GUNFIRE, heavy metal band from Italy, will gets its debut re-released by Jolly Roger Records later this month, on January 25th.
The “Gunfire” EP was originally released in 1985 only on vinyl and is now considered a rare and valuable collector’s item. The LP reissue, that will be completely remastered, will include as bonus 6 tracks from the 1984 demo, the song “Firecult” released only in the compilation “Heavy Metal Made in Italy” (1985) and for the CD version a track of song “Thunder of War” which was recorded live in 1984. The album is dedicated to the memory of the guitarist Fabio Allegretto, “Lord Blackcat”, who sadly passed away recently.
You may listen more of the album on Jolly Roger Records Bandcamp page, as well as watch a video of GUNFIRE performing “Thunder of War” live in 1984 below:
“Gunfire” EP (Re-issue) Artwork and Track listing:
1. Intro
2. Hard Steel
3. Thunder of War
4. Gunfire
5. Wings of Death
6. Firecult
7. Gunfire (demo)
8. Thunder of War (demo)
9. The Sea Be Your Grave (demo)
10. Hard Steel (demo)
11. Bloody Way (demo)
12. Winged Horses (demo)
13. Thunder of War (live, CD Bonus)
GUNFIRE Biography:
Italian metal band GUNFIRE from Ancona was active unit in the 80s. At that time the singer Roberto Borrelli (Robert Drake) met Maurizio Leone (Maury Lyon) and with him he founded the band METAL ROAD. In 1984 they met Fabio Allegretto (Lord Blackcat), a great guitarist, and after a few rehearsals Gunfire (the name was chosen by Maurizio) were founded. Maurizio left the guitar and moved to play bass while composing the first Gunfire song called “Thunder of War”. Soon Roberto Fanelli (Rob Gothar) joined at the drums. After two months they recorded the first demo in just two days in a very small studio using a 4-tracks Fostex but the band was quite satisfied considering the obvious limitations and because it was not ment to be for sale (the demo was without any artwork, just a simple tape) but simply to be copied in just 50 pieces and to be given free to friends and magazines. But quickly it was requested from all over the world thanks to an intense activity of tape-traders.
In the same year they had the opportunity to play live for an important Italian festival near Mantova (Gazoldo degli Ippoliti) and for the first time in front of a large crowd and in a big stage with important Italian groups of the time, as Strana Officina, Sabotage, Steel Crown, Vanadium, Vanexa, Crying Steel, Elektradrive, Dark Lord and it was an amazing experience. Soon they came in contact with the boys of Discotto from Florence (known as the first label of Litfiba) who asked Gunfire to take care of the distribution of the new upcoming album. So they entered the studio: it took a whole week for the recording sessions and it costed the crazy total of four millions of liras of the time, so due of economic reasons they were forced to choose and record only 4 tracks. The Ep “Gunfire” has been produced in about 2.000 copies and it’s a genuine and superb heavy / speed metal. The reaction of the press and HM maniacs was very good and this Ep vinyl is now a collector’s value item.
Unfortunately the situation of the Italian metal scene in the 80s was really hard and the lack of support and promotion from the labels made things even more difficult, so they did not have the chance to be support acts for “big” bands that played in Italy, even if they became friends with Saxon and played in many places around Italy (Bari, Torino, Bologna…). In 1985 they recorded some new tracks to be included in an album for the prestigious label Carrere, who was interested to Gunfire, but in the end they did not have the deal. The track “Firecult” was recorded to be included in the “Heavy Metal Made in Italy” LP compilation (with Elektradrive, Jesterbest, Shining Blade and many others) but after many problems inside and outside the band they split in 1986.
Now “Gunfire” is finally available for the first time on Cd and again on Lp, completely remastered plus 6 tracks from 1984 demo and more bonus tracks.
More info: facebook.com/JollyRogerRecords/
