THE BEAST

Today, Regain Classics (distributed & marketed by Regain Records) announces March 15th as the international release date for long-overdue reissues of Silver Mountain's cult first two albums, Shakin' Brains and Universe, on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats.

Hailing from Malmo, Silver Mountain are a unique entry into the rich history of Swedish heavy metal. As no doubt indicated by their moniker, the band's sound was heavily indebted to the Dio-fronted era of Rainbow - of course, the still-going province of ex-Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore - which, at their time of inception in 1979, was something of an old-fashioned sound as heavy metal itself was coalescing into a worldwide movement with its own harder-edge style and image. Nevertheless, even during those nascent times, a great deal of hard rock was lumped into the wider "metal" category (and vice versa), underlining the links between the two, and often helping elevate many bands in popularity.

Silver Mountain released a 7" single in 1979 and then a demo the following year, both with an early lineup that saw only vocalist/guitarist Jonas Hansson continuing. Eventually, he found the classic Silver Mountain lineup with brothers Anders Johansson and Jens Johansson - drums and keyboards, respectively - and bassist Per Stadin. This lineup would record the band's first album, 1983's Shakin' Brains, and then the band would be nearly overhauled for the next album, 1985's Universe. Together, regardless of lineup, both albums are widely regarded as Silver Mountain's best work. Although the band would release another album in 1988, Silver Mountain effectively came to end (much like many '80s hard rock/metal bands did) in 1993. And although there'd be a reunion album in 2001 - and they still continue to play shows to this day - Silver Mountain's first two albums are THE classics in the band's catalog, etched-in-time documents of early Swedish heavy metal.