Loader hails from my hometown of Sarpsborg, Norway. They started out in 1985, but didn't really settle for a style, or line-up, until 1988. That same year they also released their first demo. After participating in local, and national, talent competitions, playing numerous gigs and releasing yet another demo in 1991, the band landed a records deal with a German company. So in June-July of 1993, the band recorded what was to become their debut album, looking for an early 1994 release. Unfortunately that company went bankrupt shortly after the finishing of the recording. All attempts of getting back their master tape went down effortless, and the band felt so discouraged that they split-up in 1995. Then in 2004 modern technology makes it possible for the band to create a so-called pre-master tape from the old cassette versions of the finished mix of the album, that the band-members had laying around from back when. So now their debut album, entitled "Mind For A View" finally sees the light of day. Loader brigs to the planet a mix of melodic heavy metal, power metal and thrash metal.

MIND FOR A VIEW (1993, 2004) LOADER INC./INDEPENDENT

It's a treat to finally hear this album! I've heard about it for so many years, and even seen the band perform many of the songs live. Loader were a band very much in the same vain as Artch and Witchhammer (other local metal heroes!). But besides the heavy metal/borderline thrash metal those acts played, Loader also differs on some accounts. When they are on their soft side, they are softer than the mentioned bands. But they also throw in at least 1 song inspired by the then groundbreaking metal band, Pantera (Loader also used to play "Cowboys From Hell" in their live sets). I do love the thrash metal inspired tracks, like "Another Fool", "Masquerade" and the excellent "No Illusion" just as much as the more laidback tunes, such as the awesome ballad "Memories". So the blend is really working for these guys. I also like the fact that these guys doesn't pull the heavy metal clichés out when it comes to the lyrics. In fact, a song like "Heaven Or Hell" seems to offer Heaven as the alternative to strife for! "Mind For A View" might tickle my nostalgic feelings a bit too much for me, so I might be biased when it comes to bands from my own neck of the woods. But I do dare to claim that this album have stood the test of time, and I think more metalheads will enjoy it for what it is, a solid heavy metal album, recorded in 1993! The Kiss cover-song, "Detroit Rock City", was recorded live in Sarpsborg in 1993, and was added to this releases as a bonus.

Killer tracks: Mind For A View, No Illusion, Memories, Another Fool, Heaven Or Hell, Expectation

Related artists:

Witchhammer