Artist: KROKUS
Album: METAL RENDEZ-VOUS (CD)

Release date: 1980
Media type: CD

Krokus is a hard rock/heavy metal band from Switzerland. Krokus was founded in Solothurn in 1974 by Chris von Rohr, bassist (and original lead vocalist) and guitarist Tommy Kiefer. Originally playing the bar circuit with hit cover versions, they changed to metal because the rise of bands like AC/DC and Iron Maiden made them realize that the genre was catching up with people. The change was emphasized by Marc Storace joining the band as front-man. They enjoyed huge popularity in the 1980s in parts of Europe and the USA through heavy touring, MTV exposure and videos. In Europe, they toured with Nazareth and in the United States with AC/DC, Motцrhead, Rush, Def Leppard and Judas Priest. Their album Headhunter was a platinum album in the United States. So far, all Krokus albums have gone platinum in Switzerland.

In 2005, longtime lead guitarist Fernando von Arb reluctantly left the band after continuing problems with his wrist required surgery. Realizing that the stresses of touring life were no longer for him, he amicably parted ways with Krokus. Mandy Meyer, who had played with the band in the mid-1980's (and who had also briefly toured with Asia, and Katmandu, ex-Fastway), was tapped to replace him.

Metal Rendez-vous is Krokus' fourth album, and the first to feature Marc Storace (the current vocalist) on vocals. It was released in 1980 and was hugely successful, becoming a triple platinum album in Switzerland, and selling over 150,000 copies there alone. The track Heatstrokes charted number one in the British Heavy Metal Charts, and arguably opened up markets for Krokus in Britain and the United States, along with Bedside Radio and Tokyo Nights. Strangely, the song Tokyo Nights featured a reggae beat halfway through.

TRACKLIST:

"Heatstrokes" - 4:00
"Bedside Radio" - 3:22
"Come On" - 4:29
"Streamer" - 6:44
"Shy Kid" - 2:33
"Tokyo Nights" - 5:54
"Lady Double Dealer" - 3:13
"Fire" - 6:07
"No Way" - 4:02
"Back-Seat Rock & Roll" - 3:15

LINE-UP:

Marc Storace - Vocals
Fernando Von Arb - Lead guitar
Chris Von Rohr - Bass guitar
Freddy Steady - Drums
Tommy Kiefer - Rhythm guitar