Here we have another NWOBHM band that didn't do much at the time, but through interest rising throughout the years, they have been able to rectify that issue. London (UK) based MARQUIS DE SADE does face you with a challenge, though, because when you wish to find more information concerning the band on the internet, you get a whole lot of sexual links to filter through before you find what you are looking for. Thankfully the band have been so professional as to add a lot of information to the digital music files, making my job a hell of a lot easier.

As I mentioned, the band only released one single in 1981, but were able to release a full album with demo tracks in 2015 through HIGH ROLLER RECORDS, who actually are quite renowned for reviving a lot of bends in a similar style. And as the band has kept going since that particular year, they have deemed it time to start a new part of their history. Hence the title "Chapter II". And even now they have been able to find a small but competent record company in GOLDEN CORE to market and distribute this sophomore album.

Musically there is no escaping the NWOBHM meets DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW, MSG and even some SUPERSONIC REVOLUTION influences. The latter is most evident in the opening track "Belvedere", which for me is the by far bast track on the whole album. If all of it would have had this vibe, quality and enthusiasm I would have been falling over myself to give "Chapter II" full marks. But alas, such is not the case. Except for "Belvedere", the band never goes for broke, changes gears or delves into the Heavy Metal corner.

It just means that the rest is a lot more sedate, or, if you will, subdued. The best description is in control, very much set in boundaries. Does it make the rest less than the opening track? In my eyes, yes, but by no means of inferior quality. The biggest drawback is that it does make the music on "Chapter II" rather predictable. I often have a real problem with that, but somehow, with a band like MARQUIS DE SADE, whose sound is obviously steeped in the seventies vibe, it doesn't bother me as much. This is a pleasant album with good songs, good sounding vocals and a high head-nodding probability. Nothing more, nothing less.