PAUL DI'ANNO'S BATTLEZONE · Fighting Back (40th Anniversary) | RED SMOKE LP

Red smoke vinyl, 180g, standard cover.

Background information about 'Fighting Back (40th Anniversary)'

When you talk about the true architects of British heavy metal, Paul Di'Anno stands as one of the most unmistakable voices the genre has ever produced. After his legendary tenure with Iron Maiden, Di'Anno didn't fade into obscurity — he came out swinging with Battlezone, and Fighting Back is the glorious proof that the man never lost his fire.

Originally released in 1986, this album captures Di'Anno at his most raw and uncompromising. The title track "(Forever) Fighting Back" kicks the doors in with the kind of street-level fury that made him a legend in the first place — that gravel-throated snarl, that punk-infused belligerence, that unmistakable middle finger to conformity. Tracks like "Welcome to the Battlezone" and "Warchild" are pure, unadulterated heavy metal thunder, driven by galloping riffs and Di'Anno's signature vocal attack. There's a grit here, a working-class authenticity that you simply cannot fake.

What makes Fighting Back so compelling is how it balances that raw aggression with moments of genuine melodic power. "Running Blind" and "The Land God Gave to Caine" showcase a band that understood dynamics, building tension before unleashing storm after storm of riff-driven mayhem. The dual appearance of "Feel the Rock" — both the album version and a bonus take — is a treat for diehards, while "Rising Star" closes things out as a bonus track that hints at what could have been. This isn't just a footnote in the Maiden story; this is a vital piece of British metal history standing firmly on its own two feet. The production is unpolished in the best possible way — it sounds like a band fighting for every inch, and that hunger is absolutely infectious.

For fans of:
Iron Maiden, Saxon, Tank, Raven, Holocaust, Tygers of Pan Tang

Track listing

1. (Forever) Fighting Back
2. Welcome to the Battlezone
3. Warchild
4. In the Darkness
5. The Land God Gave to Caine
6. Feel the Rock
7. Running Blind
8. Too Much to Heart
9. Voice on the Radio
10. Welfare Warriors
11. Feel the Rock
12. Rising Star (Bonus Track)

Manufacturer: 375 Media GmbH, Schlachthofstrasse 36A, 21079 Hamburg, Germany, Contact: 375media.com