QUARTZ: “Too Hot To Handle” Album Teaser

Quartz Album Art
Quartz – Too Hot to Handle (Album Artwork)

QUARTZ: “Too Hot To Handle” Album Teaser Posted Online

 Originating from Birmingham, England, QUARTZ date back to 1974, and were considered to be at the forefront of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. On January 31, 2015, Skol Records will release “Too Hot To Handle” CD, which can be considered as a complete unreleased album from back in the day, as it’s a collection of 16 previously unreleased songs recorded between 1981 and 1982. Some of those tracks were re-recorded in different versions for the “Against All Odd’s” album (1983), and some of them see the light of the day for the first time ever.

 Album teaser incl. excerpts from “Tell Me Why”, “Madman” and “Silver Wheels” can be streamed on this location:  https://soundcloud.com/skolrecords/quartz_toohottohandle_albumteaser

 

Quartz
Quartz

QUARTZ released their first same titled album, which was produced by Tony Iommi of BLACK SABBATH, on Jet Records in 1977. The band toured heavily during this time, playing the Reading Festival three times (1976, 1977 and 1980) and touring with of some of the larger Heavy Metal bands of the time, incl. IRON MAIDEN, SAXON, UFO and RUSH. Late 1979 saw Geoff Nicholls leave the band to join the legendary BLACK SABBATH, providing keyboards and songwriting for them for the next 24 years. Incidently in 1980 Malcolm Cope was approached by OZZY OSBOURNE  to join his solo band, but declined stating QUARTZ was his band, and they had just signed a deal with MCA to record “Stand Up And Fight”. 1983 brought the release of “Against All Odd’s” which had been partly written with vocalist David Garner, and the departing Derek Arnold had been replaced by Steven McLoughlin. Prior to the final recording of the opus, David Garner was replaced by Geoff Bate, whose vocals appear on the album. During this period Malcolm Cope also joined the roll call of QUARTZ members being called up to BLACK SABBATH, working on pre-production demos for the “Born Again” album.

QUARTZ reformed in 2011, and the current line up consist of: Geoff Nicholls on guitars and keyboards, Mick Hopkins on guitars, Derek Arnold on bass, Malcolm Cope on drums, and vocalist David Garner.

Quartz on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/quartzbackintheband

Skol Records on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skolrecords

About Louise Swift

I first went to a gig in 1981, Gillan at Leeds University. I've been a regular gig goer ever since. I haven't kept count of how many gigs I've been to over the intervening years, but it's a lot! My favourite bands are AC/DC then, in no particular order, Anti-Nowhere League, Slaughter and the Dogs, Towers of London and Dirt Box Disco. I tend to like Glam/Punk and rude offensive lyrics, not sure what that says about me but as Animal would say 'So What!' The question was recently put to me - did I write for any online publications? My reply - No, but I'd like to! Planetmosh was suggested and I found myself offering to review Aces High Festival. Easy peasy I thought! Well not quite, if a jobs worth doing it's worth doing well! I had sixteen bands to research. I found I actually enjoyed that and it kept me too busy to be making lunatic comments on Facebook! ;) Then I felt a bit inadequately qualified. I mean, who am I to comment on others, when my musical expertise extends to being able to play a mean Greensleeves on the recorder and a passable Annie's song on the flute! Haven't picked up either instrument for years! What I do have, however, is over 30 years of experience as a gig goer, so I can comment on what I like and what I don't! It's only my opinion and, if I don't like a band it doesn't mean they are bad, just not to my own liking. I admire anyone who has the guts to get up on that stage and have a go!