6CD box set of Metallica-approved NWOBHM.For Fans Of Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Diamond Head.Heavy Metal Mania from the early 80s. Holocaust might have ended up as a small, albeit important and influential, footnote in the annals of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, and heavy metal in general, if it wasnÆt for the patronage of one very famous group of fans in Metallica. From the start, Metallica were more than happy to acknowledge the ongoing influence of groups from this side of the pond, especially those who were part of the NWOBHM, through various B-Sides and EPs. In 1987, they released The $5.98 E.P. û æGarage Days Re-RevisitedÆ EP, which included their faithful cover of HolocaustÆs æThe Small HoursÆ, and later also included it on the 1998 multi-platinum selling æGarage IncÆ.Right from the start, Holocaust set out their stall with one agenda, and that was to spread æHeavy Metal ManiaÆ, which was suitably the title of their debut 45 in 1980, followed by the æSmokinÆ ValvesÆ single the same year.Releasing their full length debut in 1981, æThe NightcomersÆ (CD1) features the raw and untamed energy that would give their NWOBHM peers south of the border a good run for their money, with the self-explanatory æDeath Or GloryÆ, the aforementioned æSmokinÆ ValvesÆ, plus a re-recording of debut, æHeavy Metal Mania.As most bands made their money selling albums, touring for an independent band could be an expensive venture for a band based in Scotland, so they made the admirable decision to film and record their 1981 show at the Nite Club in Edinburgh. Retailing at a hefty ú29.95 (well in excess of over ú100 in todayÆs money), the 80-minute film did capture HolocaustÆs raw exuberance, with tracks such as æBridge Of ImpressionsÆ, æOut My BookÆ and æJirmakenyerutÆ. CD2 presents the audio soundtrack to the live video, and includes the first airing for the above mentioned classic, æThe Small HoursÆ.The set is completed with their æNo ManÆs LandÆ album and Ed DudleyÆs Hologram bandÆs æSteal the StarsÆ after he left Holocaust in 1983; plus all of the groupÆs original singles and B-sides.