AMULANCE's Debut To Be Re-Released

New Renaissance Records will re-release the classic metal album from AMULANCE, "Feel the Pain", on CD May 1, 2006.

Though AMULANCE's debut was largely ignored by critics when first released in 1988, it has since become as a classic. In the past year New Renaissance has discovered bootlegs of the CD being sold in five countries. Label founder Ann Boleyn states that the re-release was in response both to the growing interest in the band and in an effort to halt the bootlegs.

AMULANCE includes Rik Baez (vocals),Tom Braddish (bass),Bob Luman (guitar),Vince Varriale (guitars),and Eric Wedow (drums). The album was recorded at Curved Air Studios and produced by AMULANCE and Al Purvey.

"At the time of the album's initial release, the music industry was in a state of transition," commented Boleyn. "We started the promotion campaign by releasing a seven-inch single to radio. It was the last seven-inch we ever made."

Within weeks of its anticipated release, major American labels announced that they would no longer carry black vinyl, thus starting a frenzy whereby record stores cleared their shelves and demanded refunds for products shipped back to distributors. "When the distributors couldn't refund the record stores, they started going out of business."

AMULANCE's music was not what Boleyn calls "the flavor of the day."

"The distributors who were carrying metal wanted a 'sure thing,'" she explained. "If the band wasn’t thrash, they didn't want to hear about it."

While Ann and her label are most famous for creating the term "speed metal," New Renaissance Records also boasted a substantial roster of what Ann calls "classic metal" or "heavy rock" acts such as KING KOBRA, DEADLY BLESSING, SCREAMER, PHANTOM, CEREBUS, SAVAGE STEEL, GARGOYLE, CHYLD, and her own band, HELLION. With critics comparing AMULANCE to IRON MAIDEN and early QUEENSRŸCHE, two bands whose popularity was then waning, wholesale outlets were not eager to carry "Feel the Pain". Although this may have contributed to New Renaissance's distribution problems in the late 1980s, her roster is enjoying a "new renaissance" as new fans are discovering the label's acts. And, as a bonus for collectors, the initial pressing of the re-released CDs will be numbered.

(Thanks: Tartarean Desire)