Sun Red Sun Sun Red Sun (Import) | CD

Sun Red Sun: Al Romano (vocals, guitar); Ray Gillen (vocals); Mike Starr (bass); Bobby Rondinelli (drums).
Additional personnel: John West (vocals); Chris Cafferty, Arthur Guitar (guitar); John McCoy (bass); Mike Sciotto (drums).
Producers include: Al Romano, John McCoy, Leif Mases.
Personnel: Arthur Guitar (vocals, guitar, electric guitar); John West, Ray Gillen (vocals); Al Romano (guitar); Bob Rondinelli , Mike Sciotto (drums).
Audio Remixer: Nick Watson.
Recording information: Electric Lady Studios, N.Y., NY; Studio 43, N.Y., NY.
Although some assume that Sun Red Sun were the last band assembled by singer Ray Gillen before his passing in late 1993, it turns out that the band had already been rolling for a few years prior. Guitarist Al Romano formed the group two years before, while Gillen joined shortly after leaving Badlands -- as ex-Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr and ex-Rainbow drummer Bobby Rondinelli signed on shortly thereafter as well. Recordings from the group didn't surface until two years after Gillen's passing, when a self-titled release was issued in 1995. While the rest of the world was busy copying Nirvana or, interestingly enough, Starr's former band, the music of Sun Red Sun has an unmistakable '80s metal flair, especially such tracks as "I Know a Place," "Hard Life" (one of several tracks Romano collaborated on with ex-Anthrax singer Joey Belladonna), and "Intoxication." Fans of melodic yet tough '80s metal should enjoy this obscure release -- which turned out to be Gillen's last-ever recording. ~ Greg Prato

• Genre: Heavy Metal
• Format: CD
• Released: 1/1/1980