Malteze had a recognizable sound led by strong dynamic vocals. Malteze, offspring of the metal throne, were led by the fierce, and captivating Barbara Maltese. One of the first Women of Metal didn't have a long career, with her namesake band Malteze, but she was well-respected and much-loved by the music community and her devoted fans. Despised by other male-fronted metal groups who thought she was to "different", and as a performer she had the envy of them all. One of the few influential female metal singers of the late '80s, she usually stole the show whenever she appeared in live settings. Barbara Maltese always embodied the classic metal chick image, that of someone who looked like she'd spent the night hangin' in a van outside some arena-metal concert. She often has a mischievous gleam in her eye, and always quick to laugh. A dynamic performer whose powerhouse vocal delivery blows most contemporaries right out of the water. After only an EP and album the band called it quits.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS (1988, 1990) RHO/GOLD RECORDS
 

I picked up this CD used at a local shop. I just thought the cover looked cool. To my delight the music on the CD was really good, and it took me by surprise. Turns out that Malteze was a female fronted 80's metal band. This virtually unknown cult act released only 1 full length album. 'Count your Blessings' was originally released on vinyl in 1988, and if you ask me, they should have become much bigger then they did. Barbara sings with such power and conviction, you actually have to check the liner notes to see that she really is a woman. The music is balls to the walls heavy metal, leaning towards the US power metal side, mixed with some heavy Iron Maiden and Judas Priest influences. So unlike her contemporaries in Lita Ford and Lee Aaron, Barbara Maltese and her band was all out heavy metal. This CD is one of many forgotten gems in the metal history.