In comparison to other western European countries, Austria hasn't been much known for its 80s Metal heroes. SPEED LIMIT, although hasn't been active straight through their career, can be considered as one of Austria's champions. Nearly a year ago the band released their latest album, "Moneyshot", through Pure Rock Records. Nevertheless, what I brought up here is not something new from them but rather a special reminder of the band's first two eras.

Between 1986 and 1989 SPEED LIMIT, formed after a joining of two bands together with a name taken from an AC/DC song, released their first two releases that shaped their image in the eyes of the world's Metal and Rock scenes. Each album presented a different era in the band's progress while also including a different lineup on each set, a dissimilar musical direction and sound production. The merger between these two eras into a single release was arranged by Karthago Records that issued the release of "Unchained Prophecy". Throughout the material of both releases, "Unchained" and "The Prophecy", SPEED LIMIT seemed to have taken their influences from the British sounds of NWOBHM and JUDAS PRIEST while playing in a similar pattern to European acts as STORMWITCH, HELLOWEEN and TOKYO BLADE among others.

The great tracks taken from "Unchained" such as "Wings Of Steel", "Slave To Desire", "Burning Steel", "No Speed Limit" and "Vanishing Angel" presents a band that tended its music with under the codes of NWOBHM that back then inspired almost every Metal band around. This is the era where SPEED LIMIT was wild, young and stern. Most of the tunes were catchy but constructive and musically interesting. Beyond the riffs that were played well although even then were quite common, the British meets German harmonies were excellent as well as the bass work. That is the sheer magic of NWOBHM.

After "Unchained" was swallowed in the hearts of the Metalheads, SPEED LIMIT made changes that eventually made them even more famous. Besides recruiting a new high profile German singer, they made a few adjustments in their style. When "The Prophecy" EP was out to prowl the streets, SPEED LIMIT sounded uncanny but not as before when it came to their material. From the somewhat complexities of NWOBHM, the songs turned to be even more catchy with laps of Hard Rock and even some inspirations of AOR. These songs reminded me a lot of JUDAS PRIEST's "Turbo" album along with resembling other acts that went through similar changes as CANNON and the FISC. The Metallic nature still lays around but was nourished from different directions. Although I am more of the NWOBHM fan, this material was to my liking. Song as "Dead Eyes", "Lady" and "No Lies" blew me away. Those are pure classics.

SPEED LIMIT was not the first nor has is last band to adjust its music. I see them as a classic act that is underrated and appreciated. Throughout those two releases I had the chance to enjoy two faces and to listen to an on developing group in the best years of Metal. This may not be a band in the class of IRON MAIDEN or JUDAS PRIEST but they sure made their country, and me as fan, proud to know they are around.