Description
New Way of Livin’, a four-track 7-inch vinyl EP, is the debut effort by the British hard rock band 100% Proof, released on Smile Records in 1980. The self-financed EP was recorded at Smile Studios in Manchester, England. That project helped bring them to the attention of Word UK and the following year the band were put in the studio with the renowned guitarist Norman Barratt to record what was to become their self-titled, first full-length album.
The band, consisting of Charlie Wilson (vocals, guitar), Steven Wilson (guitar), Steve Harrison (bass) and Phillip Wright (drums), formed in Stockport under the name Thin Ice in 1978, on the rise of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). Although fragmented in a collection of different styles, the music of the NWOBHM musical movement that started in the late 1970s in the UK is best remembered for drawing from the heavy metal of the 70s and fusing it with the intensity of punk rock, producing fast and aggressive songs. The DIY attitude of the new metal bands caused the diffusion of raw-sounding self-produced recordings and the proliferation of independent record labels. http://nwobhm.com/100-proof/
The Stockport-based rock band recorded this self-financed debut EP in 1980 so they had something to sell at their gigs. The band itself developed into AC/DC influenced rockers and there are signs of this on their debut with the title cut quickly settling down into no nonsense rifftastic boogie. Guitarist Steve Wright (of red jumpsuit fame) peddled his wares to great effect and with a pumping rhythm section and frontman Charlie Wilson passionately penning songs with a directly spiritual or evangelistic message, the band were a force to be reckoned with on the live circuit. Interestingly after the metal of the opening cut, «Lookin In» has more of a snappy new wave feel to it. Flipping the EP over, side two starts with «What’s The Cost» which again exhibits the band’s love of The Riff! You cannot at this distance underestimate how good it was for Christian rock fans to have their own rock heroes in the UK. The closing cut «Resurrection» is an instrumental which has a Gary Moore vibe and shows off Steve Wright’s playing before ending with a «Freebird» riff and rocking out to its close. This calling card EP may be a bit rough around the edges production wise but it did enough to get them signed to Word UK. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, January 2009]
7-inch EP single tracklist:
Side One
A1. “New Way Of Living'”
A2. “Looking In”
Side Two
B1. “What’s The Cost”
B2. “Resurrection”
“New Way of Livin’” recorded live at Granada studios in Manchester for Granada TV. This is a different version to the one on the EP as it had to fit into a time slot so had to be trimmed down a little.
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