Avang'Hard 2 compilation (1994)

 

Cost: $1.99

Compilation with 5 obscure French bands who get 3 songs each:

Broken Arrow

The intro to "Highway Stranger" reminds me a bit of Anthrax's "In My World," then it becomes some kinda-thrashy-but-not-really-thrash stuff. The solo section is great though. "Sword and Sorcery" has some nice '80s sounding galloping trad. HM sections and an awesome solo, but it's let down by too many plodding parts and ill-fitting vocals. Last track is bass-driven, mellower, and has more of a proggy feel.

 

Hysteria

"La Raie Publique" is pleasant, rumbly metal. There's something in there that reminds me of a mid-paced Vulcain song, but it's not Motörheadish at all. From this, I had high hopes they'd be the best band on the compilation, but "Never Die" is kind of generic hard rocking, while "Extasy" brings back some heaviness but isn't nearly as interesting as that first song.

 

Queensway

Kinda disappointing. "Just Fight" seems hard-driving at first but the sleazy vocals and hair band touches put me off.  "No Excuses" seems like it's going to be cool with a very interesting Egyptian melody, but then the chorus parts drastically shift to very hair band-sounding stuff. "Don't Be Afraid" balances the metal and the L.A. influences a little better, but I'm not sure how I feel about the weird chorus and vocal effects. At least it stands out I guess...

 

Revert

Was not expecting this at all! Very shreddy all-instrumental stuff with a drum machine. These almost feel like stock music or backing tracks (I mean this in the best way possible) you'd hear in an older video game or other media when heavy music is needed. Even with no vocals and a drum machine, they're the most consistent band on here by leaps and bounds, and these songs come off as more fully formed and well-composed than the other bands. 

 

Daggers Drawn 

The name made me expect a punk/HC band. First 2 tracks are very alternative rock sounding. I suppose the last track starts to approach being some sort of prog./avant-garde/funk metal hybrid, but it's nowhere near interesting enough for me to want to further dissect it.

 

Not really that great in itself as a compilation, but somewhat interesting as a look at some unknown demo-level French bands. To the credit of the bands, I will say that with the exception of Daggers Drawn, any of this material would be believable as earlier '90s or even late '80s recordings.