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"Hard 'N' Heavy" (Vol. 1 & 2) Various Artists |
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During the latter days of Metal's commercial peak, (late 80's - early 90's), an adventurous group of entrepreneurs decided that a Metal magazine on video would be just what the MTV generation was looking for. Though the work was top notch and the concept admirable, even copied by others, it didn't really have that long of a life. Perhaps the dressed down grunge mob didn't take to it or maybe there was just too much already available on MTV but not long after "HARD 'N' HEAVY" began, it ended. In the intervening years there have been those of us who have hunted video stores and flee markets for the original video copies but that search has been somewhat muted by the release of the first two "HARD 'N' Heavy" DVD's, thank you Ventura Distribution! The DVD version of "HARD 'N' HEAVY" is no mere re-issue of the video cassette material, in fact, what was done here is to take the best, most popular performances and interviews of the series and pack each DVD with better than 90 minutes of footage. In Volume 1 alone you get, BLACK SABATH, JUDAS PRIEST, OZZY, THIN LIZZY, QUEENSREICH, SCORPIONS, WHITE LION, DEEP PURPLE, LA GUNS, KINGDOM COME, VIXEN, DAVID BOWIE/TIN MACHINE, NIRVANA, EXODUS and GWAR interviews, concert footage and classic videos. The DEEP PURPLE segment is actually footage shot during the recording of the "Ferry -Aid" Project and is the only such footage that I have ever seen which makes this a treasure in and of itself. Volume 2 continues with wonderful material from KISS, WHITESNAKE, MEGADETH, IRON MAIDEN, THIN LIZZY, ALICE IN CHAINS, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, THE CULT, JIMI HENDRIX, ALICE COOPER, NIRVANA, JOE SATRIANI, LONDON QUIRE BOYS and QUEEN. "HARD 'N' HEAVY" was produced brilliantly combining rare footage from the US, UK and Europe with contributions of a who's who of Metal/Hard Rock journalism including Lonn Friend, Jim Ladd and Mick Wall. The animation footage by Tomcat is collectible in its own right and the soundtrack music was written and performed by Scott Gorham of THIN LIZZY. The addition of an up to date biography section covering most of the bands on the disc serves to add many hours more to the overall enjoyment of the viewer. In all this two DVD/VHS collection is easily the most exciting re-issue project of the year and long, long overdue. Released by Ventura Distribution: http://www.venturadistribution.com/ Review By David Lee |