VARDIS - 100 M.P.H. @ 100 Club

#review

BAND Vardis

ALBUM 100 M.P.H. @ 100 Club

LABEL Steamhammer / SPV

OUT 26 November 2021

OUR RATING 85/100

On Nov 26th, 2021, will be out the new live album by VARDIS, legendary cult NWOBHM band, recorded in London on March 13th, 2020.

Who writes remember this gig because was unable to be here.

After seeing them one year before at stunning GRIMM UP NORTH FEST in Bury, near Manchester, I booked a flight and an hotel 300 metres from..100 Club; sadly, some days before in North Italy, where I live, had erupted the covid madness, before other countries understood that was a global and not a local problem.

And flight’s booking and hotel reservation become members of the “exclusive voucher club”..or rather “lost money”.

For those who don’t know them, VARDIS, led by by amazing guitarist and singer STEVE ZODIAC, was forged out of RNR, blues, Hard Rock, Punk and NWOBHM..

In 1980 they released the entirely live, classic debut album ‚100 M.P.H.’ that famously ”GUARANTEED NO OVERDUBS”, before sharing stages with Ozzy Osbourne, Motörhead and Saxon, among others,

1982 they were embarked on a UK Tour with Slade and a headline European Tour supporting third album ‚Quo Vardis‘.

Quo Vardis’ pushed the boundaries of heavy music, with saxophone, bagpipes and mandolins alongside collaborations with Squeeze pianist Jools Holland and Status Quo’s Andy Brown.

Vardis released the album Vigilante‘ in 1986 on Raw Power, before Steve Zodiac walked out on the music business for good.

Nothing was heard from the band for nearly three decades, despite the release of two compilation albums: ‚The Best Of Vardis’ (1997) and the double CD ‚The World`s Gone Mad: The Best Of Vardis’ (2002).

In 2014, Zodiac was coaxed out of retirement on social media by the old hardcore and new fans who’d discovered the Vardis legacy.

Vardis toured Europe and released fifth album ‚Red Eye‘ in 2016 through SPV/Steamhammer, cementing one of rock’s most unlikely comebacks.

Vardis have lost none of their unpredictable edge, and 2019 witnessed a triumphant appearance at Leicester´s ‚O2 Academy’ alongside Napalm Death that surprised many.

Now we go back to the beginning..at 13th March 2020: the true enormity of Covid19 was not apparent, but an uncanny atmosphere was palpable everywhere. With live venues still open in England, and rockers from all over Europe assembled on Oxford Street London, Vardis would play.

For two hours, ‚100 Club’ escaped a troubled World, and the energy forged that night by Steve Zodiac (Guitar) helped by Joe Clancy (Drums) and Roly Bailey (Bass) with a brilliant crowd was captured for a 2021 double live album release on SPV/Steamhammer.

NO OVERDUBS, STUNNING SOLOS AND A LOT ENERGY..THE LEGEND GOES ON IN WAITING FOR A NEW STUDIO FULL-LENGHT!!!

LINE UP

Steve Zodiac GT VC

Joe Clancy DR

Roly Bailey BG

TRACKLIST

CD1

01. Out Of The Way 3:10

02. Steaming Along 3:21

03. Paranoia Strikes 2:10

04. Situation Negative (Boogie Blitz) 5:37

05. Red Eye 3:41

06. Dirty Money 3:06

07. Mods & Rockers 5:25

08. Don't Mess 2:55

09. Shoot Straight 4:22

10. Move Along 5:35

CD2

01. Destiny 3:05

02. The Lion's Share 3:04

03. Radio Rockers 3:38

04. The Loser 5:47

05. Head Of The Nail 3:45

06. Jolly Roger 4:33

07. Let's Go Again 3:21

08. 100mph (I won't Go To Hell) 9:15

09. If I Were King 5:20

10. Living Out Of Touch (encore) 3:17

Vinyl bonus track:

11. 100 Soundcheck 2:58 (bonus track)

Steamhammer