Along with Mercyful Fate, Pretty Maids and Witch Cross, Copenhagen’s very own Alien Force were one of the earliest heavy metal bands in Denmark. Influenced by Judas Priest, Accept, Saxon and Iron Maiden, the band was formed in 1984 by guitarist Henrik Rasmussen (with Zeyking being the direct forerunner to Alien Force).
After talking to numerous different record companies, the band’s 1985 debut album »Hell And High Water« was released by Teleag in Germany. Henrik Rasmussen explains: “The album was recorded in a garage in Hvidovre, Copenhagen, on an 8-track tape recorder under tough conditions because the record company did not want to spend any money on recording. It was a low budget project but we thought: ‘What the hell - let's make an album.’ So we kept on working. Telaeg wouldn't press more than 500 copies.”
With the heavy metal scene in Denmark being so small, Alien Force did not play a lot of gigs supporting the record: “No, the time wasn't right for us. At that time, it was difficult to convince record companies and concert organizers that heavy metal could sell, so it was very difficult to get through.”
But Alien Force did not throw in the towel and recorded a second full-length album called »Pain And Pleasure« in 1986. Henrik Rasmussen explains: “The album was released through our own company because we wanted to show the established companies that they should not decide what we should do and should not do… Therefore we released it ourselves.”
VINYL:
1. To You
2. Get It Out
3. Ripper
4. Nervous
5. Fly Away
6. Stranger
7. Night of Glory
8. Hell and High Water
9. Time Is Out
CD BONUS TRACKS:
10. Do it All the Way (Demo)
11. And I Knew (Demo)
12. Feel the War (Demo)
13. Halfway to Heaven (Demo)
14. Hell and High Water (Demo)
15. Get it Out (Zeyking 7'')
16. Rock Your Head (Zeyking 7'')