The WARRIOR story goes back to 1982 when New England members Jimmy Waldo on keyboards, bassist Gary Shea and drummer Hirsch Gardner were searching for a replacement for recently departed guitarist, John Fannon.
then unknown guitarist ‘Vinnie‘ Vincent Cusano was recommended by KISS’s Gene Simmons (both bands were represented at the time by manager Bill Aucoin).
Despite all the potential of a new “super-group”, this was never to be as Warrior went no further than recording demos before Cusano was hired by KISS for their “Creatues Of The Night” album and tour. After KISS, Vinnie Vincent would start his own Invasion, whilst Waldo and Shea would team up with Yngwie Malmsteen and Graham Bonnet in Alcatrazz, but those original demos and rehearsals finally saw the light of day in 2017 with the release of the eponymous “Warrior” release via HNE / Cherry Red Records.
After further research, more tapes were found in Gary Shea’s personal collection, with never heard demos / songs, including better sources for six tracks* that were previously included on the first “Warrior” CD, and we have this killer 2-CD compilation “Warrior II“.
Cusano was a prolific songwriter, and sent some of his song ideas to the Boston based New Englanders for consideration. So impressed was the trio with Cusano’s song-writing abilities that they agreed to relocate to Los Angeles where the guitarist was based, and the band Warrior was born..
Recording began at the famed Record Plant with serious interest from CBS Records, but the band were also diligent enough to record demos and rough ideas on a more modest set-up, capturing the fledgling band on cassette.
Unfortunately for Warrior, Vincent Cusano’s talents meant that the guitarist was snapped up by KISS in 1982 to replace Ace Frehley for their “Creatures Of The Night” LP, their last in make-up, where he’d be rechristened Vinnie Vincent.
After Vincent departed to KISS, Shea and Waldo would remain in Los Angeles, soon joining up with Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet to form Alcatrazz with Yngwie J. Malmsteen.
Those precious recordings gathered dust until Hear No Evil / Cherry Red Records released a collection of them in 2017 under the title ‘Warrior I”
Subsequently, more tapes, some of significantly better quality, have been unearthed from Gary Shea’s personal archive, and now we have “Warrior II”, to be released tomorrow.
In my opinion, the material in “Warrior II” is far better than the previous compilation, both in songwrting and audio quality.
This 2CD set is a treasure trove for all those who loved the power, quality and sheer momentum of the first “Warrior” album, “Warrior II” adds to the band’s legacy and legend.
HIGHLY Recommended
01. No Substitute
02. Back on the Street
03. Hot Nights
04. I Need Love
05. Tears
06. That Time of Year
07. Forbidden
08. Boys Gonna Rock
09. It's Not Pretty (Being Easy)
10. Back on the Street
11. Gypsy in Her Eyes
12. I Need Love
13. Baby Oh Why
14. Thrill of the Chase
15. Gypsy in Her Eyes
16. That Time of Year/Forbidden
17. Boys Gonna Rock
18. Gypsy in Her Eyes
19. My Heart Goes with You
20. Forbidden
21. That Time of Year
Warrior – Warrior II (2019) (Expanded Edition) , 2 CD, MP3+FLAC
 |
