Black Rose have been around since ’76 but with under a different name: Ice. With the onset of NWOBHM they changed it to Black Rose in ’80 and finally got to record this, their debut album in ’84 at Neat Records Impulse studio in Newcastle. However, the album didn’t come out through Neat. Instead, it came out of a small indie label called Bullet. By ’84 the initial burst was over for NWOBHM and the mass signing frenzy was over, and just the quality bands were left. Black Rose were probably victim of that cull as they never made it to a major label.
The album is a fun listen and to be honest, they really needed a top producer to give them that final push as the tunes are cool and raw but they are just lacking in that something. Just Wanna Be Your Lover is my favourite track. The power and energy are infectious as they are in full Iron Maiden mode. They even get their Def Leppard on with No Point Running. In the category of things that are not that great is the ballad Baby Believe Me, which should just not be on the album. The song just doesn’t fit with the feel of the rest of the record.
If you are a NWOBHM collector you may have missed this one.
6.5/10 from The Grooveman.
