LEADER
- Out in the Wasteland
Top Hole/ Eat Metal Records
Music history is full of bands that managed to release
one album before fading into obscurity. Some of them deserved better, and they
always leave us wondering—what could they have achieved if they had kept going?
But history is written through actions, not "what ifs," so let’s
focus on what actually happened.
Today, we're heading to the Netherlands to talk about
LEADER, a band that formed in 1984 and remained active until 1992. During that
time, they released four demos between 1984 and 1987, which—if I’m not
mistaken—were compiled in 2023 under the title “V for Victory”. But here, I
want to highlight their debut and only studio album, “Out in the Wasteland”.
This album is a great example of heavy/power speed
metal from the Central European scene, drawing clear influences from German
metal—but not just that. What makes it stand out, beyond its strong
songwriting, is how LEADER carved out their own identity. Their Teutonic metal
backbone is infused with elements from NWOBHM and the American metal scene, and
at times, they even flirt with a thrashier sound. Everything comes together in
a structured, cohesive way, while the production retains the rawness of the
era, adding to the album’s intensity without sacrificing melody.
If you love the early days of bands like HELLOWEEN,
RUNNING WILD, RAGE – AVENGER, and others in that vein, this album will
definitely speak to you. Tracks like The Hunters, Eye of Tomorrow, Killer, Ride
on the Wind, Neckbreaker, and Shoot to Kill capture the essence of their time
while still feeling fresh and timeless.
Before I wrap this up, one more thing worth
mentioning: drummer Jack Schurer, who sadly passed away in 2019, was also a
member of VORTEX back in 1984. Meanwhile, guitarist Oscar Carre went on to join
GOD DETHRONED in 1992, playing on their album The Christhunt.
Nick Parastatidis
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