Original New Wave of British Heavy Metal band Excalibur will reissue their 1985 six-track debut album The Bitter End on 24 September 2021, via No Remorse. There is also bonus material, including their 1984 Back Before Dawn demo and their new mix of The Bitter End.
Excalibur formed in 1981 as a four-piece school project and were playing gigs in bars and clubs before being legally allowed to enter such places. After leaving school, they toured and began recording demos.
The Back Before Dawn demo created label interest, and the band eventually signed to Conquest Records, with The Bitter End debut emerging in 1985.
The Bitter End was recorded in March 1985 by Paul McBride (vocals), Paul Solynskyj (guitar), Martin Hawthorn (bass) and Mick Dodson (drums) at Woodlands Studios, with engineer Neil Ferguson. He went on to produce the hits of pop anarchists Chumbawamba.
Unknown to the band, Conquest Records remixed the album before its release, diluting the band’s musical vision.
Hot For Love
Excalibur became a five-piece in 1986, and in 1988 released the Hot For Love EP through Clay Records. This was taken from a BBC Radio 1 Friday Rock Show session, produced by Mott The Hoople drummer Dale Griffin. Chris Welch in Metal Hammer gave the EP a top five-star rating.
1990 saw Excalibur release their first full-length album. One Strange Night, released through Active Records/Music For Nations, hit number seven in the UK Rock Charts and was highly praised by fans and critics.
The Bitter End
Even though the band had built up a loyal following with constant touring, including sharing stages with the likes of Saxon, Uriah Heep and Budgie, the changing music scene in 1992 saw the band play farewell shows in the UK as they prepared to go their separate ways.
The Bitter End, which became a cult favourite among fans of the early ’80s Heavy Metal, will be available on CD for the first time. Coloured vinyl and a limited edition boxset are also available.
The CD features a full-colour twenty-page booklet, while the vinyl album comes with a special four-page insert, both containing lyrics, liner notes, memorabilia and never before seen photographs.
The limited-edition box set will consist of the CD, exclusive box set silver vinyl album (Excalibur Mix), Back Before Dawn demo cassette replica, T-Shirt and patch.
Orders can be made at www.noremorse.gr
The Bitter End, Tracklist
CD
Excalibur Mix:
I’m Telling You
Devil In Disguise
The Bitter End
Only Time Can Tell
Come On and Rock
Haunted By The Shadows
Conquest Records Mix:
I’m Telling You
Devil In Disguise
The Bitter End
Only Time Can Tell
Come On and Rock
Haunted By The Shadows
Come On and Rock (1984 Demo)
Only Time Can Tell (1984 Demo)
Haunted By The Shadows (1984 Demo)
Nightmare (1983 Demo)
VINYL
Available on black or limited edition red vinyl
Side A
I’m Telling You (Excalibur Mix)
Devil In Disguise (Excalibur Mix)
The Bitter End (Excalibur Mix)
Only Time Can Tell (Excalibur Mix)
Come On and Rock (Excalibur Mix)
Side B
Haunted By The Shadows (Excalibur Mix)
Come On and Rock (1984 Demo)
Only Time Can Tell (1984 Demo)
Haunted By The Shadows (1984 Demo)
Nightmare (1983 Demo)
