Blaque Jaque Shallaque – Blaque Jaque Shallaque (Reissue)

Share this on Facebook | Share this on Twitter

When I think about record companies that are very good in releasing old and (almost) forgotten Heavy Metal Music, there are two names that pop up. The first one being Headbangers Records, who specialize in very obscure stuff from many bands around the world. They also like to keep it very basic and original, by mostly remastering the music, and nothing more. Plus they don’t mind which Heavy Metal music style you play. The other one is more high up the ladder, as they take more pride in pursuing just the old fashioned Heavy Metal bands. You guessed it, this one is High Roller Records. And again they have found something almost no-one will have heard of, BLAQUE JAQUE SHALLAQUE. And yes, the first A in shallaque is supposed to be just that!

So, BLAQUE JAQUE SHALLAQUE, what do we know about them. To be honest, before I received this album I had never heard of them. They are a British band that mainly has a lot of connections with the mighty ANGELWITCH, as drummer Dave Hogg, Guitarist Rob Downing as well as singer Dave Tattum have been in that band. The latter filled the albums “Screamin’ ‘N’ Bleedin’” as well as “Frontal Assault” with his vocal rants. But to be true, the music on “Blaque Jaque Shallaque” bears absolutely no resemblance to that of ANGELWITCH. This sounds more like American Hard Rock that would have been popular in the seventies.

Before these guys became BLAQUE JAQUE SHALLAQUE the were named BILL THE MURDERER, and in this set-up they actually recorded a 7” single, which you will also find on the album. The rest is a combination of five demo recordings, two songs of a live radio performance and three tunes that come from rehearsal tapes. As for the music, I can be really clear: how the heck did this band never score a proper record deal. Yes, I do feel that this could have been quite the sensation back then.

As they were formed in the 1981/1982 era, they might have been able to have the same impact as DEF LEPPARD had, and it would have made the latter not the only odd one out in between all those heavier than thou NWOBHM bands. This has a bit of Glam, a lot of Hard Rock and even more Melody mixed together than you’d feel was possible. Even through the (sometimes) poor sound, especially when listening to the rehearsals, you will hear the quality shine through. And that’s all one can ask for.

Songwriting: 8
Musicianship: 9
Memorability: 8
Production: 6