Syranax - Battalion of Death Demo (1985)

From Austin, Texas, these speed metal thrashers were bringing the evil. Syranax formed in 1984 and released this demo the following year. A quick listen will be enough to realize that these guys were something different from the other bands at the time. With a vocalist hitting the ripping screams and the relentless picking technique, this sort of speed metal was standing out from the crowd, Sadly the band only released one more demo, Annihilation of Civilization, in 1987 with another singer and a new bassist before calling it quits.

Read more about the history of Syranax from an interview with bassist Sean Ross

Interview

Track Listing

1. Pedifile

2. Face the Blade

3. Wheels of Hades

4. The Battalion of Death

Band Members

Rick Lane - Guitars, Vocals

Jamie Ovcaric - Guitars (lead)

Sean Ross - Bass

Ricky Colley - Drums

Download

Thanks to Strappado and Thrasher from HeavyMetalRarities.

Heather Leather - We Came To Destroy Single (1985)

Another band from San Antonio, Heather Leather is a bit of an oddity. A three piece made up of the Garza sisters, Heather Leather was probably one of the first all-female metal bands ever. Two tracks is a small sampling to know whether a band is any good or not but We Came To Destroy certainly promises a hard rocking time. I'm personally reminded of Manhole (Houston all-female punk band) while listening to Heather Leather. If they had released this in the early 90's I believe that they might have had a better chance at growing a following. 

In 1988, the band recorded a whole album of material but didn't release it. Then in 1995 the group disbanded. Finally in 2005, the members remixed their recorded material and released it as "Princess Leather". Resurfacing with a new line-up in 2006, the band began touring in support of the album. As of now, the band is still active and working on material for a new album.

Track Listing

Side A: We Came To Destroy

Side B: Child Molester

Band Members

Sylvia Garza - Guitars

Ruth Garza-Newcomb - Vocals, Bass

Sandie Garza - Drums

Download

Thanks to BM-80s Metal Blogspot for the rip.

Narita - Demo (1985)

From San Antonio, the great Narita plays a hard rock edged heavy metal. Reminiscent of Saxon or Ratt in parts, Narita would dress the part of the hair bands so prominent at the time yet they keep the rock driving throughout their songs and don't fall into the metal ballad trap so popular with the record labels. The band was formed by Mark Reale (formerly of Riot) under the name the Mark Reale Project before changing it to Narita after Riot's second album title. Soon after recording the demo, Riot re-formed and Mark Reale left to rejoin the band. Thus ended Narita's excellent, promising start before it even began.

Track Listing

1. The Feeling is Gone

2. Liar

3. Thundersteel

Band Members

Steve Cooper - Vocals

Mark Reale - Guitars

Don Van Stavern - Bass

Dave McClain - Drums

Download

Thanks to BM-80s Metal Blogspot for the rip.