Page 14 - ISSUE 12

ODIN
PAGE 14 ROCKNATION ISSUE 12
the solar eye remained open. pantheon of metal lore.
Hunger for the band’s music Perris Records has joined
went forces with the band once
undiminished again this year to
even as various release Best Of
members sought Odin. The compi-
new musical lation features the
allies. Recorded entire Don’t Take
the same year as No For An
The Gods Must Answer Ep as
Be Crazy, Odin’s well as a brand
first full length new song, “Let
disc, Fight For The Show
Your Life, was Begin.” An ultra
released on Ja- rare recording
from Odin’s al-
Check out the 18 track “Best Of” ODIN CD pan’s JVC/ most extinct debut Ep, Cau-
Victor label in 1992. As the
available on Perris Records worldwide. end of an era fades further tion, plus a live track recorded
from view and in the era when
the dawn of metal was more
Nearly 10,000 days and nights In the heady days of 1980s a new world dangerous are
have passed since the great Los Angeles, the concert emerges at a also included.
Nordic god, Odin, ripped open stages Odin played were a reckless speed, Rounding out
the sky and positioned the sun killing floor in the band’s the battle scars the collection is
to reveal lead vocalist Randy meteoric rise to become the sustained in a a reserve of the
O., guitarist Jeff Duncan, most dominant hard rock/ music industry heaviest songs
bassist Aaron Sampson, and metal act of the west coast jungle remain, from both Fight
drummer Shawn Duncan in southland. An unstoppable but Odin is back For Your Life and
the limelight. As a heavy metal force that sold out nearly with a ven- The Gods Must
brigade collectively known every major venue in the geance. Perform- Be Crazy. In
by his namesake, Odin has sprawling metropolis of Los ing a string of support of the
come to represent the god’s Angeles, including The Roxy, rare one-off shows to SRO upcoming
primordial attributes of magic, Whisky A-Go-Go, The crowds at well known L.A. release, Odin performed at
fury, and excitement. The Troubadour, and Chuck venues The Troubadour and Club Vodka and also their
band also possesses his well Landis’ Country Club, Odin is The Key Club, Odin has set high profile performance
known command of war and the only unsigned band as a the stage to return fire and re- appearance at Rocklahoma
battle. headliner to have shattered store their position in the royal festival 2008.
attendance records on
multiple nights at both
Gazarri’s on the Sunset Strip
and The Palace (now The
Avalon). By the time their
landmark Don’t Take No For
An Answer Ep was released in
’85, Odin had landed
lucrative opening slots for
some of the most
successful bands of the era
including Warrant, W.A.S.P.,
Ratt, Tesla, Dokken, Armored
Saint, Bang Tango and Keel.
Odin’s popularity reached a
whole new level of
stratospheric heights when
the band released The Gods
Must Be Crazy Ep in ’86. The
opening cut on the record is
“Little Gypsy.” A hot-blooded
paean to the seductive
women who packed the
band’s live shows in droves,
“Little Gypsy” and Odin are
featured front and center in
Penelope Spherris’ classic
documentary, The Decline
Of Western Civilization Part
II: The Metal Years. The sun
shone brighter and the flames
burned higher when Odin
booked what were supposed
to be three final shows at
Gazarri’s in ’88 before
relinquishing their reign. All
three nights sold out in record
time. Odin was put to rest, but