Founded in the bay area hills of Berkeley, California in 1982, vocalist Michael Coons and guitarist Aaron Jellum began forming the heavy metal band that would come to be known as Lääz Rockit. These guys were young (Coons was 17 and Jellum 18), but they both knew the musical direction they wanted to pursue. After doing a few shows with various members in the burgeoning bay area metal scene, Coons and Jellum came across guitarist Phil Kettner and drummer Victor Agnello in late 1982 and early 1983. Bassist Willy Lange completed the true classic original line up later in 1983 that would record 4 albums and tour across the United States and Europe for the next 6 years. 1983 was also the year Lääz Rockit signed with Target Entertainment, and recorded their first album. 'City’s Gonna Burn' was released in the spring of 1984. In 1985, they released their 2nd album. 'No Stranger To Danger' and in 1986 made their first appearances in Europe supporting Mötorhead. This experience helped forge a new, heavier musical direction for the band- The heavier direction proved to be genuine with 1987's release of the 3rd album, 'Know Your Enemy'. It was the band’s 1st worldwide release. 1989 brought about many changes for the band. They released 'Annihilation Principle', and the band’s first video was featured on MTV's Headbanger’s Ball. But 1989 also brought an end to the original line up that had spent 6 years together as brothers. Willy Lange, Phil Kettner, and Vic Agnello left for various reasons and only singer Michael Coons and guitarist Aaron Jellum remained. The two founding members kept the band alive for 3 more years and recorded 2 more albums ('Nothing$ $acred in 1991 and the live album 'Taste of Rebellion' in 1992). plus a single/video track "Leatherface" for the movie 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III'. After tours of the United States and Europe in 1991 and 1992, Lääz Rockit's first appearance in Japan in 1992 would prove to be their last live appearances, even though the Japanese tour was a huge success. After a 13 year absence, Lääz Rockit returned in its original line up to play the prestigious Dynamo Open Air Festival in May of 2005. They also returned to their bay area stomping ground as they joined forces with many veteran bands for the benefit concert Thrash Against Cancer in San Francisco on July 9, 2005. Next, they returned to Japan in September 2005 for the first time with the original lineup. The name Lääz Rockit came from the Clint Eastwood movie "The Enforcer" where Clint ends the film by shooting a tower with a "L"ight "A"nti-tank "W"eapons "S"ystem rocket [LAWS]. The band adopted the name, changing the spelling to Lääz Rockit. The name was chosen to describe their raw energy and explosive stage presence.

CITY'S GONNA BURN (1984) SPV/STEAMHAMMER

Humble beginnings for Berkeley's Lääz Rockit. They have not yet grown into the thrash metal monster most people know them for, but rather they play much more straight forward heavy metal, or early power metal, if you will. For some reason I get the urge to label them in somewhere between Metal Church, Twisted Sister and Anthrax!?! The production is of course not top notch, and the band released stronger efforts later on. But this is still a nice album for the collection, and it does contain some strong moments. I have a cheap re-release from SteamHammer. No liner notes, no lyrics. Heck, even the track list is missing from the booklet! I've later found out that this is no SteamHammer re-release, but rather a bootleg made in Greece.

Killer tracks: City's Gonna Burn, Dead Man's Eyes, Something More

NO STRANGER TO DANGER (1985) SPV/STEAMHAMMER

Lääz Rockit's sophomore effort starts of with one of their speedier tracks, called "Dreams Die Hard". Other fast songs, like "Backbreaker" and "Wrecking Machine", show that the growth towards the thrash metal act they later became has started. But the basis for this album is still early power metal. Heck, I'd even go so far as to claim that these guys blended the "glam" scene and the speed metal scene! They sound like a cross between Ratt, Dokken, Vicious Rumors and Helstar! And it actually works! I especially like the guitar-tone on this album. It's crisp and clear, yet heavy and aggressive. And if you're into riffs and melodies that go hand in hand, 'No Stranger To Danger' is for you. Mind you, the band did become a different beast already on their next release. But I can certainly enjoy this version of the band too. I only own the crappy bootleg of this release too. I wish I had the Old Metal Records version instead, as that reissue contains several bonus tracks.

Killer tracks: Dreams Die Hard, I've Got Time, Town To Town, Spared From The Fire, Tonight Alive

NOTHING$ $ACRED (1991) PONY CANYON (Japanese pressing)

Pure thrash metal, baby! It's always a hoot discovering great bands that you for some reason missed during their prime. Lääz Rockit have always been a band that I was aware of, but never bothered to check out. Well, shame on me for that, as this is some of the finest bay area thrash metal to ever grace my ears! (thanks to John for brining my attention to them by sending me a CDR. I've upgraded to the real thing now!) I've always had a hard time describing what is so satisfying with a good thrash metal album It's just something you need to "know" to really be able to "grasp". This is music played with balls and attitude. It's a release of aggression (mind you, not a synonym for violence in this case), and it is an adrenaline rush without even having to move a finger. Well, that last part might not be true, because it's almost impossible to sit still during an awesome thrash metal record. And that's the case with 'Nothing$ $acred' too. Already in the opening "In The Name Of The Father And The Gun..." my head starts banging almost instantly. And the band doesn't let down their frenetic thrash assault from there on. In fact, they actually speed it up a notch on "Curiosity Kills"!! This CD is filled to the brim with stellar riffing, steady drumming and a sneering Michael Coons on vocals. I'm inclined to say that there is not much in the world of music that beats listening to the riff-o-rama that is Lääz Rockit! A MUST!

Killer tracks: In The Name Of The Father And The Gun..., Into The Asylum, Too Far Gone, Curiosity Kills

Related artists:

Vicious Rumors, M.O.D., Heathen, Chastain