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Blade Runner > Hunted > Reviews
Blade Runner - Hunted

Shred Runner is more like it. - 83%

hells_unicorn, May 5th, 2016
Written based on this version: 1984, 12" vinyl, Ebony Records

Among the seeming endless sea of NWOBHM bands that made small to moderate sized splashes in the mid 1980s is an obscure act in Blade Runner, admittedly carrying a not so obscure name give it's close proximity to the time when one of the greatest Sci-Fi films hit theaters. The story is perhaps a bit typical for many of the other bands that suffered the same disposition, namely being a solid act within a scene that was massive flooded by 1984 and slowly being supplanted both by glam rock on the softer end and thrash metal on the harder side. Generally most of the early British acts would tilt in one of those two directions, and this one was clearly leaning a bit more in the hard rock one that typified Saxon's work at this time (in contrast to their slightly more thrashing early works), which was not quite like the L.A. sound as typified in Dokken and Motley Crue, but was lyrically pretty close and maybe slightly lighter than where Armored Saint was at the time.

In a narrower context, the resulting sound that dominates Hunted, this band's 1984 debut, is actually an extremely typical one when considering the company it kept. Having been put out by Ebony Records, it shares a fair bit in common with the early offerings of Grim Reaper, Chateaux, Samurai, and even French contemporaries Nightmare (today known more for their aggressive, modern power metal incarnation after their millennial reformation). It has an air of simplicity and rigid symmetry to it that would play extremely well both on radio and in the arena, featuring some extremely infectious hooks during the chorus sections, thought mercifully less repetitive than most of Grim Reaper's singles. The guitar work is also a bit more developed and edgy, particularly the solos, which are about as crazy and shred-happy as can be and dwarf most of the competition within the NWOBHM context and actually more closely resembles the flashy chops of Ozzy's ax men in Randy Rhoads and Jake E. Lee respectively.

Perhaps the best feature of this album is its superior execution and generally polished demeanor, though the standards of polish for an album in 1984 on a smaller NWOBHM label are a bit different than what they naturally are today. It carries a larger-than-life feel, perhaps due to the heavily reverb-steeped drum and vocal mix, that definitely caters nicely to the mid-pace, partying rock n' roll character of songs such as "Back Street Lady", "Back On The Street" and "Look On The Outside". By the same token, when things get a bit more metallic and speedier as on "Too Far, Too Late", "The Stealer" and "I've Got To Rock" this character of sound works just as well and even allows the band to lean ever so closer to that more biting character of the NWOBHM that had a fair degree of influence on Metallica. Even the somewhat sappy ballad "Run For The Night", which sounds eerily similar to something Krokus might have done in a similar capacity, works quite well and also showcases Steve McKay's more crooning side, since much of this album sees him in a grittier vocal persona somewhat similar to Steve Grimmett.

There might be something to the charge by this band that Ebony Records wasn't supporting them to a satisfactory level, because this has all of the right elements to have made about as big of a splash as Grim Reaper did, but for some reason that didn't quite come to fruition despite Blade Runner having a more intricate formula and a sweeter name. Nevertheless, their brief run at things did provide a respectable duo of LPs that will probably play pretty well to the current generation, which is seeing a renewed interest in music from this time period. This is more of a mainline rocking approach to the NWOBHM sound so one shouldn't come to this expecting something as elaborate as Iron Maiden or as dangerous as Satan or Blitzkrieg, but it definitely has a kick to it that could very well have evolved into something comparable to where Saxon is at present. If Sean Young, Rutger Hauer and Harrison Ford were vocal metal heads, they'd surely approve.

Enjoyable NWOBHM for those who dare (or care) - 77%

autothrall, July 9th, 2010

What better way could there be to launch yourself into the rank and file of the rapidly expanding NWOBHM movement than to name yourselves after one of the greatest films of all time, which is still fresh on the tongues and imaginations of moviegoers during one of the most brilliant epochs in all of movies and music. Better still, consign an artist to deliver a kick ass cover that implies a rather serious, aggressive edge to your music. Granted, Blade Runner is really not all that heavy, they sound like a mix of Saxon and early Def Leppard with a slightly more unhinged singer in Steve McKay, who just loves to let his range soar above the burning, blues centered hard rock riffing. But the point remains: catch the metal fan's eye and imagination, and then deliver a solid experience with catchy if not wholly original pieces, and they will come away satisfied.

Color me satisfied! The London boys rock like there is no tomorrow on this debut. The mix of the record is standard for its day, or perhaps even slightly substandard, but I can hear the stock riffs of Gary Jones well enough, and they're the sort that should appease any fan of big radio rock in the 80s, cozy enough to please a fan of Survivor or Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, but still firmly within the melodic camp of their fellow NWOBHM acts like White Spirit, Saxon, Praying Mantis, Savage and earlier Demon. We've all been assaulted by now with decades of radio rock hits that utilize similar chord structures, but let's keep in mind that this album was dropped in 1984 before everyone had become sick of it, and to me it still remains highly enjoyable when I'm in for a quick fix of top down, cruising heavy metal and don't feel like turning to the usual suspects.

Hunted opens with one of its very best tracks, "Too Far Too Late", desperate melodic street metal with McKay's vocals dominating as they lurch into a pretty memorable chorus. I also dig the brief screams between verses, though I think the song in all might be a little too short, but the solos are great and I haven't stopped banging my head, ever to this. "Run from the Night" seems a little more like a boys' night out, rockin' at the roller rink track with its punchy chords, but McKay's vocals lean towards the piercing and wild. "Back Street Lady" opens with just a plodding bass, soon merged with some kickass riffs perfect for pumping your fist, a first that I hope would be adorned in leather and perhaps a spike or two. This is still, burning hard rock, mind ye, a little more restless and rough around the edges than the top 40 stuff, but certain to satisfy any Def Leppard fan, at least before that band released "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and jumped the shark.

"The Stealer" comes off like something the band might have lifted directly from the first three Saxon records, the one distinction being the difference in McKay and Byford's vocals, while "Hunted" itself is a burning rocker with some well placed harmonics in the intro, and a fine resonance to the front man's delivery. "I've Got to Rock" totally kicks ass, with big hooks and a screaming fury I wish this guy would have executed more often. "Back on the Street" seems like a direct sequel to "Back Street Lady", because it uses a similar bass pop in the early seconds. However, the vocals are a little better, and I like the cheesy gang chorus here. Another tune worth mentioning is "Looking from the Outside", which is likewise very catchy if you enjoyed the songs "Too Far Too Late" or "I've Got to Rock", with a nice little chord shift in the chorus.

It's hard recommending Blade Runner to anyone, because honestly this is a band that myself and maybe a few dozen other people on Earth would have a good time to. But if you really love those early artists that dwelt on the precipice of accessible leather and lace hard rock, and the more blunt sincerity of steel town heavy metal, it's possible that Hunted is what you're seeking. The production is nothing stellar, but that has never stopped my fondness growing for any of these, and I'd much rather spin this again than offer parlance to a good number of today's retro wannabes who are currently starting to explore this back territory. A few of the tunes here, in particular "Dogs of War" and "The Stealer", are less than satisfactory, but the rest certainly compensate.

-autothrall
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