment for its duration, not only without getting boring, but lifting the piece.

"Out To Kill" is the killer track as is often the case with many of these demo 45's - you put the catchy song on the A side, and the stuff the band actually want to play on the B side.

This is a dark, dark track, with spine-chilling atmosphere and a far less 1970's sound - this is something much fresher. It's no less melodic than the A side - if anything, it's far more catchy, and the dramatic build-ups are a welcome change from the more predictable song structures of lesser bands. It reminds me of the later space rockers, Underground Zero, but without the Hawkwind synths.

Top stuff - worth tracking down for the B side.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
Certif1ed wrote:
more than 2 years ago
What can I say... I'm a NWoBHM Junkie. Once bitten, forever smitten :o)
Pekka wrote:
more than 2 years ago
The sheer volume of the NWOBHM bands that constantly keep getting added and reviewed by you never ceases to amaze me. Fantastic job you're doing!

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Hin helga kvöl Atmospheric Sludge Metal
SÓLSTAFIR
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Cycles of Suffering Black Metal
BURIAL OATH
Buy this album from MMA partners
Facilis Descensus Averno Death Metal
SAEVUS FINIS
Buy this album from MMA partners
Merciless Crossover Thrash
BODY COUNT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us