REVIEW: SINGAPORE – Anthology

 

SINGAPORE – Anthology

Obscure Nwobhm Releases

The New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement, a huge deal in rock history, wasn't really one single thing. Sure, we mostly agree on when it happened, but within that timeframe, you found all sorts of rock, hard rock, and heavy metal styles. And the bands? There were just so, so many, with lots of them still flying under the radar even today. Take Singapore, for example.

Honestly, I probably wouldn't even know about Singapore if it weren't for dedicated compilations digging up these forgotten treasures. You might think, "If they were any good, we'd have heard of them, right?" But that's just not always how it works, and Singapore is a perfect case in point.

Even though they're loosely lumped in with NWOBHM, Singapore isn't really a metal band at all, and they're not even strictly hard rock. Their sound is mostly rooted in that classic 1970s rock vibe, with just a few touches of hard rock here and there. It's really important to get that straight if you want to get their unique musical style.

You can definitely hear who influenced Singapore. The singer's voice, for instance, totally brings to mind bands like Led Zeppelin (especially on a track called "A Bird With No Wings"), Queen, Thin Lizzy, and even Meat Loaf. And get this, "Bring On The Night" actually made me think of The Darkness, who came along much later. Beyond those classic rock echoes, there's also a clear punk rock feel woven into all their songs, sometimes subtle, sometimes a bit more obvious.

From their anthology, a few songs really hit home for me. Besides "A Bird With No Wings" and "Bring On The Night," I'd definitely recommend checking out "Insomnia," "Harry Houdini," and "I Spy." They really show off how well Singapore could craft some memorable tunes in their own style.

Despite those influences, Singapore really carved out a personal sound all their own. Their music is both melodic and powerful, right within the bounds of the rock and hard rock of their time. They formed in 1978 and were just one of many obscure bands connected to NWOBHM. Their single is super rare now, and even though they eventually leaned more towards power-pop, it's a shame they never managed to put out a full album.

So, after listening to Singapore's anthology, it's clear that even though their journey was short and they're pretty obscure, they made some truly worthwhile music. If you're into the rich and varied sounds of 70s and early 80s rock, they're absolutely a band you should seek out.

Nick Parastatidis