Cry at the Sky

DESIRE was a group of rockers from the Ohio/Kentucky region of the US (not exactly a hotbed of heavy metal acts in '83) who sadly only released one highly competent, well recorded, and probably self-financed LP called Cry At The Sky in 1983 on Rockpower Records. One well-known metal writer/historian (Martin Popoff) whom I OFTEN disagree with but also greatly respect, has been known to refer to regional, self-financed, small press-run US Metal records of this period as "poverty metal". The sheer talent and love of heavy metal (and all various styles of hard rock) put forth by DESIRE in my opinion DISQUALIFIES DESIRE from the "poverty metal" tag. True, the band may have lacked money, been stuck kinda in the middle of nowhere, and signed to a poorly funded small label, but their passion for the traditional heavy metal sound (and the musical chops needed to put out quality material) shines bright as the Dog Star on this very rare LP. The first track, "Crank It Up", gets the album started on a high note being uptempo, catchy as hell, and downright fist in the air fun! Likewise, "Reality Is A Crutch" is a well-written, catchy hard-rockin' number that sticks with the listener long after the LP's over. DESIRE obviously took a lot of influence from early YESTERDAY AND TODAY (aka Y+T), especially the "Struck Down"-era. One can also hear hints of Guy Speranza-period RIOT, FULL MOON (an absolutely essential early US group who released an LP in '80), THE RODS (although DESIRE are WAY better musicians AND songwriters than THE RODS), and a bevy of British acts (although this LP does NOT sound like a US rehash of the NWOBHM).

There's a real emotional power to this band conjuring up '70s groups like MOXY, GAMMA, CONEY HATCH, DIAMOND REO ("Dirty Diamonds" LP particularly), early LEGS DIAMOND, and a slew of heavy, moody, but catchy AOR bands of the '75-'82 period. Side B really shows off the emotional and musical dynamics of the band and while maybe isn't as "fun" as side A, nevertheless is a powerful side of classic dark traditional metal. DESIRE's Cry At The Sky LP will NEVER be a well-known album. This is sad in that DESIRE represents a style and era in US metal hisory that will never occur again. DESIRE represents, for all intensive purposes, a now extinct style of heavy metal. BUT as long as there are still individuals with metal minds of their own intent on exploring the whole universe of all things heavy, then great lost, long-gone groups like DESIRE will forever live on in our hearts and on the round vinyl artifacts they left behind. If you can find this lost American gem (even via download), sit back, light up, crank it up, and enjoy the trip back to '83! If you TRULY LOVE all things metal, it's worth 35 minutes of your time and I bet you'll be as surpised as I was the first time I heard it.