Year : 1982-1988 (Cult Metal Classics Records Edition 2021)
Style : Heavy Metal , Hard Rock
Country : Sweden
Audio : 320 kbps + scans
Size : 288 mb
Bio:
Band formed in 1980 in Södertälje, Stockholm, Sweden.Formed in the early 80's by Robert May - Vocals, Leff Lindström - Guitar, Jimmy Holmström - Guitar, Ken Sundberg - Bass and Jörgen Sverin - Drums. STITCH recorded a 7" entitled 'Devil's Deal / Touchin' the Stars' and a rehearsal tape in 1982. The time afterwards are not known but almost the complete original line-up seem to have been wiped out sometime between 1983 - 1985. Bob May had now been replaced with the young female vocalist Susie Ax. STITCH's sound had became a lot softer, now playing AOR / Pop / Funk. With this new line-up the band recorded a demo in 1985 and released a 7" single in 1988 on Sonet Records entitled 'You Light My Fire / Can't Fight This Feeling'.An interview with Susie Ax on the Swedish Radio Program "Studio Skrän" can be found here.-They are talking about how it's to be a female vocalist in the "hard rock" buisness, about their sound and how they got into "FUNK", about record deals (which they didn't had here) etc. The song "Funk" was written by the other members before Sussi went into the studio, she laughed at it but gave it chance.Interesting facts: -Håkan "Ian" Lindbladh of EUROPE was playing in STITCH for a short period.-Sussi Axe played the role as Axet in the 1983 movie Blödaren. "Blödaren" was played by Åke Eriksson of BEDLAM.
Album:
Great compilation album.While Stockholm based ’80s rockers STITCH may be a new name for many, but their 1982’s vinyl-only single ‘Devil’s Deal’ has always been into all collectors’ lists. Finally, a couple years ago all the material recorded by STITCH between 1980-1988 has been remastered and released on a double CD by Cult Metal Classics Records with the title “Beyond The Devil’s Deal“.STITCH was a talented group, but also a curious case of a band completely changing it sound and style. Yeah, the first disc here covers the first half of the Eighties STITCH, a metal act in the traditional style. Then CD compiles the band’s turn over to a Melodic Rock / poppy AOR sound initiated halfway the decade.Listening Disc 1 (which includes the much sought after 2-sided single ‘Devil’s Deal’) Stitch can indeed be mistaken for many of the British acts at the time, as you can easily tell that their sound is founded upon the influence of the NWOBHM. For a Swedish metal recording being released in 1982, Stitch surely helped kickstart, in some way or another, the underground heavy metal movement in Sweden. Additionally there’s many demos taped with fine sound quality.The surprise comes with Disc 2. Around 1985 founding members Ken Sundberg (Bass) & Jörgen “Joy Mallet” Sverin (Drums) completely re-formulated the band with female vocalist Sussie Ax (ex Revanch) and keyboardist Lasse Nyström. They released an official EP in 1988 > pure poppy Melodic Rock / AOR with a Swedish sound. That single and many other recordings are added to this release, in a total of 30 tracks!On “Beyond The Devil’s Deal” you have the best of both worlds: CD1 classic metal / hard rock, on CD classic ’80s Melodic Rock / AOR – all Scandinavian flavored.Released in 2021 ready for Halloween (October 31st) Stitch’s “Beyond The Devil’s Deal” is much more than a rarity limited to 500 copies – it’s a ray of light on this obscure Swedish band with talent and energy.The early ’80 material rocks with sharp riffs and a pounding rhythm section (future Europe drummer Ian Haugland play on some cuts), while the second period of the band showcases a band looking for a commercial sound, easy melodies, sweet female vocals and tons of synths / keyboards.Despite being mostly unreleased material, the original recordings were very well done and the remaster takes the best of ’em. There’s even three live tracks with a good sound quality – these are from the melodic rock era, and while melodic, on stage Stitch had a punchy sound.
Line Up:
CD1 Line-Up:
Bob May – Vocals
Jimmy “Neckles” Holmgren – Guitars
Leif “Leff Geno” Lindstrom – Guitars
Ken Sundberg – Bass
Jörgen “Joy Mallet” Sverin – Drums
Anders Wiberg – Drums
Håkan “Ian” Haugland – Drums
CD2 Line-Up:
Sussie Ax – Vocals
Conel Winblad – Guitars
Lasse Nyström – Keyboards
Ken Sundberg – Bass
Jörgen “Joy Mallet” Sverin – Drums
Tracklist:
CD1: The Heavy Years:
01. Devil’s Deal
02. Touching The Stars
03. Looking 4 Some Action
04. Dr Fright
05. Long Distance Love
06. Stagestruck
07. Loser
08. Space Sacrifice
09. This Time
10. Why
11. Louise
12. Oh Lord
13. Black Hole
14. Deep Six
15. Anal Attack
16. Legions Of Crom
17. Pictures Of You
CD2: The Melodic Years:
01. You Light My Fire
02. Can’t Fight This Feeling
03. All I Wanna Do
04. Answer
05. Can’t Explain
06. Funk (You)
07. Together
08. Right Or Wrong
09. Can’t Fight This Feeling (Live)
10. You Light My Fire (Live)
11. Free Will (Live)
12. Feel Alright (Live)
13. I Still Believe (Live)
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