Your Place or Mine?

NWOBHM Rarities Review #14


Another solid effort from a relatively unknown NWOBHM great. I mean, while Bitches Sin did actually have some success with record companies, and managed to put out a couple full-lengths, and excite their fair share of crowds back in the heyday, today they aren’t exactly talked about too often. They should be! This is killer NWOBHM, with the classic sound. This was the second offering I heard from London’s Bitches Sin. The recording quality is similar to the other 1980 demo “Twelve Pounds...” , but I don’t feel this is an insurmountable barrier, as the bass still sounds great and the poor quality adds to the dirty feel that the band has.

The intro to the album is a bass heavy, again Sabbath inspired effort, and fades into a very anthemic, and hard hitting, fast paced cut called “Sign of the Times.” The next track is also a bit of an anthem, with the added excellent of a rockin’ guitar solo about two-thirds of the way through. The next track “Living on the Highway” is a favorite. Classic rock n roll subject matter and straight-up lyrics. “Living on the highway, and I’ll see you all in hell.” The typical prominent bass-work continues with this phenomenal number, coupled with the inspired guitar-lead work of the Toomey brothers. The fifth track continues the classic NWOBHM assault. A decent paced track “What the Hell” matches that classic NWOBHM sound with some definite Black Sabbath inspiration.

All-round, another NWOBHM gem. Possibly better than the other early demo “Twelve Pounds, No Kinks” (with it’s title taken form an add from a whore in the local paper), but both are great efforts. I really enjoy the way this band arranges their twin guitars, and has such thundering bass, driving the songs along. This band is also a bit more aggressive than a number of the acts out there (Bronz, Clientelle, Damascus, Bollweevil and many others). Certainly a recommended example of the genre, check it out today and you will not (nor could not) be unimpressed.

-DeathRiderDoom