Buried Alive

Although Blitzkrieg released its debut album during the end of the NWOBHM, the band remained as a reference of the movement for a good reason: Brian Ross was already a huge name in the scene, given his participation in Satan. Before the 1985's full-length release, Blitzkrieg already had a couple of demos and a single on their plate. The demos displayed a band in good shape, and their single "Buried Alive" similarly does so, though the songs are not as forceful and heavy as those featured in the demos. Rather, the two songs featured in this single run in a punkish/Motörhead-inspired fashion, as was the case of certain stuff released by various NWOBHM bands during the movement's early years, and the production is, in general terms, raw if compared to that of the debut album.

The two songs featured herein are a sort of previous versions, though the title track did not make it for the debut release as a final product. The title track is underrated considering this fact, as it is, conversely, a track that should have made it for the debut. The guitar playing is more than astonishing, given the outrageous and vicious riffs played by Ian Jones, as well as the insane soloing through the track. "Blitzkrieg" is, on the other hand, the highlight of the single and the version covered by Metallica. The riffs are not as sharp as those featured in the studio album version, but still, they are pretty good; the only difference lies in the kind of distortion pedal used for the song. In the end, even though the debut album is the band's reference and a very elemental release, this single is a worth-it item for collectors and die-hard fans that show how the band naturally sounds without any studio arrangements. [The Japanese CD version of Blitzkrieg's debut album features the two songs from the single as bonus material.]