***These three releases are sold separately***

SANTERS can be considered to be a well kept secret of Canadian Hard Rock music. They gained some respected reputation in the first middle of the 80s in the US/Europe - while Canada has always treated them well - but did not breakthrough to something bigger (sales wise, at least). Mainman Rick Santers is an esteemed guitarist in Canada and once had (still has?) his own signature Fender model, called 'Santercaster'.
Krescendo Records - following the series of re-releases for 80s Hard Rock/Metal gems - now issues the Canadian trio's first three albums. For the history, the band's Top Secrecy fourth one was recorded in 1986 but was not destined to see the light of day until the release of a SANTERS Japanese boxset simply called IV (The Box Set) (soon afterwards Top... was distributed in Europe on its own - 1999). So:
Shot Down In Flames (1981): SANTERS attack with their debut album, dedicating the same-titled song to the one and only Bon Scott. Apart from that fact, not much facts should we 'link' between the Aussie legends and the Canadian piece. Shot Down In Flames sees the band serving a powerful doze of hardhittin' Rock bringing to mind the deeds of (then) TRIUMPH, fellow rockers MOXY and - why not? - TALAS or (1st era) VAN HALEN. The performance of Rick Santers is immense, with tons of spirit in his playing and a great roaster of ideas on how to build an imposing American rockin' song. If you think you can recall some of LED ZEPPELIN's magic in this 1981 debut, too, you won't be wrong. Recommended tracks: The Rapper, You Turn Me On, Time After Time, Caught In The Wind.
***7/10***
Racing Time (1982): Many shall cry out this is the finest SANTERS effort. Well, if you take into consideration that this 1982 LP stands as the link between the 1981 debut and the 1984 follow-up, then such a verdict is not out of the question. In Racing Time the trio does choose to flirt with more melodic hooks (was it that time of season?) and - hence - delivers a more balanced product that aptly raises the half-full or half-empty dispute. Choosing the first category, let's assure things are again powerful plus the extents pushed by Rick Santers (in developing his own 6-string themes) result in a more interesting album/songlist. With the valuable help of producer Jack Richardson, Racing Time is applicable for the AOR/FM Rock follower (e.g. FOREIGNER - yeap, piano/keys included) and the guitar-centered Rock aficionado (the TRIUMPH fan base again, haha). Not bad, not bad at all...Recommended tracks: Mistreatin' Heart, Two Against The World, Back Streets, Mystical Eyes.
***8/10***
Guitar Alley (1984): SANTERS are now friends with TRIUMPH and Rick Emmett produces their third step. If you can recall their Thunder Seven and The Sports Of Kings mid-80s albums you can have a draft idea on how SANTERS now flirt even more with melodies/pomp/prog elements. This album seems to be the most successful one (in terms of sale) but I think it is kinda weak, without - of course - failing to deliver notable moments of Canadian Hard Rock music. The remake of FREE's All Right Now is convincing, too. Still, 'powerful' is not such a fitting word for the trio's style anymore; at least throughout the whole album. Hence, fans of FOREIGNER and 80s BLUE OYSTER CULT (and 80s TRIUMPH, again) can wear a bigger smile. Recommended tracks: Can't Shake You (an MTV hit), Hate To Love You, Too Young To Die.
***7/10***
Rick Santers released the ReVitaLiIze solo album in 1996, a 'best of' SANTERS CD came out in 2000 and who knows if and what the band is up to now. Still, the fact is that friends of American Hard Rock (guitar-driven or more melodic) will have a good time with these re-releases; all of them. SANTERS produced some 'value for money' music and - even 25 years later - it's a good chance to get to know this remarkable Canadian trio.