Ada Muzik1990
Turkish band Dr. Skull was formed in 1983 by a group of high school kids. Originally the band was known as Skull with the Dr. being added later on when members were in medical school. Even though they have been described as a "Turkish Iron Maiden" the group's 1990 debut has more in common with hard rock/traditional heavy metal bands than the NWOBHM sound. Actually "Wory Zover" (War Is Over) sounds to these ears like a cross between a more metal Blue Oyster Cult (without the keys) and several bands from the FWOSHM (First Wave Of Swedish Heavy Metal) movement. As one of the first true heavy metal bands from Turkey Dr. Skull was able to manage three albums before folding. As stated "Wory Zover" is the band's debut album and has more of a traditional heavy metal/hard rock feel than Iron Maiden making me wonder who ever connected the two bands? According to my sources the group's later material took on more of a punk edge although I have honestly not heard the other two albums so I can't say for certain that is the case. What I can say for sure is that "War Is Over" and "The Gate Of Brandenburg" open the album up and give you two slabs of true heavy metal. The album is good like that in the way it presents such a straight ahead metal sound. Sure for 1990 this LP is dated. That sort of regular hard rock/heavy metal sound was just about played to death and yet this album has it's own little charm. "Lonely Nights" is a great rock number with great guitar riffs as is "Rock The School". There was a lot of garage rock to be found in Dr. Skull as well and one can't help but wonder if the group actually started off as greasy hair rock and rollers. For me any rock band from Turkey is a bit of a novelty because frankly it just doesn't seem like the sort of place that produce hard and heavy guitar loving maniacs. Yet here it is and it is really worth tracking down online if for no other reason than the fact that it is a piece of heavy metal history. Who knew history could be such a fun topic?
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