History & Biography Originally a punk band with roots in 1979, and with De Wint on drums, Crossfire - see logo for explanation - would undergo a metamorphosis and appear on the famous Metal Clogs compilation LP. The band featured Nero Neerinckx on guitar at this point. He would depart in 1982.
The band then signed to the upstart Mausoleum Records and became one of the label's biggest bands. Crossfire was certainly the pride and joy of the Belgian metal scene in the mid-'80s and even opened for heroes
Accept at the time. Crossfire also appeared at the Heavy Sound and Earthquake festivals.
See You In Hell was produced by Leo "Rockstone" Felsenstein, the band's A&R, at Ace Studio and Second Attack was recorded by Jos Kloek at Shiva Studio.
The band followed up Second Attack with a 'rarities and unreleased tracks' album called Sharpshooter. Van De Spye would depart at this point. He was replaced by Jacky D'Hondt. The band's next venture was
Live Attack on the Metal Enterprises label, Mausoleum having gone the way of bankruptcy court. Live Attack was recorded at Shockwave festival. German bassist Johan Susant was part of the band in 1986, but Patrick returned to the fold before the end.. The band called it a day at this point.
De Wint was later discovered running his own studio and working with Glenn Hughes on the road. Hellion Records compiled the band's material into a Boxed set in 2022.
Reviews CROSSFIRE - SEE YOU IN HELL - MAUSOLEUM
Crossfire was probably Belgium's best-selling heavy metal band of the 80's. It was not difficult to guess the band's origins either. The throaty vocals of Peter De Wint were very Belgian if one could make such an analogy. The band's music is a mix of NWOBHM, Quiet Riot and AC/DC and is nowhere near as thrashy as one would expect..Fans of everything from NWOBHM to boogie metal to Motorhead may find something here, while others may be disappointed by the lack of distinctiveness or creativity.
Aside from the generalities, See You In Hell has several notable passages. Listening to Magnificent Night unexpectedly brings Voivod to mind. The song also has a slower doomy riff and features some heartfelt singing. The guitar work on Danger On Earth has to be mentioned (as well as its Judas Priest-ish start), while the guitar sound of Lover's Game surely gets the AC/DC guitar tone just right! See You In Hell sounds like a great concert finale and ends the album on a so-so note. - Ali "The Metallian"
CROSSFIRE - SECOND ATTACK - MAUSOLEUM
Crossfire's Second Attack is the wilder follow-up to the band's 1984 debut. The album even hints at thrash metal and certainly packs more guitars and a better sound than its predecessor. Now this is more like it.
The title track launches the album in good order with some wild heavy metalling. Feeling Down follows and, on the contrary, is the band's best moment by far. Wild riffing, a memorable onslaught and screaming vocals - although the band seems to laugh at the song at the very end - all follow. The main riff here is fantastic and one of the best anywhere. This one packs a big punch. Next up is Highway Drive with its prominent backing chants. The song lasts longer than it should though. Scream And Shout begins with a riff that the listener will recognize as belonging to Judas Priest's British Steel album, but soon kicks into high gear with nifty guitar jabs. The album's last song is Running For Love. There will be no prizes for guessing this to be a ballad. It is not quite Scorpions, but the track gets a good airing courtesy of singer Peter De Wint nonetheless. Second Attack will forever remain as Crossfire's best moment. - Ali "The Metallian"
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