1973 ARMAGEDDON Steamhammer CAPTAIN BEYOND Hard Psych

$

39

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STEAMHAMMER MEETS CAPTAIN BEYOND & THE YARDBIRDS!

         EXPLOSIVE HARD PSYCH CLASSIC !!!            

                      Rare White label Promo

                          ARMAGEDDON                 

                  ...USA -A&M RECORDS - SP 4513 (WHITE LABEL PROMO) 

TOP COPY!

ADVANCE RELEASE 1973 first pressing"WHITE LABEL PROMOTIONAL" to an important album....

 ...a terrific hard psych onslaught powered by the drumming of Captain Beyond's Bobby Caldwell and driven by the legendary reminants of STEAMHAMMER (see Lp "Speech") topped off by the dynamic vocals of Keith Relf (ex-Yardbirds singer)... and you get the appropriately named ARMAGEDDON....

Contains the original custom designed lyrics inner sleeve...

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After the disolution of Steamhammer, Relf, and ex-Steamhammer members, Martin Pugh (guitar) and Louis Cennamo (bass) came to L.A. and hooked up with ex-Captain Beyond drummer Bobby Caldwell to form Armageddon. Armageddon combined the complex drum patterns of Caldwell, with Pugh's heavy and stylistic riffing and Relf's insightful and searching lyrics to create a haunting and enduring piece of heavy rock. Many of the best hard rock acts of the time (Dep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, etc) were moving on to slicker production of less gritty songs. Armageddon sounded like it was from an earlier and more "real" musical time, i.e. 1970.

The opening song "Buzzard" is usually listed by fans as the highlight of the album. Borrowing a riff from Steamhammer's "Penumbra," Pugh's guitar soars with speed, control and precision, while Relf's intelligent lyrics rap around the crashing, thunderous drums of Caldwell. It is an exhilarating eight minute flight worth taking over and over again.

While "Buzzard" is one of the album's highlights, it is by no means the sole reason to own this album. Other particularly strong moments include: the beautiful and stylish "Silver Tightrope," which features an echoing guitar and more contemplative lyrics from Relf, and "Last Stand Before" a Zeppelinesque (Physical Graffiti era) rocker with descriptive and prophetic lyrics. In this one Relf sings "Lost a friend, met his end, way before his time" and "my brother's falling catch him if I can. I see him falling you can join him in his last stand," it makes one wonder if Keith was aware of his own fate.

It's too bad that this proved to be the last stand for Relf and Armageddon. Relf returned to England due to poor health shortly after this was released. Relf's health and reported drug use among some of the band lead to Armageddon failing to release any more material. Relf died shortly after returning to England, when he was electrocuted while playing guitar.

Armageddon remains a powerful reminder of what artists where able to due when they were given the creative control to explore.

Buzzard 8:16

Silver Tightrope 8:23

Paths and Planes and Future Gains 4:30

B:

Last Stand Before 8:23

Basking in the White of the Midnight Sun 11:24

 - Warning Comin' On

- Basking in the White of the Midnight Sun

- Brother Ego

- Basking in the White of the Midnight Sun (Reprise)

CONDITION: The cover: is clean "EX" (excellent), sharp and crisp with small promo circle at top right, a bit of light handling is all, well enough kept to land a slot in any respectful collection... having no seam splits, no bends, no writing...

The vinyl: is real clean over both sides, "EX" (excellent) play graded TOP LEVEL, everyone should own a copy of this lethal beast...that is, anyone into Zeppelin, Captain Beyond and the like... both White label promo labels are CLEAN 

keeper!

A GREAT ADDITION TO ANYONE'S COLLECTION !

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record