TMU RECORDS

:: NOW AVAILABLE ::

Bridging the musical gap between 70’s Hard Rock and the burgeoning Heavy Metal sounds of the early 80’s, Wicked Step played an integral role in San Antonio earning its reputation as the Rockin’ Capital Of Texas. In a time when Disco and Yacht Rock dominated the airwaves, Wicked Step stood tall in delivering no-frills, ass-kicking Rock N’ Roll. Taking cues from their heroes Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, Judas Priest, and Frank Marino – Wicked Step was a staple in the biker clubs, neighborhood bars, backyard parties, and guerrilla-style empty lot gigs. If Rock at high volume was needed, Wicked Step was always there to provide.

Besides a rare self-produced 7″ single, the recordings on this LP are the only surviving musical artifact of the band. No fancy studios at use here. These are raw and noisy tunes straight from the rehearsal room, pumped through a 12-channel Peavy mixing board, to a Realistic home cassette deck. Meant to be played loud, just as originally delivered.

Visit the TMU RECORDS store to purchase!

Wicked Step – Demos 1976-1979 – 12″ colored vinyl!

:: ON SALE NOW! ::

Another killer San Antonio-based Texas metal gem…Wicked Angel emerged from the fertile grounds of San Antonio’s south side in early 1985. At the time, the average age of the band members was around 15 years old! The young band recorded a 2-song demo in 1986, but sadly that recording has been completely lost to the ages. After a string of successful gigs with Texas notables such as WatchTower, Syrus, and Assalant, the band returned to Blue Cat Studios and recorded their blistering ‘Chaotic Intellect’ demo in 1987.

For this release TMU RECORDS was able to utilize the original master reels, which have been professionally transferred to digital, and mastered for maximum vinyl fidelity.

Visit the TMU RECORDS store to listen and purchase!

Wicked Angel – Demo 1987 – 10″ vinyl

We would like to send greetings and thanks to our friend Satoru at his shop Record Boy in Tokyo, Japan.  Satoru recently sent us this picture of a couple of TMU RECORDS releases on the wall of his shop.  Very cool!  Next time you find yourself in Tokyo, stop by and say hello.

TMU RECORDS in Japan

Record Boy shop location

MEDDALLION 7″ reviewed by Germany’s ‘OBLIVEON’ webzine

Meddallion 7″ reviewed by Germany’s ‘Obliveon’ webzine

Scott von TMU-Records hat mit seinem neuesten Release mal wieder ein Zeichen gesetzt und mit Meddallion`s unveröffentlichtem 2-Track-Demo aus 1986 eine Band vor der Vergänglichkeit bewahrt. Nein, die aus fünf jungen Musikern bestehende Band aus San Antonio hat nicht lange bestanden, ihr Output bestand aus ganzen zwei Songs (Drummer Danny Castaneda meint sich an einen dritten namens „Go Down Fighting“ erinnern zu können) und an (lokalen) Auftritten kann man nur rund 15 bis 20 Gigs vorweisen. Das Demo selbst wurde nie veröffentlicht und trotzdem ist jeder der beiden Songs eines posthumen offiziellen Releases wert. Grundlage dieser 7 Inch, die anscheinend in verschiedenfarbigen Pressungen geliefert werden kann (meine ist goldgelb) war das einzige noch bekannte existierende Tape des 86er Demos.

Den Anfang (Seite A) macht „Stormbringer“, ein episches Heavy Metal-Stück, stark beeinflusst von der NWoBHM, mit starken doppelläufigen Leads von Manuel Ochoa und Armando Guana (der bereits Anfang der 90er bei einem Autounfall verstorben ist), den typischen high-pitched Screams der Texas-Szene, hier artikuliert von Andy Lucio, während die Rhythm-Section von den Brüdern Raymond (Bass) und Danny Castaneda (Drums) gebildet wurde.

Seite B („Swords Of Steel“) eröffnet deutlich relaxter, sehr melodisch, aber nicht minder episch, bevor der Track in ein schnelles Heavy Metal-Stück mit starken Riffs, stärkeren Techno-Referenzen und wahrhaft guten Melodien in die Annalen der Musikhistorie eingeht. Produktionstechnisch kann das Ganze natürlich mit keiner der heutigen Brutalo-Combos mithalten, aber trotzdem ist das was Scott & Co. noch rausgeholt haben absolut akzeptabel.

Wer also noch einen Plattenspieler besitzt und ein echtes Kleinod der Texas (speziell der San Antonio)-Szene sein Eigen nennen möchte (die 7“ enthält übrigens erneut ein umfangreiches – 12 Seiten – Booklet mit Pics und Interview) der MUSS hier zugreifen. http://www.tmurecords.bandcamp.com 8,5/10 – SBr

And here it is in English as (badly) translated by Google:

Scott TMU records with his latest release has once again set an example and with Meddallion’s kept unreleased 2-track demo tape in 1986 for the passing. No, the five young musicians has made existing band from San Antonio were not long, their entire output consisted of two songs (drummer Danny Castaneda said at a third, called “Go Down Fighting” to be able to remember) and (local) appearances can they show only about 15 to 20 gigs. The demo itself was never published, and yet each of the two songs worthy of a posthumous official releases. Basis of these 7 inches, which can apparently be delivered in different colored pressings (mine is yellow gold) was the only known existing tape of the ’86 demos.

The beginning (side A) makes “Stormbringer”, an epic heavy metal piece, heavily influenced by the NWOBHM, (died of the early 90s in a car accident) with strong double-Leads by Manuel Ochoa and Armando Guana, the typical high -pitched screams of the Texas scene, here articulated by Andy Lucio, while the rhythm section was formed by brothers Raymond (bass) and Danny Castaneda (drums).

Side B (“Swords of Steel”) opened much more relaxed, very melodic, but no less epic, before the track in a fast Heavy incoming metal piece with strong riffs, more techno-references, and really good melodies in the annals of music history. Technically, of course, the whole production can compete with any of today’s brutal combos, but nevertheless that’s what has brought out Scott & Co. still perfectly acceptable.

So if you still have a record player and a real jewel of Texas (especially the San Antonio) scene would call his own (the 7 “contains a comprehensive way, again – 12 pages – Booklet with Pics and interview) of the MUST access here. http://www.tmurecords.bandcamp.com
8,5 / 10 – SBr

The long overdue redesign of TEXASMETALUNDERGROUND.COM is finally underway.  While ‘old school’ is certainly still cool, having a website with its origins in 2001 is not.  Some may lament the passing of the old site, but it had become cumbersome, bloated, and difficult to deal with. The lack of significant updates over the past few years can attest to that.

Not to worry, all of the old content will eventually make it over to this new site.  The ease of use of the new site will ensure more frequent updates and total revamping of old favorites like the flyer and vinyl galleries.  Look for new audio and video to appear on a regular basis too.

The new TEXASMETALUNDERGROUND.COM will coincide with the unveiling of an all new site for TMURECORDS.COM…catering to all your classic Texas metal needs!