Blitzkrieg (metal band)

Blitzkrieg

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1980 in Leicester, England
Founder	Brian Ross
Headquarters	Newcastle , England
Products	Heavy metal music

Blitzkrieg is a heavy metal group originating from Leicester, England, established in 1980. The current roster features Brian Ross on vocals, Alan Ross and Nick Jennison handling guitars, Liam Ferguson on bass, and Matt Graham on drums. Brian Ross is the only original member still active, with the band now operating out of Newcastle.

History

Brian Ross became part of the Leicester-based band Split Image in 1980, which soon adopted the name Blitzkrieg. Their demo attracted the attention of Neat Records in October of that year, a label well-known for supporting the new wave of British heavy metal scene. After issuing a single in 1981 and experiencing lineup shifts, the group disbanded before their first album could be finished. Subsequently, Ross performed with other metal bands such as Satan, Avenger, Lone Wolf, and Unter den Linden.

In 1984, Ross revived Blitzkrieg by assembling both former and fresh members, including Mick Proctor from Tygers of Pan Tang and Sean Taylor (associated with Satan/Blind Fury and formerly Raven), to complete their debut album A Time of Changes, which was released in 1985 after previous delays.

Their song "Blitzkrieg" gained further recognition when Metallica covered it as a B-side for their 1984 single "Creeping Death". Metallica had expressed admiration for Blitzkrieg by sending Ross a demo in hopes of securing a deal with Neat Records while he was engaged in A&R activities.

In 1991, Roadracer Records released 10 Years of Blitzkrieg. The band combined fresh recordings with earlier tracks for the album Unholy Trinity, which was postponed until 1995 due to contractual complications. Later albums consistently featured Ross as the central figure: Ten (1997), The Mists of Avalon (1998), Absolute Power (2002), Absolutely Live (2004), Sins and Greed (2005), and Theatre of the Damned (2007).

Following a six-year break, Blitzkrieg made a comeback with Back from Hell in 2013. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of their debut, they released an expanded re-recording of A Time of Changes in 2015. This was followed by the album Judge Not! in 2018 and the EP Loud and Proud in 2019.

In 2022, the band unveiled the single "I Am His Voice" along with a live rendition of "Pull The Trigger", paving the way for their self-titled album scheduled for release in 2024.

Band members

Current members

• Brian Ross — lead vocals, keyboards
• Alan Ross — guitar, backing vocals
• Matt Graham — drums
• Liam Ferguson — bass
• Nick Jennison — guitar, backing vocals

Former members

Discography

Studio albums

• A Time of Changes (1985)
• Unholy Trinity (1995)
• Ten (1997)
• The Mists of Avalon (1998)
• Absolute Power (2002)
• Sins and Greed (2005)
• Theatre of the Damned (2007)
• Back from Hell (2013)
• A Time of Changes (30th Anniversary Edition) (2015)
• Judge Not! (2018)
• Blitzkrieg (2024)

Live albums

• Absolutely Live (2004)

Compilations

• A Time of Changes, Phase 1 (2003)
• The Boys from Brazil Street: 1981 Revisited (The Archives, Vol. One) (2014)
• The Boys from Brazil Street: The Farm Tapes (The Archives, Vol. Two) (2015)
• Inferno: The Complete Recordings Vol. I (1980-1998) (2022)

Extended plays

• Blitzed Alive (1981)
• 10 Years of Blitzkrieg (1991)
• Loud and Proud (2019)

Non-album singles

• "Buried Alive/Blitzkrieg" (1981)

Demos

• Blitzkrieg I (1981)

See also

• List of new wave of British heavy metal bands