METALLIAN - More

February 16th, Anno 23

Warhead - 1981 - Atlantic
Blood & Thunder - 1982 - Atlantic
Destructor - 2026 - Warhead

Members

Vocals

Iron Maiden>>Paul Mario Day>>Wildfire, Andy Scott's Sweet, Gringos, Buffalo Crows - Living Intents>>Mick Stratton - Axon-IV, Traitor, Dangerous Breed, Praying Mantis>>MIKE FREELAND>>Dangerous Breed, Praying Mantis

Guitar

Dfender, Mammoth>>Kenny Cox>>Mammoth, More N’ More - Ophidian>>Laurie Mansworth>>Airrace, Solo - Kevin Riddles' Baphomet, Tenebrae, Tytan, Primaeval, Dep Leppard, Scavenger's Daughter>>PETER WELSH>>Dep Leppard, Scavenger's Daughter

Bass

Brian Day - Nightfall, Dangerous Breed, Exmore, More 2012>>BARRY NICHOLS>>Nightfall, Dangerous Breed, Exmore, More 2012

Drum

Dfender>>Frank Darch>>Flight 19 - Andy John Burton>>Exmore, More 2012 - Dangerous Breed, Battleaxe>>STEVE RIX>>Battleaxe

History & Biography

London-based More was an obscure NWOBHM-cum-traditional heavy rock band that nonetheless had garnered a major label deal. The band was formed around Kenny Cox in 1979. The act was named Dfender initially. The song Soldier was featured on the 1980 BBC Metal Explosion compilation album. The band featured former Iron Maiden people Paul Mario and guitarist Paul Todd, but was Kenny Cox’s group. The band played at Donnington/Monsters Of Rock after the release of its debut opening for AC/DC, Whitesnake, Slade and Blackfoot in 1981. There were shows with Krokus and Def Leppard as well. Paul Mario Day quit in the middle of the Blood & Thunder recordings. Brian Day followed. Barry Nichols replaced him in mid-1982. The band gave up in 1982, but reformed in 1985 and then in 1998 for two years. Cox had several strokes and had to cease the band again in 2000. Mike Freeland was the reformation singer.

Exmore played More songs and was essentially a covers’ band. Rock Candy Records re-released both albums in 2011. Laurie Mansworth ended up being a manager for a band called The Treatment in which his son Dhani played. He would also reform Airrace.

Andy John Burton died of cancer in 2021. Kenny Cox died in 2022. Then the band ostensibly reformed in 2022, but only Baz Nichols was left standing. David John Ross was on guitar, Steve Rix (More2012) was on drums and Roman Kańtoch was singing as of 2022. Singer Mike Freeland returned in 2023 and Roman moved on to War Grave. Paul Mario Day was reportedly in the grips of terminal cancer in May 2025. He died at home in Australia in July 2025. He was 69. As of 2025, the band was singer Mike Freeland, guitarist Peter Welsh, bassist Baz “Nicholls” and drummer Steve Rix. Decades following the previous release, the act issued an album called Destructor through its own imprint Warhead Music on March 6th, 2026. The release was billed as the final production of the late producer Chris Tsangarides in 2017. The final mixes were then rediscovered by bassist Baz Nicholls who downloaded them from the studio equipment left behind after Tsangarides' facility closed. Chris Tsangarides had played guitar for More between 2011 and 2018 before dying. The new album was supported through a video for the song Spirits Of War.

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