Tag: Giantkiller

Unfortunately this was the last album from Giantkiller and is was only released in the UK. Their previous album was released in North America but I have read it didn’t sell well. I remember that album quite differently as It was great and we loved it and it seems to have done well in our circles. But the CCM industry was fickle and these guys seem to be just another victim of this. Anyway if you’re from North America you have likely not ever heard this album but I fully suggest you give it a listen.

Tracklist
1 – Fire Coming Down – 4:08
2 – New Jerusalem – 2:58
3 – Someone in My Life – 3:37
4 – Shadow of the Real Thing – 3:14
5 – Holding Out His Hand – 2:59
6 – Darkness in the Cities – 2:58
7 – Oh Brother Man – 3:14
8 – Valley of Decision – 3:27
9 – A Cry Within – 2:46
10 – Not Too Many Tears – 3:19
11 – The Ballad of the Toothless Lion – 3:10
12 – If We Have the Love – 1:13

Credits
Bass, Backing Vocals – Alan Hiscox
Drums – Steve Purton
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Paul Herbst
Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals – Pete Gilgan
Vocals – Richard Nicholson

Giantkiller was a British band that had a solid following in England but just a cult following in North America. They originally self released this album but it was picked up by Kingsway Music in the UK and Star Song in North America. Strangely they added a track, “Refuge From The Wind” for the two label releases. I don’t quite know how to classify them but I would say this was progressive new wave for 1980. At time you definitely hear a seventies rock sound and almost punk at others. This is one that I missed in the 80’s which is too bad as it would have been right up my alley. I kind of doubt it was released in Canada so that’s probably why I didn’t hear them at the time. Production on the album was a little weak and I would love if a real producer found the original tracks and remixed them.

Tracklist
1 – Voices – 3:29
2 – Dirty Hearts – 2:41
3 – Refuge From The Wind – 2:22
4 – Problem Page – 3:02
5 – Living In The Cities – 2:14
6 – Innocent Blood – 4:13
7 – Kicking In The Gates Of Hell – 3:28
8 – Fire In My Heart – 2:55
9 – Children Of The Promise – 5:03
10 – King Of Kings – 3:30
11 – Stand And Be Counted – 3:55
12 – Kingdom Come – 5:23

Credits
Bass, Vocals – Alan Hiscox
Drums – Steve Purton
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Paul Herbst
Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals – Pete Gilgan
Producer – Terry Gavaghan
Vocals – Richard Nicholson

Giantkiller were another excellent band out of the UK. This album did very well in the UK but was a rarity in US record collections. The album was released in the UK with the title “Whose Side You On?” and in the US it was titled “Valley Of Decision”. The sound of this album might be best described as Choir meets Malcolm and the Mirrors. Actually I can hear a lot of different bands on this album but really they had their own sound that deserves respect for what it is, unique. I had not heard this album in the 80’s but wish I had I would have really liked it.

Tracklist
1 – Living For Today – 3:45
2 – Hot Nor Cold – 2:57
3 – Power To Power – 3:16
4 – Into The Eighties – 6:28
5 – We Have Got To Get Together – 2:38
6 – No More Sin – 3:54
7 – Wounded Soldiers – 2:14
8 – Holocaust – 3:53
9 – Whos Side You On ? – 4:19

Credits
Bass, Backing Vocals – Alan Hiscox
Drums – Steve Purton
Engineer – Jimmy Hotz
Keyboards – Paul Herbst
Lead Guitar – Pete Gilgan
Mixed By – Jimmy Hotz, Kemper Crabb
Producer – Jimmy Hotz
Saxophone – Rob Blessing
Vocals – Raphael Doyle

Companies, etc.
Recorded At – Rivendell Sound Recorders
Mastered At – MCA Whitney Recording Studios