Windhawk Not too shabby this one and only release by Norwegian band Hardline.

Bass-driven hard rock with some metal tendencies is what's offered up on this album, in many tunes with a basic galloping bass line as the driving element, supplemented by simplistic but effective drums and slick riff patterns or drawn out guitar chords.

Simplicity is a keyword for the release in general, simple riff patterns when present, basic effects like the addition of selected undistorted guitar licks or short bursts of melodic riffs adds a lot when used sparingly, and the guitar soloing is kept simple too; and the few instances where atmospheric solo guitars makes you pay attention when they come. Vocals are melodic with talk-like qualities, reminding slightly of Ozzy Osbourne.

There's not a lot to explore in these compositions though, and the band are smart enough to keep it short and simple; never overly exploring the ideas. Thus the good ideas don't drown in too much repetition, and the ones not as good are over and done with fast.

If basic hard rock verging on metal in style sounds interesting, this act is worth checking out - if you're able to track down that one album they released on vinyl back in 1984. It's not a brilliant creation no matter how you measure it, but quite a few good tracks if you like this style - and it's a release from which I've played selected cuts on a fairly regular basis the last 20 or so years myself.