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In the process of rediscovering some old vinyl, I came across Crossfire's 1983 debut, See You in Hell. And what a fun slice of early 80's, NWOBHM-inspired (the band was Belgian) it is. The riffs, they gallop. The vocals, they scream. The cheese, it flows. The record title, it's evil. Of course, back in 1983, it was pretty cool to name your album See You in Hell (just ask Grim Reaper). Combine those elements with the under-produced-like-it-was-recorded-in-a-garage sound and you've got what we were all looking for back in 83: an alternative to the slick, uber-polished, Journey/Starship/REO Speedwagon drek that was considered popular music.

Straight ahead, dual-guitar heavy metal is the order of the day on See You in Hell. And, wow, did vocalist Peter De Wint and the boys wear their influences like a bullet belt. Listening to See You in Hell can be like listening to an 80's metal "Best of" compilation. "Demon of Evil," yup that's the opening riff from Maiden's "Number of the Beast." "Killing a Cop," opening riff from Priest's "You Don't Have to be Old to be Wise." "Danger of Earth" the opening riff from Blitzkrieg's "Blitzkrieg." And all throughout the album, De Wint does his best Marc Storace impersonation. And while all this makes the band pretty unoriginal, it can't cover up all the youthful enthusiasm that blasts out of the speakers. I'm sure Crossfire were convinced the next "Stairway to Heaven" lay somewhere on See You in Hell. Attitude is projected loud and clear, and that's what makes See You in Hell stand out from the rest of the also-ran's from the 80's. Crossfire could have been the next Iron Maiden, except they were trying to BE Iron Maiden. Still an enjoyable listen and a fun reminder of what it was like when the only genre was "Heavy Metal."