Stormtrooper
Every Now And Then
It began with a chance phone call from Mike Darby (Bristol Archive Records) regarding a possible remastering and release of the 1980/81 Stormtrooper (Crescent and S.A.M Studios) demo tapes which ultimately led to in 2016 'Pride Before a Fall The 1981 Lost Album'. This motivated Stormtrooper to get together for one last time to rediscover and recreate past works that never made it to the studios the first time around. On the back of wall-to-wall astonishingly good album reviews, as well as remarkably (after a hiatus of 36 years!) being voted top band at the prestigious 2017 Brofest rock festival, their aim was to dot the I's and cross the T's on their 'previously unrecorded' back catalogue of songs, to replicate them sonically as close to the original '80's Stormtrooper recordings as they could, in most cases utilising the exact same instruments and effects that were used back in the day! Although two of the seven fell by the wayside, the remaining five songs provide a large chunk of 'Every Now and Then'. Like many rock bands who fell under the banner of 'The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal' Stormtrooper were far from 'NWOBHM'. Over the six years (1975-1981) that they were together, the dramatic rise from a rather naive tentative Hartcliffe School sixth form band to a confident, highly motivated, and highly drilled, technical rock combo was there for all to see. In 1980 Stormtrooper were being touted as Britain's answer to Rush, but they always retained their aggressive 'street wise' almost punk like attitude which gave Stormtrooper their unique signature sound. The five 'oldies' on this album reflect Stormtrooper's evolution over that six-year period. From the funk rock fusion of 'Boggs Song' to the sword and sorcery of 'Flight of Fantasy'. The 'Now' reflects where Stormtrooper (as individuals and collectively) are musically today. However, much they have drifted apart, after 36 years they can still amazingly create that unique signature Stormtrooper sound! With original vocalist Nigel Lloyd having hung up his hat after the conclusion of the 'Then', the 'Now' vocal duties were undertaken by founder member Bass, Moog Taurus and keyboard player Colin 'Boggy' Bond (formally with Meatloaf, Stampede and The Bernie Torme Band) and guest vocalist Andy Milsom (lead singer previously with Bristol band's Hunted and Ragged Union). The line-up is completed by founder member Bob Starling as always on guitars and Nick Hancox on drums.