As old as I am, when the Heavy Metal really started taking off at the end of the seventies, but mainly the start of the eighties, it was easy. The number of releases was very manageable in those days. You'd visit your local record store every week and just ask for the latest albums. One week you'd have three to listen to, the other week it might be eight. So, it wasn't like it is today, with more releases in a week than hours.

THE RODS have been a substantial part of my Heavy Metal upbringing. Their style of simple but effective Heavy Rocking Metal just clicked, as it did with many people in the Lowlands back then. In the years 1980 to 1986 they released six full length albums that are still sitting proud in between my vinyl collection. The last one they did back then is this one, "Heavier Than Thou". The reason it is their last one for some twenty-five years was the folding of their record company Passport.

Now we have High Roller Records, who are reissuing most of THE RODS back catalogue. I know not all have had the most favourable reviews at Metal Temple, but that is the opinion of the respective reviewer. I do understand their comments, but I really do feel the band has done enough (at least in my book) to earn them eternal gratitude.

Even though by this time long serving bassist Gary Bordonaro had left, the line-up change that is most imminent on "Heavier Than Thou" is the addition of singer Shmoulik Avigal. He came into the band by accident really, as when he visited the guys one day drummer Carl Canedy asked him to sing one of their songs. That went so well that he was offered to fill the whole album with his magnificent voice. In case you're wondering, Shmoulik Avigal could be known to you by the albums he did with Dutch bands HORIZON ("Master Of The Game") and PICTURE ("Diamond Dreamer"). He has a voice that has power, is melodic and powerful at the same time and will even remind you of the great Ronnie James Dio at times. Talking of RJD, he was a full cousin of David "Rock" Feinstein and they played together in ELF, the band before RAINBOW.

Getting back to the music, "Heavier Than Thou" is the most epic of all their releases, without the loss of the typical THE RODS sounds. So straight forward Heavy Metal, sometimes fast with double bass, sometimes slower with great melodies and then there is the star of the album "Crossfire". This is the song that the radio stations picked up on at the time, and deservedly so. Which concludes my pleasure at all these reissues. I feel young again.