Sabbat (UK) - HYDRA demos and photos (pre-Sabbat band)

These are some of the most interesting items in my collection, I think!

Three demos from the band Hydra, who you may know where the band that turned into the mighty Sabbat! And a smattering of vintage live photos of Hydra in action too! I am good to you...

Never released in any form, these demos lay in the hands of one of the band members since being recorded in 1984/85 but now - thanks to the kindness and generosity of that individual - I've finally managed to obtain a set for my collection.

The two tapes are live recordings from gigs at the Nottingham Narrowboat pub (in February 1985 and April 1985), whilst the CDr is an original demo recording from a 1984 rehearsal.

The line-up of Hydra was:
Martin Walkyier - vocals
Adam 'Grotch' Firman - guitar
Frazer 'Scit' Craske - bass
Russell Allcock - drums

with Martin and Frazer going on to play in Sabbat, of course.

The story of the transition from Hydra to Sabbat goes something like this: One cold February night back in 1985 a local band by the name of “Hell” played a gig at a small club near Nottingham. In the audience was one Frazer Craske, a young guy from Nottingham, who played bass in a band named Hydra. His schoolfriend Martin Walkyier was the singer with Hydra. The two had recently had some internal band problems and Martin and Frazer wanted to play the music they both listened to: fast and hard Metal as played by Metallica, Slayer and Mercyful Fate. At this very concert Frazer ran into one Andy Sneap, a guitarist who was on the lookout for a new band. They got talking, discovered their mutual interests and exchanged phone numbers... which led to the formation of Sabbat.”

You can hear both the snarling vocals Martin became famous for in Sabbat on the CDr, whilst the live tapes also uncover his more melodic 'Skyclad' vocal technique too.

Historically vital, aurally really interesting, and hens-teeth rare!