Demo 86

Good, nostalgic material for the old-school metalheads. Despite their short musical life, B.O.2 is a band that manages to get you easily hooked. Quite unknown even in Spain, this band was created in the mid-eighties, and despite the quality of their work, never really succeeded, and thus disappeared almost unnoticed in the early nineties – possibly because they were shadowed by already established bands like Barón Rojo, Ñu, Ángeles del Infierno or Obús. Before starting with the review, I’ll make clear that the digital version I have of this demo was possibly obtained from a million-times-used tape, so the sound is very shaky and the quality is severely diminished. Thus, to be fair, I won’t make any criticism about the production.

This first demo contains 4 tunes of catchy heavy metal. The ingredients here are Accept and Maiden-influenced guitar work and sound, a gloomy grey atmosphere and high-pitched vocals; I can’t help thinking of Ángeles del Infierno whenever I listen to this (which is good). For example, the mid-paced Que se vayan is rhythmically similar to Unidos por el rock, - for those who don’t know Ángeles del Infierno, Maiden’s Revelations should be the reference – and the backing vocal style reminds me to the former band as well. Despite the musical style similarities with these bands, B.O.2 drastically digresses in the vocal department, using more punk-like influenced vocals; raw, catchy verses and nearly zero melody. The drumming is quite good; fast and energetic, and the lead guitars sound really inspired, with very catchy melodies. Unfortunately, the sound problems of “my copy” prevent me from analyzing the bass lines - although once in a while these can be heard.

Highlights? All of them! Despite the level of sound degradation, every song can be enjoyed and has something completely different to offer; “Contra todo” is the most Maiden-esque song, regarding both rhythm and lead guitar work; Cerca de ti is almost speed metal, with killer leads and solos, and a deep low chorus in the best Accept fashion;Que se vayan is the mid-paced catchy anthem that every heavy metal album MUST have; Palabras nada más is the typical pessimistic song, with beautiful melodies, up-tempo rhythm and lyrics full of sorrow and struggle.

You shouldn’t expect to find an original copy of this, in any format – it’s even difficult to get it in the internet -, so if you get a chance to listen to this, do it. If you like this you should also try Accept’s Balls to the Wall, or with a more Halford-like vocal approach, Ángeles del Infierno’s Pacto con el Diablo and Diabolicca.