Rough Trade Compilations of The Year: #16

Heavy metal? Glam? Hard rock? Make your own fuckin’ call, you poser. We’re not gonna do it for you. Bound for Hell is early ‘80s L.A. rock as it actually was: a California cataclysm of drunk and horny headbangers, dressed in sharp, shiny, leather androgyny and fire, kicking crowds in the teeth to clear the way to that one big shot.

This set delivers 21 tracks by 21 artists in an ephemera-stuffed gatefold, plus 144-page hardbound book (with the vinyl) detailing the Sunset Strip’s most razor-sharp heathens. Drumsticks burned. Hands were severed. Faces bled. Heavy was Hell for a half decade and it was a long, long way down.

SIDE A

A1. Going To The City - Stormer

A2. Cocaine - L.A. Rocks

A3. Bound For Hell - Max Havoc

A4. Rock ‘N’ Roll Ain’t Pretty - Jaded Lady

A5. Ready To Explode - Steeler

A6. No Time To Lose - Lizzy Borden

SIDE B

B1. On The Run - SIN

B2. Give Em The Old 1, 2, 3 - Black ‘N Blue

B3. Damnation Alley - Bitch

B4. Feeling To Rock - Romeo

B5. Savage Kind Of Girl - V.V.S.I.

SIDE C

C1. Up From The Depths - Hellion

C2. Blade Of Steel - Angeles

C3. Cold Reception - Knightmare II

C4. Cinderella (In Black Leather) - Witch

C5. Liquid Lady - Reddi Killowatt

SIDE D

D1. Lesson Well Learned - Armored Saint

D2. We Came To Kill - Leather Angel

D3. Take It Or Leave It - Rough Cutt

D4. Fool Of Lies - Lisa Baker

D5. Judgement Day - Odin