Blitzkrieg

The lifelong obsession of indefatigable vocalist Brian Ross, Blitzkrieg were among a handful of lesser known New Wave of British Heavy Metal acts who should have faded into rock and roll obscurity long ago had it not been for Metallica covering one of their songs. Ross first founded Blitzkrieg at the end of 1980, when he joined a Leicestershire, England-based group named Split Image and promptly convinced guitarists Jim Sirotto and Ian Jones, bassist Steve English and drummer Steve Abbey to upgrade to this much more ‘metallic' moniker. Literally within weeks of their decision, the newly-christened Blitzkrieg was already cutting a three-song demo tape that instantly attracted independent Neat Records, which included the track "Inferno" in their Lead Weight compilation. A deal was simultaneously struck for the release of a single containing the remaining two tracks, and the result was 1981's "Buried Alive," whose b-side -- an unashamed reworking of the prog-rock classic "Hocus Pocus" by yodeling Dutchmen Focus -- would both bear their name and ultimately guarantee their lasting legacy. The single was a huge success and by spring Blitzkrieg had already recorded enough new material to start thinking about an album; but trouble was already brewing within their ranks and both Jones and English were soon shown the door to make way for guitarist John Antcliffe and bassist Mick Moore. A second demo, the six-song "Blitzed Alive" was recorded at a gig supporting French hard rockers Trust, and was intended to pave the way a full-length debut, but this never came about, as the insecure members of Blitzkrieg wound up splintering by years' end. The book now appeared to be irrevocably closed on Blitzkrieg's brief trajectory as the musicians scattered to the four winds; but nearly four...