STRONGBOW – Strongbow [Digitally Remastered first time on CD] (2021) *0dayrox EXCLUSIVE*

As requested, here’s in exclusive the recent reissue, first time on CD, remastered version of STRONGBOW‘s self-titled debut “Strongbow“. This band hailing from Ohio, USA, formed in the Seventies starting life off as a four-piece, the band added a fifth member, and soon found themselves with a recording contract – signed to Buddah Records subsidiary Southwind Records.
Over the next 12-18 months, the band wrote, toured and prepped themselves for their debut album. As fate would have it, the album was released in 1975, but to very little fanfare, nor label promotion.
Despite the band name, the album covers and loose association to anything similar in the mid-west during this time frame, Strongbow head down the progressive hard rock path of KANSAS, STYX, etc. And they were incredibly good at it.

Interestingly, Strongbow open up with a synth sequence ticking away in the background on ‘One Armed Bandit’, which converts to a ballsy rocker. The hard tapping piano sits well among the organ work – well done Mr Stelzer.
‘Sister Sea’ takes on a Kansas like personality to start off with, and is pretty much a pomp rockers initiation circa 1975 as the song progresses through.
‘The Only One Around’ is Strongbow’s longest effort, at over 10 minutes. The wurlitzer intro would have you making comparisons to Supertramp, particularly as the song is running at half pace. The song does wake up toward the end, with a fiery solo to finish off.

‘Move Over Gloom’ is another with Kansas like pretensions, the keyboard work from John Stelzer standing out yet again, though the lyrics are a bit silly. ‘How Can I Be Loving You?’ has a nice West Coast oriented sound, the flute solo through the middle could land this track in the same territory as Firefall.
‘Wine Eyes’ is a short blast at a touch over two minutes, but it’s a powerful burst of prog rock, which demonstrates how effective these guys were over the shorter distances.

‘Hazy May’ seals off the album with a tune that could easily slide onto the set of Californian pomp rockers Bluebeard. The main riff of the song seems to be based around a common loop, but you gotta love the chorus and over-extended guitar solos. Aah, it was the 70s right?

During 1975, the band still managed to gig around the country, making it as far west to Los Angeles where they played the rock circuit. Due to poor management and poor record company support, Strongbow folded in 1976.
Despite their one-off effort, this band were considered to be a musicians band, and their music would find appeal to those into Styx, Kansas and Emperor.
Highly Recommended

01 – One Armed Bandit
02 – Sister Sea
03 – The Only One Around
04 – Move Over Gloom
05 – How Can I Be Loving You
06 – Wine Eyes
07 – Hazy May

Bill Bendler – vocals
Michael Shortland – guitars
John Stelzer – organ, synth, sax, flute, vocals
John Durzo – bass
David Smith – drums

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