ROXXCALIBUR - 'NWOBHM For Muthas (Limb Music)
“We are no great fans of tribute bands or tribute albums,” says Roxxcalibur drummer and driving force Neudi by way of introduction; “OK, you can enjoy an AC/DC covers band after several beers, but that’s about it. But when my interest in the NWOBHM became an addiction about ten years ago the idea of a tribute band formed in my head. There are so many great songs that stayed unknown and many of them were of a poor sound quality due to the lack of money or label support. I never had a problem with this rough sound, but you can’t play the ARC single ‘War Of The Ring’, for example, to a 16 year old metalhead today and expect him to enjoy it; but I was sure that he would enjoy the song itself. I tried to find musicians for that project, knowing that our singer Alexx had also been interested in the idea for some time. But it was in 2007, after we met Kalli from Abandonned and Mario that the thing got more concrete. We had a barbeque at my house and started listening to some old vinyl; a couple of days later we were rehearsing ‘Seven Days of Splendour’.”
And so was born Roxxcalibur, and their debut album ‘NWOBHM For Muthas’. Taking their name from the rare NWOBHM compilation album of the same name (although inexplicably adding another ‘x’), Roxxcalibur is the brainchild of Viron drummer and NWOBHM fanatic Neudi who roped in bandmates Alexx Stahl (vocals) and Roger Dequis (guitars), Kalli Kaldschmidt (guitars) from thrash band Abandonned and bassist Mario Lang [ex-Into The Abyss]. ‘NWOBHM For Muthas’ steers well clear of the more well-known NWOBHM material, so there’s nothing from Iron Maiden, Saxon or Def Leppard. Neudi also decided to avoid anything already ‘properly’ covered by Metallica, thus kicking the bulk of Diamond Head’s back catalogue into touch! In all, ‘NWOBHM For Muthas’ ably tackles songs by JJ’s Powerhouse, Cloven Hoof, Jameson Raid, Bleak House, Jaguar, Dark Star, Trident, ARC, Witchfinder General, Savage, Radium, Chateaux and Grim Reaper, and visually the band do a light-hearted job of recreating both Raven’s ‘Rock Until You Drop’ album cover and Witchfinder General’s tasteless ‘Friends Of Hell’ involving a couple of cloaks, and sword, a whip and two inflatable dolls. Priceless, believe me!