Italian band STRANA OFFICINA was formed in 1977, and are referenced as a influential but too underrated band in the underground Italian metal scene of the 1980’s. In 2014 Italian label Jolly Roger Records reissued the two EPs and one full length album they released in the initial phase of their career, and also released this compilation, with the rather descriptive name “Rare & Unreleased” with material recorded between 1979 and 1989.
As the title of this CD might indicate, this is a fan service recording, a production mainly of interest to fans of this particular band and probably to some extent to those with a deeper interest in the Italian metal scene from a historic point of view too, but the recording quality of the material will limit it’s overall appeal rather firmly. All of the tracks are pulled from demo tapes, and from what I can hear none of them were made with an extensive budget at hand either.
Those who can manage to listen beyond the recording quality will get the chance to listen at some rather interesting material however. The star of the show for me the opening cut Vai Vai, a tight and vibrant affair comparable to Iron Maiden in style. As this was recorded in 1979, it indicates that there were bands out there inspired by the same sources as Iron Maiden were that produced a similar sounding type of material at the same time. As there are a few more tunes pulled from the same demo with the same general sound, this isn’t an exception as far as this goes either, but material that documents a band that had developed and decided to explore this sound more in depth. Besides these kinds of songs, there’s also a fair few examples of compositions with a stronger resemblance to Judas Priest, indicating just how important that band was as inspirations for the typical NWoBHM sounding bands I guess, as well as a one off peculiarity more in line with 1970’s blues based hard rock.
Three of the cuts here are later recordings, from various stages of the 1980’s. These three are fairly different though, the first of them more in line with the Iron Maiden sounding type of material with a few nods in the direction of Judas Priest, the second a slower paced majestic affair oriented towards “Heaven and Hell” era Black Sabbath, while the last in this trio is more of a blues based, americana flavored hair metal affair, the demo version of a song that also appear on their studio album “Rock & Roll Prisoners” from what I can hear.
While “Rare & Unreleased” is an interesting production on many levels, the poor sound quality will ultimately limit it’s audience to fans and those with a special interest though, as previously indicated. But for those who is a part of such a key audience, this is a CD that most likely will be regarded as a treasured item. A nice documentation where the main focus is on the earliest stages of what I understand to be an important band in the early phase of Italian heavy metal.
My rating: 63/100
