Like many of their NWOBHM contemporaries, Tobruk never had the commercial success they deserved. This is all the more mystifying given the nature of the band. Whereas most British metal acts of the era had a rough and ready quality to them, and suffered from poor distribution, Tobruk’s work was polished, hookladen and classy, and the band were auspiciously signed to EMI/Parlophone.
Admittedly the very American sound on this, their 1985 debut (bolstered by a glossy production courtesy of the band and Bon Jovi collaborator Lance Quinn) tended to alienate a certain section of the UK metal scene. But even so, the standard of songwriting and performance make this one of the best British metal albums of the era. It’s packed with catchy riffs and memorable choruses, not unlike Shy, Dokken or Pyromaniaera Leppard, and the band had a capable and charismatic singer in the late Stuart ‘Snake’ Neale. This excellent reissue enhances an already great album with the addition of two tracks from Tobruk’s time on the Neat label, while a live CD that shows Neale in his element.
