Heavy Metal Attack!
Some good bands have just appearance in the heavy metal scene and so was GRIFFIN. They had a good start with the first record "Flight of the Griffin" back in 1985 (release in Germany). It was recorded in August 1984 in Santa Rosa, California and it has a great powerful sound, even nowadays. It contains a lot of great songs like the opener "Hawk The Slayer", "Creeper" and of course "Flight Of The Griffin". The band, a five-piece in these days, had its own identity, not only because of the strange voice of singer WILLIAM RODRICK McCAY. They had a lot of breaks and tempo-changes in their songs and refrains that you´ll never forget - all mixed with a big pound of power!! The album was released by Shrapnel Records in the US and as LP and (later) CD by Steamhammer/SPV in Germany.
Here is a picture of this first line-up (find both covers below!):
In the same studio in May and June 1986 "Protectors Of The Liar" was recorded. This second album shows GRIFFIN as a trio on the picture. RICK COOPER is playing all guitars and even the bass on this record. It was released on Griffin Records (Their own company??) in the US and again on LP and (later) CD by Steamhammer/SPV here in Germany. The songs were great but the production was very low... I have tried to "remaster" this metal-masterpiece with my equalizer but there is nearly no chance for a good sound qualitiy. It is sad because songs like "Hunger", "Watching from The Sky" and the epos "Poseidon Society" (7:11 minutes + outro!) are absolute killer-tracks, heavier than the songs from "Flight..."!
After this record I never heared anything about GRIFFIN. Unfortunately I have no more information about tours or demos or what the GRIFFIN-members do nowadays. If anyone has more information please mail me:
