Brats - Combat Zone (1981)

Brats was a Danish band from Copenhagen formed in 1977 as a punk band, and after recording the songs 'Dreams', 'I Do What I Wanna Do' and 'Magazine' for the 'Danish Pære Punk' compilation, the band split up in 1979, reforming as a heavy metal band, playing a hybrid of punk and metal, with new members Michael Denner and Hank Sherman joining Carsten Van Der Volsing on guitar, Yenz on bass and Lars Monroe on drums. This line-up signed a contract with CBS in 1980 and released the promotional debut single 'B-Brains' and one self-titled full length album. After some line-up changes, including the addition of King Diamond on vocals and the departure of Denner, Diamond and Shermann began writing new material that was much heavier than any of Brats' previous work. In January 1981 the band invited a representative for CBS to come down to their rehearsal room in Copenhagen to listen to the material that was written for the upcoming second album for CBS. They had 9 songs ready, including titles such as 'Death Kiss' , 'Combat Zone' and 'Love Criminals', but these were definitely not what CBS had expected, and so the next day Diamond and Sherman were asked to come to the label's office, where they were solemnly informed that the new material was far too heavy for CBS, and if they wanted to cut another album it would have to consist of far softer material, and King would have to sing the lyrics in Danish. Diamond and Sherman immediately refused this on behalf of the band, and were offered a ridiculously low budget to make a new album, and so that was the end of Brats' relationship with CBS. As a result, Diamond and Shermann quit the group and went on to form Mercyful Fate with former Rock Nalle bassist Ole Beich (later of L.A. Guns and Guns N' Roses). After several line-up changes and semi-professional demo tapes, the new band released their self-titled EP in 1982, and the final line-up of King Diamond, Hank Shermann, bassist Timi Hansen, drummer Kim Ruzz and guitarist Michael Denner, would go on to record the group's first two studio albums. Of the nine songs recorded at the rehearsal room, two were chosen to be released as a single, and demos of 'Some Day'/'You Asked For it' were pressed up as Brats' final release, but luckily the whole showcase set was recorded and has survived, so that we can hear the last efforts of Brats, before they morphed in to hugely successful Mercyful Fate.  

Track listing

01 Death Kiss  
02 Fighting For The Knighthood  
03 Love Criminals  
04 Some Day
05 Combat Zone  
06 Nightriders  
07 Sometimes You're Deadly  
08 Powers Of Darkness  
09 You Asked For It