BANDOLIER

Budgie from Wales, England is a co-founder of the heavy metal genre, though their own musical pallet would also include blue-eyed soul, funk, folk and progressive. 'Bandolier' from 1975 isn't often seen as one the classic albums of the band, but I think it is my favorite. To be honest, I'm a bit amazed by how the obvious quality of this record has been denied by so many. 'Breaking All The Houserules' is great hardrock opener with that 'May Blitz' type of heavy psych influenced early metal. 'Slipaway' is a beautiful folk-ballad with some amazing dreamy guitar parts. 'Who Do You Want For Your Love?' has a cool funky opening, but evolves in a well-composed heavy metal song with some of my favorite riffs. Surely, bassist and singer Burke Shelley is one of my favorite performers of the genre. On side two the band fires two songs that are more on the 'Blue Oyster Cult' scale of metal, more poppy and less experimental. 'Napoleon Bona Part 1 & 2' is than one of the most progressive tracks the band ever recorded; with a strong melodic & psychedelic opening section and some fierce riffs. For me this is an extremely enjoyable record belonging in the wider definition of collectible progressive music.