Killer: Volume One, The Mausoleum Years 1981-1990, 4CD Clamshell Boxset

Whilst the nascent “New Wave Of British Heavy Metal” movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s was raging just across the English Channel, spearheaded by debuts from the likes of Iron Maiden, Saxon and Angel Witch, and in part inspired by well-established bands such as Motorhead and Judas Priest, Belgium was fomenting its own highly influential rock and metal scene.

At its forefront was Belgian heavy metal group Killer.

A power trio founded in 1980 around lead guitarist and vocalist Paul Van Camp, joined by Fat Leo on drums and Spooky on bass guitar and vocals, Killer released their debut “Ready For Hell” on WEA Records, soon finding a cult following at home and abroad. Hailed, not unreasonably, as Belgium’s Motorhead, “Ready For Hell” can sit proudly alongside any NWOBHM debuts of the era, and would in turn be a major influence a few years later on the burgeoning thrash metal of Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer in the early 80s. The bonus tracks on CD1 are ‘From Nine To Five’, ‘Too Wild To Tame’, ‘Crazy Circus’ and ‘Chinese Woman’.

At the end of 1981, Fat Leo was replaced on drums by Double Bear for 1982’s “Wall Of Sound” LP, which saw Killer making a greater impact beyond Belgium, becoming a popular fixture on European festival bills. The bonus track on “Walls Of Sound” is the self-explanatory ‘Walls Of Hell’.

Killer’s management formed the highly influential metal label Mausoleum Records, and unsurprisingly, Killer were a perfect fit for the label, recording the “Shockwaves” LP. Mausoleum would also launch cult Belgian bands such as Ostrogoth, Crossfire, Danger, FN Guns, and Lions Pride, as well as non-Belgian acts Wildfire, Faithful Breath and Warlock, all becoming highly collectable releases. The bonus tracks on “Shockwaves” demonstrate what Killer did best with live versions of ‘Shock Waves’, ‘Scarecrow’, ‘In The Name Of The Law’ and ‘Kleptomania’.

Although the band disbanded in early 1987, with Paul Van Camp releasing his self-titled solo debut the same year, thankfully Spooky and Shorty decided to start Killer again in 1989, but with new drummer Rudy Simmons and a second guitar player, Jan Van Springel. Their fourth album, “Fatal Attraction”, was recorded in Germany and released by Mausoleum Records in 1990, with the band focussing and capitalizing on their popularity in Germany.

Once again, unfortunately, partly due to the growing popularity of grunge, Killer decided to call it a day in 1991, which is where this 4CD collection ends. Killer would, of course, reform later in the decade, and were proud to release their seventh album, “Monsters Of Rock” in 2015, in time to commemorate the band’s 35th Anniversary. But that’s another story...

FOR FANS OF: MOTORHEAD / ACID / NEW WAVE OF BRITISH HEAVY METAL

DISC ONE: READY FOR HELL (1981)

1. READY FOR HELL
2. KILLER
3. SECRET LOVE
4. I KNOW
5. ROCK AND ROLL FAN
6. BACKSHOOTER
7. LAWS ARE MADE TO BREAK
8. IT'S TOO LATE
9. DRESSED TO KILL

BONUS TRACKS
10. FROM NINE TO FIVE
11. TOO WILD TO TAME
12. CRAZY CIRCUS
13. CHINESE WOMAN

DISC TWO: WALL OF SOUND (1982)

1. WALL OF SOUND
2. BATTLE SCARS
3. BLINDED
4. NO FUTURE
5. BODIES AND BONES
6. MAYBE OUR INTERESTS ARE THE SAME
7. HELLBREAKER
8. KLEPTOMANIA

BONUS TRACK
9. WALLS OF HELL

DISC THREE: SHOCK WAVES (1984)

1. SHOCK WAVES
2. SCARECROW
3. IN THE NAME OF THE LAW
4. KING KONG (INSTRUMENTAL)
5. BLOOD ON THE CHAINS
6. RICHTER SCALE 12
7. IN THE EYE OF MY GUN
8. TIME BOMB

BONUS TRACKS
9. SHOCK WAVES (LIVE)
10. SCARECROW (LIVE)
11. IN THE NAME OF THE LAW (LIVE)
12. KLEPTOMANIA (LIVE)

DISC FOUR: FATAL ATTRACTION (1990)

1. MIDDLE AGES
2. FATAL ATTRACTION
3. BREAK DOWN THE WALL
4. STEEL MEETS STEEL
5. KICK ON YOUR ASS
6. LIFT ME UP
7. HIGHWAY KILLERS
8. HIBERNATION
9. EVIL ON THE ROAD
10. I'M ON FIRE